The 12 Lessons My Dog Taught Me About Life

Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had the personality of our pets? Ok, maybe not ALL of our pets, and not ALL of the time, but there are definitely some lessons my lil’ buddy has taught me over the years that have made me a better person. But before I tell you what they are, let me introduce you to my best friend!

This is Koda, a husky/lab mix (:

We’ve been BFFs for almost four years now...that’s a crazy long time! I mean that’s nearly 28 years to him lol.

He’s seen me at my best and been there to pick me up when I’ve been at my worst.

I’ve even been there for him at his best (every time I come home it seems like those are his most cherished moments) and at his worst (when I tell him no more squirrels he tends to get pretty moody).

So, needless to say, we are pretty tight! As a matter of fact, he’s right below my feet as I sit here and type this - he doesn’t stray too far away. I really couldn’t ask for a better dog and I think we’ve both learned a lot from each other over these past several years.

So, without further ado, here are the 12 lessons Koda has taught me about life:

1. Always stretch after you get up

We’ve all seen it happen. Our furry friend is laying there and decides to get up after a nice long nap. He stands up, yawns real big, does the downward facing dog with his butt so far up in the air, then he leans forward and his butt seemingly disappears. A quick shake and he’s good to go!

So often we wake up in a hurry, just throwing ourselves into our work day without taking time to properly wake up our body.

We get out of bed, shower still half asleep, make a pot of coffee, and sit at our desks all day without warming up our muscles first. Take time in the morning (even if it’s just 5 minutes) to do a quick little stretch, throw your arms out wide, and wake up your body naturally before you begin the day.

2. Stay adventurous (and it’s ok to be afraid of new things)

Koda is an adventurous little guy. He loves to go on walks and is always looking for squirrels and chipmunks (although he’s never yet caught one). Still though, he’s always looking for something exciting and new to do. But sometimes when he finds something new, he isn’t always the bravest.

His biggest kryptonite: water

The first time I tried giving him a bath (picture this) I picked him up and I started carrying him with his back on my chest, running towards the bathroom, and he started to pee in all different directions. Needless to say, I took a bath with him and had to clean my entire house after. A few years later, we are getting better but he’s more willing to try it. He gets in the tub on his own and trusts that I’m going to treat him right. However, swimming pools are a new adventure he hasn’t quite yet conquered. So the takeaway: stay adventurous!

You, too, will be afraid and have self-doubts every time you try something new for the first time. But the more you do it, the more confident and comfortable you will get! And also know that there is nothing wrong if you pee yourself the first time.

3. Always show unconditional love (even to those we just met)

Picture this: The year is 1980, cell phones aren’t a thing, and we hear a knock at the door. You go running to it excited to see who’s on the other side. Friends from down the road, family that just wanted to drop in, or an old friend we haven’t seen a couple months shows up.

Nowadays, however, if someone rings the doorbell the entire family looks at each other like they have three heads asking, “who are you expecting?” We walk over to the window, peek out behind the curtain because we don’t want to be seen, while the rest of the family is diving under the table to hide.

It’s a foreign concept in today’s society to welcome people with open arms into our home, yet how often do our pets give a quick sniff or two to the crotch and start jumping with joy?

Now, I’m not saying to start sniffing crotches, that’s past the point! But what I am saying is that we can do a lot better of a job at showing unconditional love and appreciation for anyone who shows up in our lives (even if they are strangers). Next time you encounter someone whether it’s a family member or someone you’ve just met, ask yourself, “what would my dog do?”

4. It’s alright to take some “me” time

Koda loves his alone time. While he’s generally always near me, he loves to hide in his little secret spots in the house and just get away for a couple hours. And It’s alright for you to do that too!

We are so conditioned to believe in our Go! Go! Go! society that sleep and rest are for the weak.

But the truth is, it’s absolutely essential if we want to live to the best of our abilities and show up better for all the other people in our lives.

There are so many amazing moms (shoutout to all the hardworking moms out there!) that are trying to take on many roles at once who aren’t taking the essential “me” time like they should.

I’m here to tell you that it’s alright to take a break and ask for help. Find a little secret hideaway in your house (for Koda it’s a little hole between our two couches) and just vibe out for as long as you need. You’ll come back recharged and able to provide better for your family because of it!

5. Listen with the intent to understand, not just respond

How often are we in a conversation and we are patiently waiting for the other person to stop talking so we can say what we want?

What if, instead, we listened intently and truly understood what they were saying?

Koda loves to just listen to me talk (mainly because he can’t answer and has no clue what I’m saying). But he will still be there to listen to me and can tell when I’m mad, sad, happy, or just talking to talk.

He’s so good at reacting based off how I’m feeling. He truly does listen to understand my emotions and react based off of what I said or how I feel, rather than letting me know how he feels.

Next time you are in a conversation with someone, truly listen. Don’t be afraid to act with empathy and compassion if it’s what they need. If they tell you something about themselves, don’t change the topic to you and say, “Yeah, but I did this…”

Always put the other person first and watch how your own life will change.

6. Don’t be afraid to let someone know you need more physical touch

I could be petting Koda for hours and it still wouldn’t be enough for him. He always will ask for more by putting his head under my hand or licking my face. He knows the power that physical touch can have.

There is a lot of good science showing the benefits that physical touch from another person can have on stress relief.

Whether it’s getting a massage, holding hands, a hug, mattress dancing, or just placing your hand on someone during an emotional conversion, the power of another human’s touch can go a long way.

So take some time today and think of ways you can include more physical touch in your lives (although keep it legal). I recommend booking a massage, embracing your loved one, or even just giving someone a hug. This can do you a world of good.

7. Play as hard as you work

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

Koda knows how to work hard for something he wants, but he also knows how to play hard, too. Kids can teach us this same lesson. They know how to play. It just comes natural to them.

We stick kids in a daycare and they don’t care (usually) if they know the other person, they just play. The same goes for Koda.

I can take him to the dog park and after a few initial butt sniffs, he is chasing and playing like they’ve been best friends their whole lives.

What about us though? We have conditioned ourselves to believe that we are too old to play, too busy for play, or that it’s just downright unproductive and will produce no results. The truth is, we were designed to play and get in that flow state. We all have our own hobbies. For some it might be to play video games, and for others it might be to go surfing. No matter what it is that you enjoy most, I encourage you to get active and play!

If you have kids or pets, take a lesson from them. They can teach us how to genuinely play again if you’ve “forgotten”. It might be weird at first but like we learned from Koda earlier, being adventurous is another key to living your best life.

8. There’s always time for forgiveness

No matter how many times I may get stern with Koda (but let’s be real, Bethany, my girlfriend, wears the pants in this relationship - Koda and I are on our own wavelength so we don’t really fight) he always forgives me, and I always forgive him.

Now maybe it’s just because he knows I feed him or take him outside, but I tend to believe he just loves so much that he is always willing to forgive no matter what.

Why do we, as humans, hold grudges? Why do we think it’s ok not to forgive another person for their actions? Our brains are definitely more advanced which is probably why it’s harder for us to forgive. But we can take a lesson from our pets when it comes to this category.

I know what deceit, lying, and cheating feels like, and I am totally with you about how hard it might be to forgive others for their actions. But the truth is, we can always find a reason to blame someone else for the pain they caused us.

However, if we don’t accept responsibility in our own lives, even if it was 100% the other person’s fault, then the only person we are hurting is ourselves.

We can live our entire lives pointing fingers, saying ‘why me’, and holding a grudge, but if we don’t take control of our own lives and forgive (maybe not directly forgive them, but forgive ourselves), then I tend to believe that it’s only ourselves that we are hurting.

So take some time today to think about how you can forgive. As hard as it may be, and as immature as the other person may still be, you know deep down it’s what you need to do for you.

We cannot force anyone else to change, but what we can do is work on continually bettering ourselves and hope that our light shines so bright on them that they start to make the changes themselves.

9. Get excited to go outside

I don’t know about you but if I even begin to say the word outsi- (he didn’t hear me did he?), then Koda’s ears perk up, he comes charging at me like a linebacker, and about tackles me to the floor because he’s so excited to go.

Us, however, it’s a different story. We open up the door to a sunny day, eyes all squinted, with thoughts like, “ugh, why does it have to be so bright out today?”

It’s time we started to get excited to go outside! Too often we spend most of our hours indoors, even in the summer because we have work to do. But there’s always a way to get outside and enjoy the sunshine a little bit more.

Choose to go out on your lunch break, take a walk first thing in the morning, or plan a trip with your family on the weekend. Embrace the outdoors because sunlight is a nutrient we need, too!

10. Perseverance is enough to reach any goal

The number one reason people fail at reaching their goals is because they simply give up. We are often so close to breaking through and achieving our goals, but we quit right before the result comes and after the initial motivation wears off.

Koda is adamant about getting what he wants. He loves chewing on his bone and won’t stop until it’s completely gone. Even better, we go for our morning walks and if I try to cut it short, he knows. If I only want to go halfway, he will lay down until I give in and go the rest of the way. He is persistent and will do just about anything to make sure he gets what he wants.

What if we treated our goals the same way?

When you want something bad enough, you know nothing can stop you from achieving it.

Where there is a will, there’s ten thousand ways. Whatever it is you’re working on right now, just keep going! You are a lot closer than you think.

11. Eating food should be enjoyable, not something we should feel shame and guilt over

Koda loves to EAT! And when I say loves to eat, I mean he makes it an EVENT!

He’s not messy but he just simply loves to dig in and enjoy his food. A lot of the time I feed him raw meat, bones, and whatever other animals I can find to throw in the mix.

He has no sense of worry, guilt, shame, or fear about eating a certain food. He just eats foods he loves and when he’s full, he stops.

He also only eats real food (now this might just be Koda, I don’t know about other dogs).

Koda is very particular about the food he does eat when I give it to him. He loves all food from nature that, we as a living, breathing species were designed to eat. This includes mostly animal foods, some veggies, and the like. But if I were to try and give him some bread, processed foods, sugar-filled desserts, or anything that isn’t really “food”, he won’t eat it.

I think we can take a page or two out of his book. He knows the difference between what his body likes and dislikes.

What if we had the same body awareness and relationship surrounding food?

Now, I’m not a fan of cheat meals - but probably for reasons you might not think. The main reason is that I don’t want to have that type of relationship with food to begin with.

Let me ask you a question. Would you be willing to cheat in your relationship, on a test, or any other area of your life? The answer is obviously (hopefully) no. So why would you want to “cheat” on your diet? Or even have that relationship with food in the first place?

I am the first person to enjoy a nice piece of cake or something else that isn’t deemed “healthy” but I also understand the impact it’s going to have on my body, take the action necessary to make myself better, and not beat myself up for having it.

Food should be enjoyed! It should be a celebration. We have lived for centuries with our tribes and communities and every time we gather together, it’s with food. It’s what brings us together as individuals.

We shouldn’t feel shame or guilt over something that is so ingrained in our spirituality. You might be thinking it’s easy for me to sit here and type this, but I, too, have had my struggles and worked with so many people who have thought this way.

It starts with accepting who we are now, embracing everything about ourselves, and learning how to create a healthy relationship with food.

12. Be yourself

Last, and probably most important, is to just be you.

Koda isn’t worried about what other dogs or humans think about him. He never worries if his collar is too “yesterday” (and it probably is lol) or if he still has bed fur sticking up, he is just happy to be alive and be himself.

It’s all well and good to want to look good and feel good when we go out. But we shouldn’t let our happiness be dictated off of others’ opinions about us.

I’ll say that again…

We should never let our own happiness be dictated off of others’ opinions about us.

If we are constantly seeking the approval and adoration of others, then we have already set ourselves up for failure. It’s impossible to make everybody like us, so when if we base our happiness off of who they expect us to be, then it’s an endless cycle of disappointment.

First and foremost, you have to create true happiness within you by just being you.

I’ve been fake, surrounded by fake friends, spending money I didn’t have, to impress people I didn’t like. It just made me unhappy. But when I started just being myself, with my own sense of humor and living a life true to my beliefs and values, I attracted the right people in my life and saw healthier relationships because of it.

So there you have it friends, these are the 12 lessons Koda has taught me about living my life to the fullest. If you asked me four years ago if I would learn more about life from a dog than I would in my college classes, I probably would’ve laughed at you.

But now I realize that sometimes life isn’t about getting a degree, taking a test, or making the Dean’s List. While those things have their place and value, it’s more about enjoying the things that truly matter and make us a really, awesome person.

To see more awesome pictures of Koda, follow me on Instagram @Craig_McCloskey and if you’re looking for great health tips and personalized coaching, I offer all of that here!

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Talk soon,

Craig