Unconditional Woof! (Love)

I love, love dogs. They are magnificent beings wanting only to love and please. So, it's appropriate that my blog starts today, Valentine's Day, to celebrate dogs and the love they give to all of us. In case you are wondering what my blog is about let me briefly explain. Dogs have so much to teach us about how to relate to each other and live life. This led to my decision to write a blog that focuses on dogs, the many things we can learn from them, the insane things we are willing to do for them, as well as "everything else" that happens in life. If you are a dog lover and owner, you will easily relate. If you are neither, you'll certainly come away with some understanding that perhaps you didn't have before. My intention is to provide insight and humor that will perhaps raise your awareness of who we are as humans sharing this world with our true best friend, the dog.

I want to clarify that I am no dog expert. However, because I work with animals, mostly dogs, providing acupuncture and holistic medicine, the fact that I have three dogs of my own, the studies and observations I have done on them, give me enough credibility when I write about these beautiful creatures.

Because today is Valentine's Day, the topic of unconditional love is most suitable. Have you ever met a person who gave you unconditional love 24/7?...If you were honest, the answer would be "no". If someone said, "yes", you're damn lucky. You have a keeper, because the majority of people give conditional love. I confess that I am guilty of this. Think about it. A person may strive to give unconditional love but the ego, a preconceived notion or an unresolved emotion interferes with her/his thinking and behavior. Many people have a list of criteria they look for in a mate even before the dating process begins. That is very conditional.

Unconditional means no matter how butt ugly or unbelievably gorgeous you are, rich or poor, intelligent or dimwitted, kind or mean-spirited, fat or fit, etc. this person will love you. Know anyone like that? I don't. The only place you will find a person like that is in your fantasy. So, dream on.

With dogs, you will always get unconditional love. ALWAYS! If you stink, they won't care. They'll give you a kiss regardless. Hey, if they can lick their butt, they can kiss you when you smell. Just make sure they don't kiss you right after they have licked their butt. If you're completely broke, it doesn't matter. I've seen a number of homeless people with dogs who seem very content. If you get sick, feeling and looking awful, they will snuggle up to you until you feel better.

When my husband got food poisoning a couple months ago, he was vomiting, moaning and groaning, and the last thing I wanted to do was cuddle up next to him. The aroma of vomit acts as a natural repellent as well as triggers nausea for me. That's just me though. You may be different. But our dogs, god bless them, comforted him the way I couldn't. They slept next to him despite the noise and stench. The best I could do was make my husband ginger tea, put another blanket over him and offer some kind words as he slept on the sofa.

Angry? Dogs will give you the space to cool off when you get mad at them, and afterwards, they will always come to you without resentment, without a grudge, without malice in their hearts. No silent treatment nor a need to get an explanation or an apology for your behavior. Just acceptance and pure, unconditional love in their hearts.

Can you imagine coming home and finding your significant other jumping for joy every time you came home? My husband may greet me that way if he knew I had a winning lottery ticket in my purse. Besides that, I don't think so because even bringing pizza home doesn't do the trick, and he loves pizza. However, my dogs are consistently, and without fail, thrilled to see me each time I come home. That is devoted love for you.

Dogs offer something more precious than anything anyone can buy on Valentine's Day. If we gave our loved ones the unconditional love dogs naturally gave us, we would be less stressed and have more money in our checkbooks (because there would be no guilt to make up for). But seriously, we would have more peace and happiness in our relationships.

Man domesticated dogs to be our hunters, our guards, our companions. I'm quite certain man never expected the love in return. Dogs know how to love. They do it effortlessly and without discrimination. Surely, many of us humans can learn from that.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then get ready to share a love so big (crazy big, really!) that it takes over you, and suddenly you will find yourself doing the "baby talk" to your dog!... Ah, but that's another topic.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you for visiting the first of my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.