Dogs teach us so many things, especially how to be more human:
- Patience – Learning that not everything comes easily, even when we think it should, develops character.
- Communications skills – When one thing doesn’t work, try another until it does. It’s tough when people don’t have tails!
- Behavior - Dogs teach us that corrections using physical abuse nets only fear and obedience – a poor trade for love and cooperation.
- Courage - Dogs enter burning buildings to save us; they find us when we are buried under rubble, snow, or when we are lost in the woods. Dogs even go to war.
- Loyalty and unconditional love – We count on dogs to embrace these traits every day. We learn what loyalty and unconditional love means, as recently seen in the Joplin tornado tragedy – a woman ran out into the storm to save her terrified dog, her body found covering her dog’s in an attempt to save him.
- Assist when help is needed without complaint -. Dogs read our moods – and let children read to them, they have learned to interpret our facial expressions, smell medical problems, assist us when we are unable. Dogs help war vets live a more normal life. They warn us of intruders, keep children calm, help them speak up in courtrooms and in therapy sessions, and help autistic children deal with the pressures of going to school every day.
- Compassion – Dogs teach us compassion by forgiving our failings and comforting us when we are in pain.
By no means a complete list of what dogs teach us, it’s a good start!
We celebrate our dogs, taking them with us on vacations, to the beach, down to the cafe to meet friends, we even get an international day designated to take them to work with us! Work may be the next item we include on this list – dogs teach us by example how to act in the world of work.
Dogs teach us how to get motivated, be leaders in the workplace.
“True Blue Leadership” by Mr. Blue, a smart, funny, serious, easy-to-read book, is written from a dog’s perspective. Author Tracey Jones, a motivational speaker, spoke with Lorie Huston about her background and how she came to help her dog write a book about leadership and motivation. I found a great video book trailer on Tracey’s Tremendous Life Books site which I think will make you laugh out loud (watch for reviewers Baron Barkowitz, Dr Furrman Von Wolfenstein) – it’s a “must see” and check out the downloadable books, ranging from $1 to $9.95…True Blue is only $5.
I won’t spoil it for you, but here’s a bite of the wisdom from Mr. Blue: “Herding isn’t leading, and You don’t have to have a pedigree to be best in show.” True Blue Leadership is a fresh take on leadership and motivation in the workplace. Dogs teach us many lessons if we watch and listen. Mr. Blue and his human Tracey Jones show us we can learn much through laughter and the lightness of being that is Mr. Blue. Listen to Lorie Huston’s interview with Tracey Jones at Animal Cafe.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
So true. Dogs make us aware of the importance of communicating without using words.
Hi Jan – Yes – we have no tail, they don't have the same kind of voice, and still we figure it out;-D
I'll give Jersey everything on the list BUT courage. She is afraid of her own shadow :O
Ha! Poor girl;) But you never know – if her people were threatened she might surprise…my happy go lucky Eng Springer Spaniel surprised the heck of me one night when two guys walked by asking me if "that" was my dog – they must have been thinking bad thoughts. Dickens hair was up. They decided to keep moving…he was a good boy – I didn't have a good feeling about them either!