Why we're like Dogs

Recently, Tyler and I have acquired another dog for the purposes of taking care of it, nurturing it, feeding it, and loving it. In simpler terms, we're dog sitting. Why didn't I just say dog sitting? Because I like to think I'm fancy okay...

When taking the dogs for a walk it occurred to me how important it is to feel like we're in a pack, to work together, and to provide security for one another. We're not all that different from dogs. When walking the dogs I used one of those coupler leashes. The dogs were basically attached and I had one rope to steer.

The dogs were antsy before leaving for the walk, they were walking around aimlessly nit picking at each other, almost seemed like they were bickering. I thought this was the perfect time for a walk, burn off some of that excess energy and give them a common goal. Once the leashes came out their noncooperation ceased and they knew if they wanted to go anywhere they would have to work together.

I can't help but see the parallels of this with human behaviour. I know for Tyler and I if we are sitting at home and have nothing to do we tend to bicker until there is something we can do or work towards. We're all lost without some kind of contact or goal, whatever it may be. There is a sense of team work and security among them when they walk together. Where one dog goes, so must the other. It was their first time with the coupler and at first they were both trying to get in different directions until they realized if they wanted to head in any direction at all they would have to go together and they would have to cooperate.

Something about being in a pack makes life seem more enjoyable and secure. There seems to be such a lack of community these days. When I was a kid I took the community I was in for granted, it's not like that anymore but I don't know who has the power to change that. Too many people are overworked and safe in their bubble. This is why I believe we need to learn from our dogs. They give us unconditional love and they know the importance of being in a pack and working together.

If we could all learn these simple lessons the dogs are showing us what a world it would be. What a world it would be...