Clearly, humans are more advanced intellectually than dogs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t teach us anything. In fact, research shows that dogs are actually really great teachers. There are many lessons that people can learn from owning, caring for and being around dogs.
If you’re skeptical, all you have to do is spend some time with the canines in your life. You’ll quickly find that many of life’s lessons are best taught by the animal innocence you experience in the company of dogs. Here are some of the best lessons you can learn from man’s best friend. They’ll serve you well for a lifetime.
Express Your Feelings
Dogs certainly aren’t afraid to let you know how they’re feeling, whether they’re scared, hungry or ready for a walk. Taking a lesson from them is good for your peace of mind. Instead of holding your feelings in, it’s healthy to express them in a way that allows you to get what you want without compromising the feelings or well-being of other people.
When you’re around a dog, you know exactly what they’re feeling. You could do this too and life would be a lot easier.
Unconditional Love
There is nothing like the love you get from a dog. They will never spurn you or judge you. Dogs are always happy to see you and don’t care what you look like or what kind of mood you’re in. Dogs display unconditional love at all times, which is something that all people should be doing.
You know how good it feels to be loved unconditionally and it’s something you can give to those in your life. Not only do they feel good, but you feel good at the same time.
Dogs Love Whatever They’re Doing In the Moment
When dogs are playing, it’s their favorite thing. When dogs are eating, that’s their favorite thing. Dogs embrace whatever is going on and fully enjoy it without worrying about the past or what’s happening in the future.
Learning to embrace the moment and live there until it’s over makes for a much more satisfying life because you get to enjoy each thing you’re doing and nothing from the outside world invades that.
Dogs Love New Things
You’d never see a dog turning down a ride in the car to a new place or turning their nose up at a new toy. Dogs are always ready to experience something new and different. Taking a lesson from this allows you to try to enjoy a wide range of things you might otherwise never get to experience.
When someone asks you to try a new restaurant, go on a day trip or hike a new trail, go for it! You might not enjoy it, but it’s more likely that you will. Either way, it’s nice to be able to say you tried something and add it to your list of life experiences you can share with others as you get older. Who knows? You might find your new favorite activity or place.
Make Time For Playing
Even grown-ups need to play. Play naturally evolves as you get older, but you should still be making time to do the things you love best. Who better to learn this lesson from than a dog? Dogs always want to play and love getting out their favorite toys.
Adults should be actively and regularly engaging in the things they are passionate about. This gives you a nice break from the responsibilities of life and lets you enjoy your favorite things. Whether it’s reading, biking, sewing or cooking, making time for what you love creates a happier and higher quality of life.
If you don’t own a dog or know someone with a dog you can spend time with, consider volunteering at your local animal shelter or veterinarian’s office. You can benefit from the volunteer 
opportunities while also enjoying your time with the dogs.
The dogs will always be happy to see you and will never be upset with you. You can take the time to fully enjoy your time with the animals while also learning a lot of life lessons that you can carry over into your own life.
Call your local animal shelters or doctors’ offices and ask how you can help. Chances are they will be ready and willing to accept your help and will love having you around to help out. And the dogs will love it too.
