Life Lessons My Dogs Taught Me Without Even Trying

Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two crossbreed dogs, Lava and Hela.

Dogs bring all sorts of joy and value to a person’s life. They keep you active, get you to spend a lot of time outdoors, and inevitably teach you to notice and appreciate the little things in life. I always admire the way dogs approach their day, living it to the fullest, no matter what, and there aren't a lot of things that can bring them down. If only we could be a bit more like our dogs, for at least a small part of the day.

Sleep Is Important For a Good Start To the Day

The first thing my dogs always try to teach me is that a good night’s sleep is crucial. But so is resting throughout the day. Whenever you feel tired, what better way to treat yourself than to take a quick power nap? My three dogs love to nap, but they all have slightly different approaches to it. Lava is slow to begin her day and loves to stay in bed longer in the morning. Hela and Lajka, on the other hand, can’t wait to get out and start exploring. But when they sleep, there is no screen time, no interruptions or distractions, if they can help it, just peaceful rest. No wonder they’ve got so much energy to start the day off.

Seize the Day

And from the moment they are up, it's go-time. No stopping. They don’t need anything to kick off their day; they are ready to run around and explore. And they will use the day to the fullest. No staying in bed until late, no procrastinating, just pure action. And naps, of course, when needed. Even if the weather is far from perfect, by our human definition, the dogs still want to spend it outside, doing what they do best – digging holes, sniffing after wildlife, playing, and chasing each other around.

Enjoy Every Moment

There are so many little things in the day that are easy to miss or take for granted, such as sunrises, flowers, and the smell of upcoming rain or freshly cut grass. And dogs enjoy it all. Okay, maybe not in the way we would, as they generally dig up the flowers or at least step on them, rarely try to eat them, or pee on them. And there is nothing better than rolling in wet grass or drinking from muddy puddles. But we can’t deny it; they live to the fullest.

Always Stand Up For Yourself

It’s interesting to see how dogs interact with one another. Lava is a loner, but she loves to play. She is a bit of a bully and dictates the rhythm of any game. Hela was more shy to begin with, but she came out of her shell last year and found courage and a playful personality. Initially, she was more cautious around Lava, with her loud and growly play behavior, but has learned that it’s all harmless and for show. Now Hela leads the game and especially loves playing with Lajka. Lajka, being the smallest, knows how to stand up for herself when the game becomes too rough for her, and she tells Hela she’s had enough.

Play a Lot

Life would be boring if we didn’t play and have fun. We don’t have to be kids to do it. Sports, hiking, board games with friends, and any other ways to get us to laugh and be active. Dogs know this innately. They play all the time, and they are great at it. They play alone, find activities to pass their time, and play with their friends. Lava takes it a step further and tries to get to the neighbor’s house often to play with their dogs, despite having two dogs in her own home to play with. And another lesson (that isn’t really a lesson, but Lava lives by) is that the grass is always greener on the other side.

If Unsure About Something, Pee On It

And finally, dogs may pee on things they are unsure of, such as strange or even threatening smells and objects. Although we can’t really follow this to the word, since it would be socially unacceptable to say the least, we can learn not to stress about things that are outside of our control. Sometimes we just have to embrace the good and the bad as they come, and remember to take it one step at a time, as dogs do. No need to worry about tomorrow, when today is just so beautiful.