Dog Appreciation Month

All pet parents know that dogs provide great companionship and help us feel secure, safe, and loved–the same way they feel about us! But sometimes we can get bogged down in our daily routines and forget all of the amazing ways our dogs make our lives better mentally, emotionally, and physically. Dog Appreciation Month gives us a chance to stop and reflect on all of the ways our pups improve our lives, and the lives of everyone around us. 

Social Butterflies 

Our dogs are inherently social creatures and pet parenthood forces us to embrace our dog communities. Whether that’s the local dog park in the morning, #DogTok, or a meet-cute on the sidewalk thanks to intertwining leashes, our pups encourage us to build relationships with our neighbors. 

Mental Wellness 

Dogs are a stress reducer. When we pet or snuggle up with our pups it releases oxytocin, aka the love hormone, according to Harvard Health, and our brain is flushed with positive chemicals. These effects are so positive that college campuses will often “employ” dogs from local shelters to help students de-stress during finals season. 

Bravery and Loyalty

The loyalty our dogs show us every day makes them inherently brave. There are globally renowned heroes like Balto, the Siberian Husky who led a team of sled dogs during the 1925 serum run in Alaska to deliver a life-saving diphtheria serum to Nome. Then, there are local canine legends and heroes all around us. From K-9 units to our own pups barking at potential intruders, a.k.a. the mailman, dogs all around us are putting their bravest paws forward to ensure a safer world. 

Unconditional Love

Of course, the greatest gift and lesson we get from our dogs is their unconditional love. Dogs are always in the moment, making them primed to give us all of their love all of the time. This is why whenever we walk into our homes, our pups are wagging their tails and tapping their toes. It is really special to know that no matter what mistakes we make along the way, at the end of the day, our pups will love us no matter what. 

All of the love and loyalty our dogs give us sheds a positive light on all of the times we are forced into paying the Cheese Tax or wedged into the corner of the couch so our dog can stretch out. This Dog Appreciation Month, be sure to “shake” your canine companion’s paw to thank them for all they give us.