3 Things My Dog Taught Me About Myself

The lessons aren’t cute, feel-good ones

(Photo of cute dog and child by author)

He’s cute, isn’t he?? He’s also huge. Most people are scared of him, but he’s just a big baby. However — and this theory hasn’t been tested — I bet he’d rip someone apart if they tried to mess with any of us.

An opinion you might hate me for

I have quite a few controversial opinions, but I don’t think any of them will bother people more than what I’m about to say. I’ve learned a thing or two, though, so hear me out.

I am not a “pet person.” My daughters are the only reason we got a dog. I think animals are dirty, messy, and just one more thing to take care of. I appreciate every creature big and small, but I don’t want to share a living space with most of them. Spiders and reptiles, yes. Furry things, not so much.

I also have a lot of kids, so I don’t feel like giving my time and attention to something not human. Still, having a dog has taught me some invaluable lessons about myself and life.

3 lessons I learned the hard way

I’ll start with the most obvious and painful.

#1: I lack a “normal” amount of empathy.