Episode #198 Dogs & Loving Affection

This is the puppy training podcast and I'm your host , amy Jensen . Hello everybody , thank you for listening to the podcast . Today . We are talking about love , we're talking about affection and we're talking about dogs and why they're so good at it and what we as humans can learn from them . I think they teach us lots of lessons good ones .

So I'm glad you're here . Let's jump right right into it . We know dogs are highly empathetic animals . They can sense our emotions , so they see our smiling face and they can interpret what that means . They see our grumpy faces .

They can also interpret what that means , so they can feel our sadness , our stress , maybe joy , or they can often respond with comforting behavior . So , unlike people who might withhold affection due to pride , anger , frustration , I find that dogs are largely free from such emotional complexities .

They don't seem to hold grudges and they seem to forgive and forget easily , which makes their love appear limitless and a little more pure . That said , it seems trust is important in order for them to show affection . So it is really necessary that they trust the person and then affection comes .

Now , all dogs are unique individuals and some may show more affection than others . So if you're listening today and you're like , ah , my dog's not as affectionate as you're making it sound , that's pretty normal too .

But in general , you know , if you're having a bad day , our dogs just seem to notice , they seem to understand it , they seem to want to come and comfort us . Uh , they seem to be able to read our body language and our facial cues pretty well . I'm super impressed with it . I find that with families , these dogs are amazing .

The more families I work with and the more people talk to me about their dogs and all of the benefits and the reasons why they love having a dog . Uh , it just reemphasizes to me about their dogs and all of the benefits and the reasons why they love having a dog .

Uh , it just reemphasizes to me that the presence of a dog and the love that they can offer can be incredibly beneficial for a family . Now , one major advantage is the emotional support dogs provide . For instance , let's say there's some stress happening at your house . The calming presence of a dog can reduce anxiety .

It can create a sense of peace within a household . Families with dogs often report lower stress levels , as even just petting a dog can trigger the release of oxytocin , which is a hormone linked to love and bonding . Additionally , dogs help build a sense of responsibility in both children and adults .

Right Now , make sure you get the dog with the full understanding that you might be in charge of the dog , especially if you have kids that are begging you to get one . If mom and dad are not on board , it's not a good idea , in my opinion , but definitely get the kids involved if they want to be involved Now . Taking care of a pet teaches commitment .

It teaches kids compassion and empathy , how to care for someone other than themselves , which I think is a great lesson to teach our youth as family members learn to care for dog's needs . They're looking outward , right , they're turning outward because so much of the world is me , me , me or I , I , I , right .

So I love to teach my kids how to look at another living creature , empathize with them , take care of them , show compassion towards them . Now , in turn , our dog's consistent love offers comfort , boosts self-esteem , especially in kids . For example , a child who feels misunderstood or anxious may find solace in their dog who will offer companionship without judgment .

We find this when we take dogs in to do reading programs . So dogs who go to elementary schools and help kids read it can help that child feel confident in their reading skills to have the dog listening to them , because the dog is a nonjudgmental being listening to them .

So instead of having a human listening that might cast judgment on how they read or their lack of skills , or they feel that pressure to perform , the dog doesn't have any of that and the child is just excited to read to them . So we see that reading scores go up because that dog who offers that companionship without judgment .

Dogs also help strengthen family bonds . A dog's loyalty to the family as a whole encourages group activities like walks , playtime or even shared responsibility for the feeding and care of the dog . And these moments can create opportunities in our homes for family members to connect with each other , which can reduce isolation and fostering a stronger family unit .

Right , if you're like me , everyone in the home has a device and sometimes we've got to get off our devices and I find that dogs can be a great reason to do that . So let's go on a walk with the dogs . Hey , the dogs need to go outside and play fetch . Our dogs will even bring you a toy , like Baxter , for example , loves tug .

He'll bring his toy over to you and kind of bump your leg Like hey , let's play , let's activity at hand here . I've seen personal examples of this in my own family . Consider someone going through a difficult time like the loss of a loved one .

We experienced this in my family in the last year and in these moments a dog's unconditional love and presence can provide immense comfort . My mom has told me multiple times how Maggie will come over , sense that she's sad and just lick her tears and she just knows . She just knows to climb in her lap and that she just needs some extra love .

So they're simple , nonverbal expressions of affection , like laying their head on your lap or gently nudging a family member for attention . These can all offer solace that sometimes words just cannot . The consistent love a dog gives during grief can help family members cope and heal more effectively .

My mom has told me again about the blessings of having Maggie as far as waking up in the morning and there's someone there to talk to , there's someone there to care for , there's someone there to go on walks with during the day . They just offer that companionship that's so missed when we're going through a hard time .

Similarly , for families with children who have special needs , service dogs can make a significant difference . These dogs are trained to offer emotional support . Maybe they are trained to calm anxiety , do some deep tissue pressure therapy and even help with specific tasks .

The bond between a child with autism , for instance , and their service dog is often life-changing , as the dog's presence can help the child navigate social situations and provide comfort during overwhelming moments .

You know we've been told before that my child wasn't able to go to the grocery store and now that we have the service dog with us , we can all go to the store as a family things like that that these dogs are just really good at . Now what can we learn from dogs ? I believe dogs have much to teach us about love .

One of the most important lessons is forgiveness . Dogs don't seem to dwell on mistakes or hold grudges . If I put them in the pen and I leave for a little bit and I come back , they're excited to see me . They're not mad that I left right . They focus on the present , not the past .

So if a family member is upset or busy , the dog remains ready and eager to give the love the moment that they're ready . In this way , dogs show us the value of living in the present and again letting go of past conflicts .

Dogs demonstrate the importance of showing affection without reservation . They don't withhold it from us . If they want to show it to us , they show it to us . So , whether through a playful nudge , maybe they're wagging tail , maybe they want to sit by your side or they want to play a game with you , dogs are constantly offering attention . Uh , as needed .

Now , humans often hesitate Maybe . Maybe we withhold our affection or we fear rejection , or maybe we misinterpret something . But by adopting a dog's openness , we can strengthen our relationship with others and how we treat them . Lastly , dogs remind us that love is about presence , not perfection .

So a dog's loyalty does not depend on whether I'm having a good day , if I'm super wealthy or if I'm a successful person . Right , they don't really care about any of those things . Their love is unchanging , regardless of my life situation .

This can teach us to focus less on external achievements and more on being there for the people that we love , offering them support with , again out judgment or expectations . Sometimes we as humans , tend to have high expectations and we can , either intentionally or unintentionally , cast judgments .

So , in conclusion , you guys , let's learn a little bit about love from our dogs . Let's see what they can teach us this week about it . Let's just kind of observe them , notice how they act , how they reciprocate feelings towards us .

You know it brings numerous benefits to the families and to have dogs , from emotional support to fostering responsibility and building stronger bonds . By observing the ways dogs forgive , they offer affection freely and they remain loyal regardless of circumstances , we can learn valuable lessons about how to be more loving , more supportive in our own relationships .

All right , you guys , have a great week and happy training . If you have a question about anything you heard on this podcast or any other puppy training question , visit my site , baxter and Bellacom , to contact me .