5 Spiritual Lessons You Can Learn From Your Dog
1. Turn around three times before settling down to sleep.
I engage in a lot of rituals before I go to bed at night but turning in circles (except metaphorically) is not a practice… yet.
Dekker, my service dog has been trying to teach me the benefits of turning around three times before I settle down.
Last night I tried this. Now don’t laugh!
On the first turn, I only noticed how stupid I felt.
Yet, by the time I turned full circle I became mindful of the floor under my feet, that I was alone (thank goodness!) and that time was momentarily still.
On the second turn I noticed my breath while things external to myself—furniture, clutter, lights, etc—began to fade away and I felt more grounded.
On the third turn I began to lean into the center of this mindfulness and my muscles loosened to prepare for a good night’s sleep.
Who knew turning in circles is not only a spiritual practice but also a great cure for insomnia. Now I understand why my dog sleeps so much.
2. A small bit of kibble goes a long way.
The best way to train a dog is to reward tiny achievements and positive behavior.
These miniature servings of basic food are so important to a dog that he will happily do what I ask if he knows there is kibble afterwards.
I am not fond of kibble myself, but what my dog teaches me is the importance of reward and how simple it can be.
A thank you. A smile. Acknowledgement and affirmation.
These are the kibble equivalents that I carry to hand out to people I meet in the course of my day. My goal is to grow in consistency in the reward department.
3. Accomplishments can be taught. Faithfulness is rooted in the heart.
Although we all think our dog is the smartest dog in the universe. I want to share an event that taught me that a dog’s gifts go way beyond smarts, but I suspect if you are a dog owner you already know this.
Although I love inviting Dekker to show his skills of picking up toys and putting them in a toy box at night and then getting his own dish for supper, achievements that bring smiles every time, his love and faithfulness run much deeper.
When I fell while playing fetch he left the game of chase and stood by my side and barked until help arrived.
When I sleep at night, I sense his gentle presence in the dark as he stands nearby to check on me.
When we go for a walk, his deep brown eyes turn to check on me and assure me every few steps that he loves me, (and the kibble in my pocket).
I pray I can be as faithful to others in my life, to be there when they fall, to check on them in their dark places and not worry so much about what I ‘accomplish’.
4. Showing love beats talking about it.
Anyone who owns a dog will understand this statement.
Every dog I have ever had kisses me with abandon any time of day.
He doesn’t care if I have a cold, or haven’t showered, or have ignored him all afternoon.
All I have to do is open my heart and accept his love offering.
Wet. Sloppy. Intense. Kisses.
All the while wagging his whole body as if he were all tail.
What I have learned from this unconditional expression of love is to be mindful of the importance of showing my love for others and not make it conditional on their measuring up to my standards.
A touch, a warm smile, eye contact, a gentle word all offered with ‘body-wagging’ enthusiasm… all remind the receiver that they are the most important and treasured being in the universe.
5. The key to staying grounded is to work hard, play hard and sleep hard.
As a service dog my lab works every day in areas for which he has been trained. Your pet dog’s primary responsibility may be to be the best companion ever, and they also have their ‘work’ . It may be to guard the home, to warm your feet, or to be a companion in the lonely places.
For Dekker, a trained service dog, when his jacket goes on, he is ‘on duty’ and his focus is always on me. In the corporate world his title might be CSO – Chief Safety Officer.
For as much as he wants to follow his nose he stays by my side ready to pick up what I have dropped, nudge open a door or wait patiently under a table while I eat with friends.
It may sound like a cushy job but not for a dog who wants to be running, sniffing and chasing balls.
He teaches me the value of being focused, of leaving temptations aside, ignoring distractions and being prepared for anything. He knows the command “Leave it!” while I am still working on that one!
Dekker is my prototype for what it means to ‘work hard’. Your dog may not have specific job responsibilities like Dekker, but I am sure you have certain expectations of him or her every day, even if it is to go outside to pee in the rain, or stay home quietly while you are at your job. That’s all work!!
When it comes to play Dekker knows when his jacket comes off he gets to play, and after chasing balls, chewing his ‘Hedgie’ and making a racket with squeaky toys he plops down to sleep so sound that very little disturbs him. If your dog is a much loved pet I am certain he or she understands ‘playtime’!
Oh, how I covet that ability to move from work to play to sleep with such focus and commitment!
If you would like to know more about Dekker or service dogs, click here.
If you have a dog… or cat… or guinea pig… what are the lessons they have taught you? Please consider leaving a comment to share with other readers.
If you want to know more about Dekker from his point of view…
