What I Have Learned From My Puppy

Arrow's first bone

Source: Azadeh Aalai

Psychologists have always been interested in the bond between humans and our canine companions. In addition to the significant emotional attachment owners develop to their pets, there has also been extensive research on the rich emotional lives of animals. For an eye-opening analysis of this, I strongly recommend reading The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal, Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy—and Why They Matter by Marc Bekoff (2008).

More recently, a study published this week found that dogs appear to have a specific region in their brains dedicated to processing human faces (as reported by Jarrett, 2019). While the researchers acknowledge that the results of this study require greater exploration, their findings clearly demonstrate that the brain of dogs seems to be wired in such a way as to form unique and meaningful connections—with humans in particular. Moreover, all dog owners can attest to the strong emotional connection they develop to their canine companions.

So what have I learned from my puppy? While he is not the first dog I have owned, it has been a while since I introduced a puppy into my life, and I can say, they require a lot of attention and care. I forgot how much energy puppies have. He is curious, mischievous, playful, and still a baby who whines if I am not tending to him or he wants something that is out of reach. I have learned that, despite a number of stressors I am struggling with right now in my life, it is virtually impossible to be unhappy in the presence of a puppy. I recently had a loved one in the ICU, and going home to my new dog provided me with an unanticipated and necessary joy that enabled me to maintain some semblance of positivity in the middle of a very difficult time for our family.

Perhaps, then, it comes as no surprise that dog ownership has been linked to stress reduction and positive outcomes for one’s heart, perhaps by lowering blood pressure and anxiety (as reported by Sturt, n.d.; Zorthian, 2017). I experienced vicariously the benefits of introducing a puppy to my 80-year-old father, who showed renewed energy and attention during the time that I stayed with my parents with the dog in tow. In fact, I observed that caring for the puppy while I was tending to our family emergency gave my father a newfound purpose and distraction each day. In fact, “dogs help prevent loneliness, and isolation, as well, which is key to staving off cognitive decline and disease” (Sturt, n.d., para. 6). As such, they can be very significant companions for individuals as they age.

One thing that has surprised me—particularly since I brought the puppy back home to New York—is how many people approach us on the street, asking if they can pet him, questioning how old he is, or otherwise just stopping in their tracks and smiling at the sight of such a small and energetic little dog. And there has been no demographic profile of those who stop us—young and old, male and female, individuals by themselves or paired off or in groups—Arrow attracts a lot of positive attention. It seems that our love of canines or the simple pleasure of being in the presence of a young dog is a great equalizer that gets who would otherwise pass one another as strangers to interact and exchange pleasantries. I even find myself thanking these people when they compliment the dog as if I am in any way responsible for his cuteness. Alas, I can take credit only for making the decision to become a dog owner again. For that, I am grateful.

This puppy experience so far has taught me to be patient, less selfish, more loving, and more kind. In addition, his energy has taught me to take breaks from the seriousness of life and to savor playfulness over the course of any given day. I know that dog ownership comes with significant risks—just last year we had to put down my beloved dog I had had since starting graduate school nearly 20 years ago. The heartbreaking loss of a pet can, in the moment, feel like a good enough reason to never get another one. But I am grateful that after grieving I was willing to stake my heart on another dog, of the same breed, even, as the one I had lost.

I find myself once again forming a strong attachment to a dog—this one only three and a half pounds at present. As he grows and develops into his personality every day, I marvel at how such a little package can be filled with so much love and joy. Perhaps that is the most important lesson to take from my puppy ownership thus far—that the gifts we receive in life can come from unexpected places, in shapes and sizes or forms that we may not always expect or anticipate.

Copyright Azadeh Aalai 2019