Be the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are

I have lived away from home for nearly a month now, and I miss a lot of things. I miss being with my family, hanging out with friends, and sleeping in my own room; but the one thing I miss most is my black Labrador, Jasmine. If you’ve spent time away from your dog or a pet, you know how much you miss seeing them. I was reminded of Jasmine when I read a t-shirt that bore a humorous yet powerful quote, “Be the person your dog thinks you are”.             What type of person does my dog think I am? I promise she thinks I am smart. I am the only one who knows how to unlock the food container and get her breakfast every morning. In her eyes I must be an absolute genius for knowing that trick. I know where the ball is at all times, and never chase my tail around which are all things she struggles with.             She definitely thinks I am a leader. When we go on hikes or hunts, she is always by my side, following my every stride and turn. She rides shotgun on many car rides and always has a smile on her face wherever I lead her. I may not always lead us down the right path, but we find our way no matter what. In the end, she trusts me and my judgment more than I do sometimes.               Without a doubt she thinks I am loving. Every time she rolls over for a belly rub, I am always willing to provide. She doesn’t care if I’m upset, sad, or even busy. If she thinks it’s time for a belly rub, she will persist. Sometimes I think she does it for me and not her. She knows how much it makes me happy to see her leg thump when you find that sweet spot. Whatever it is that Jazzy can do to get me in the best mood possible, she will do just that.             So, whether we have a dog at home, or know a dog from somewhere, let’s all try and be that person they think we are. Sometimes we may doubt ourselves and what we think we are, but we can always count on our pets at home to know us best and expect the best out of us. A professional dog lover, Nathan Fairchild