There is just something about a dog that makes life better...Unless it's raining outside...that's not as fun. The companionship that a dog brings is just so pure. I don't know all of the stats on specifically the cognitive bandwidth of a dog and the terms it can understand, but they seem to know when you need them the most.
If you have been considering getting yourself a pooch, take note you may want to consider getting one already trained...puppies are extremely cute, have a sweet breath that almost anyone loves, and are a joy to watch and play with. The accidents on the floor don't seem to matter to most, nor does the chewed up wooden feet of the couch, or even the tiny scratches from their needle teeth on your skin. It's all simply adorable...during the day.
Night time. You realize fairly quickly after you have put the young tired ball of fluff in its crate beside your bed (like all of the experts tell you to do) that a puppy doesn't sleep very long at all before it has to take another trip to the loo. In fact, you have just inherited a cluster feeding newborn. It's actually worse than a newborn, because you can swaddle a newborn, change it's diaper and fall asleep with it sitting in a chair...indoors. No, not a puppy. Have you ever wondered what your neighbours house looks like at 3:17 AM from your front lawn? Maybe you have always wanted to hear what the neighbourhood sounds like when nobody is stirring. A puppy will treat you to that. Here is the absolutely nutty part. You can't just go out there all groggy and think that you have no role in this. You need to get your best cheerleading self together and celebrate like you just won a trip to Hawaii using nothing but hushed tones and body language. You have to let this puppy know that you are over the moon that they had a whiz outside. I'm sure it looks like you have been hit by a taser to anyone that is watching.
Do you know what happens when you do that other than looking completely ridiculous outside in polka dot boxers and a t-shirt dancing like a fool? You actually believe it too! It's playtime! How can you possible resist? Look at how cute that little ball of fluff is! And so you play in the darkness until the puppy is tired and you put him back into the crate, and you start to drift off to the deepest 10 minute sleep you have had when the whimpering starts again. Ignore it. Go back to sleep. You can't. What if it pees in the crate or worse, the other? The experts have you terrified that if you have overestimated even the slightest on the room that is available in that crate, then the puppy will find a corner in there to relieve itself in and it will set you back months! So you get up. It wants to play. Don't give in. Don't give in. Don't give in...well maybe one little game of tug of war with a t-shirt. And it begins again.
Morning time and you peel yourself out of the bed. The little puffball is sleeping soundly. Time to get ready for work. You let it out, quick play, feed it, back into the crate. I can't remember specifically what the know it all gurus say, but there is some kind of a formula that dictates how long then the pup can be crated before it has to be let out prior to it breaking a seal in its bedding. That means, you need to have either taken vacation from work; live close enough to have multiple breaks; or have begged a family member or neighbour to drop by your house a few times with implicit instruction on how you want your new family member never to have too many treats or human food. People always listen to those instructions and follow them to the letter. They would never succumb to a puppy's eyes and playful demeanour and try to have a special bond themselves with said fuzzpot.
This goes on for a couple of months. Somehow during this time, you need to determine that you are indeed the boss and are not going to fall for this puppies genuine desire to make you have fun all the time. Sitting isn't fun! Let's run and chew the hell out of stuff. Yes, you will need to train the young creature and set your ground rules early, otherwise, you will end up living in the largest dog house on the block.
If you can do it though, if you can make it through, and have commanded a minimum level of respect from the four legged sidekick, you will see it is much like building your own house. It's very difficult, lots of things to consider and mistakes made, but it's truly got your touch on it. I had one dog ringing a bird bell to go outside to pee. Everyone was blown away. Remember what I just said about making mistakes. Bird bells don't sound good at 2:47 AM when your dog wants to roll on a stick on the front lawn just to let anyone out there wandering the streets at dusk know that it is indeed his stick.
So if you see a dog owner, and the dog is walking by it's side on a leash that isn't pulling the individual in a dryland waterskiing training exercise; know that person put in a lot of work with that pup. One final point about it all...and this should give you some perspective on if it is truly worth it to you in having a dog. You will be literally picking up after it for the rest of it's life. I often wonder if something was watching us from space, and saw a human walking behind a dog picking up what it was putting down, then carrying it in a thin plastic bag...who it would deem as the leader of the two.
All of that, and here by my side as I type lies my furry shadow. Gazing up at me with adoration. Waiting with patience to see the leash come out from the closet and twirling with excitement ready to lead me through the streets of the neighbourhood. Nevermind....he just wanted to roll on his stick.