J.W. Stephens once said, “Be the person your dog thinks you are.” As the owner of three adoring dogs, I’m quite certain I have not, and never will, quite live up to these words of advice. However, I am also quite certain my goofy, drooling canines have made me into a better person and given me a second chance at true happiness.

     I was no different than you may be—caught up in the rat race called life, chasing a dollar but never really getting ahead, wallowing in self-pity and self-doubt while looking around at others with jealous distaste for their successes. I knew there had to be more to life than what I was living, but I had no idea a little ten-pound Australian Shepherd puppy named “Lady” would show me exactly what I was missing.

     She came into my life by accident—a birthday present for a boyfriend who soon broke up with me. He got a new girlfriend out of it, and I got a new puppy. I have always said I got the best end of that deal. Lady taught me how to love unconditionally and how to accept unconditional love in return. She taught me patience and forgiveness with every puddle accidentally left in the floor and every favorite pair of shoes that inevitably became chew toys. However, the true life lessons from Lady would emerge as she got much older.

     Pure bliss over the simplest things—that’s the first thing Lady taught me. A lick from my ice-cream cone or a scratch behind her floppy black ears was enough to make her tail wag for hours. I stopped to wonder if I took time out of my day to enjoy the little things in life. I didn’t. I had gotten in a hurry and forgotten to embrace a random hug or a stunning sunset. So, I changed.

     Unadulterated loyalty and protection is the second thing my sweet girl taught me. No one else exists in her world if I’m around. No one gets near me without her approval. Was I this fiercely loyal to my family and friends? Probably not. So, I changed.

     The third biggest thing I learned from Lady is the ability to see the best in people. There were days I wasn’t the perfect owner. I’m sure there were many days I was in a hurry and walked right past her without so much as a greeting or a head rub. She was still waiting for me when I got home with as much admiration and love for me as when I left. There were days when I wasn’t a perfect person. But when I came home, I was met with licks to the face and cuddles instead of judgement. I started to reflect on my outlook on people and question whether I was that forgiving and empathetic. I was not. So, I began to change that as well.

     I have since added two more dogs to my clan, and they all think I hung the moon. I think they do, too. Lady is getting old and walks more gingerly some days, but there’s still a sparkle in those caramel eyes that reminds me to make the most of every single day. Even if I don’t have a perfect day, I still get to come home to three mischievous pups who think every day with me is perfect. Thanks to all of them, I no longer dwell on the negative in life. I stop on the side of the road to take pictures of a sunrise or rainbow. I love harder and forgive more easily. The quote says to “be the person your dog thinks you are,” but I have become the person my dog made me, and I’m pretty sure she approves. That’s good enough for me.