6 Essential Life Lessons from my Pug

I know what you may be thinking: what could somebody possibly learn from their dog? However, if you’re a dog lover, you know without a doubt that these fun-loving, loyal creatures have unique personalities all their own. And, if you stop for a second and pick your head up from your smart phone, you might just learn a thing or two.

For the last 7 years, my wife, Anna, and I have had the joy of having our pug, “Pugz,” in our lives. In 2007, we adopted the 2-year old pug after Anna (who at the time was my girlfriend) fell in love with her at a Philadelphia Phillies game. There was no way I could say no to her. The local SPCA was there, since Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley and his wife are huge supporters. Our future pug was there sporting her giant tongue as she panted away in the warm June weather. Her name for that day was “Pug McGraw” – in honor of the late Phillies relief pitcher Tug McGraw – so of course we had to keep the name!

When we went to pick her up the following week to take her home, we learned she had been abused and then subsequently abandoned. She was left to wander the streets of Philadelphia with another pug. I don’t think I could last on the streets for one day and here’s this little 20 pound dog figuring her way around.

I grew up with cats. Pugz stayed at Anna’s apartment, but I was there all the time. So, she was pretty much my dog too. However, never having a dog, it took a little while for me to get used to the barking and the … let’s say unique … noises that all pugs make.

After an adjustment period, I grew to love her very much … almost like a child. Anna and I don’t have any children yet, but we surely are proud “puppy parents.” Anyway, this crazy little dog has taught me a lot over the last few years and is still just as rambunctious at 9 years old as she was at two. Allow me to share a few things Pugz has taught me.

#1 – Love unconditionally.

It doesn’t matter what we do to her. I could spank her butt for pooping on the carpet or yell at her for running over to the neighbor’s yard. She doesn’t care. She still comes over to me, jumps on my lap, and attempts to lick me to death. She’s full of love and is always ready to protect us despite being 20 to 25 pounds.

I don’t know about you, but I could learn to love more unconditionally and not take what others say or do too seriously.

#2 – Never give up.

In 2011, Anna and I had a lot going on. We were married in May, went on our honeymoon to Ireland in late June / early July, and closed on our house in July. It was a whirlwind couple of months, but we were not ready for what came in August. We took Pugz to the vet to get her checked out for a lump around her cheeks. We soon found out that she had Stage 3 Lymphoma.

This poor little dog who survived the mean streets of Philly was now in a battle for her life. Anna, me, and her parents were devastated (they watch Pugz a lot). We all would burst into tears at the sight of her and just clung to our puppy. We didn’t have any pet insurance, so we paid out of pocket a sum of $5,000 (with some help from both our parents). We felt we owed it to give Pugz a fighting chance.

And Pugz came through it. She was a little trooper with her chemo treatment. When the vet would hook up the catheter, she would pick her paw up and down or hold it up to us as if to say, “Look, I’m broken. Hold me.” It was the cutest and the saddest thing at the same time.

But, she did it. She beat that Lymphoma and Pugz is cancer free going on 2 years now. It’s amazing what 20 pounds of shear will and determination can do.

#3 – Stand up for yourself.

Let me tell you: Pugz is feisty. She doesn’t take anything from anybody. If she doesn’t like you, you will hear about it. If she wants to be fed, she will bark incessantly. If she is thirsty and we haven’t re-filled her water bowl in enough time for her, she will knock the powder room trash can against the toilet until we do as she commands. She stands up for herself – something we could all do a little more of.

#4 – Be you, be authentic.

Pugz is going to do whatever she wants to do. Don’t bother telling her no. She’s in your face. She’s easily excitable. She will bark when she wants to bark and doesn’t take no for answer. She loves her backyard, but if she knows Anna and I aren’t watching, she will go and pee on the neighbor’s tree. That’s Pugz. She has a fun and crazy personality – and she isn’t going to change for anybody. She’s an authentic dog and an authentic pug.

How often are we comfortable being our true selves?

#5 – It doesn’t matter how small you are.

Pugs are considered “toy” dogs. Our pug usually comes in under 25 pounds. She’s not big in terms of size, but her presence is always felt. She’s the first to greet visitors at the door and more than willing to let us know if a jogger is going by the house. On walks, she may not always want to be very friendly – especially to the big dogs – but we have to “hold her back” school yard brawl style on her leash because she will give them hell as they walk away. She’s very “fierce” from 20 yards away.

Are there times when you come up small because you’re not putting your best self forward? Do you let size intimidate you on a daily basis? How can you rise to the occasion instead of being overwhelmed to mediocrity by the occasion?

#6 – Rags to riches is real. But, it’s not all about the money.

Let’s start with the money first though in this case. Pugz went from street dog to beloved pet to a suburban middle class family. She lives a great little life. She goes on walks, has a yard to run around and sniff in, and has plenty of food. She doesn’t want for anything.

However, I think the lesson here transcends that of money. There is an opportunity to pull a “rags to riches” story in just about anything. For me, I’ve focused on being a happier person this year. I always tried to be an optimist, but I seemed to allow negative people, negative news, or negative experiences to cloud my judgment. And I would then revisit these “mental movies” from time to time – even if they happened years ago – and allow myself to go back to the anger I felt. I decided enough was enough. And while I am still a happiness work in progress, I can say that I went from rags to riches in terms of my attitude.

I went from a bad attitude to an attitude of gratitude.

Is there something that you need to overcome in life or have overcome? Do you have your own non-monetary rags to riches story? Tell me about it. I truly would love to hear it.

Until next time, be pug-like in the way you live. Love others and yourself without limits. Don’t allow yourself to give up on things that matter. Stand up for yourself and BE yourself. Be big when the world says you’re small. Be a rags to riches inspiration to those in your life.

Be a pug.

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Follow David Domzalski on Twitter @DavidDomzalski and on his blog.