For many, having a dog is an important part of life; it reminds us of our childhood and gives us happiness that’s been forgotten. Their cheerful smiles and loud barks when we return home instantaneously put a smile on our faces. We enjoy the company of our furry friends, and we do our best to protect them and care for them.
However, sometimes, we desperately need a vacation, and we can’t always bring our dogs with us, since airlines don’t have the best pet accommodations. This is where a dog sitter’s duty comes in. It is our job to care for these dogs while their owners are gone. As a professional dog sitter, I realized a few life lessons these animals taught me that helped me in the long run.
1. Love unconditionally and never expect anything back.
Being a dog sitter, I sometimes receive about 10–15 dogs at a time. Some have medical conditions, some are extremely hyperactive, and others are rather docile. However, every one of them faces separation anxiety, as their owner leaves them with us. They often sit at the doorsteps during the first few days, waiting and waiting for their best friend to come back.
Eventually, things settle down and they find it easier to spend less time on the doorstep. However, the moment they see their owner walking through the doorstep to pick them up, all the frustration, anger, and fear disappears, and the only emotion that exists at that moment is pure love.
Often times, we hold hostility toward our loved ones. Whether it’s due to circumstances or our own ego, however, watching these dogs give out love unconditionally made me realize why it’s important to always forget the hostility and to love unconditionally instead. With no expectations, you’re able to give freely without expecting anything in return.
2. Always listen to your heart and follow your instincts.
As humans, we often deliberate between logic and our conscience; eventually, logic wins, and we ignore the voices of our hearts. We are taught and trained that nothing is superior to logical thinking itself. However, the decisions we make based on analysis and calculations often end up being wrong, and sometimes, they’re irreparable.
As I observe those dogs, running , jumping, and flying around in the backyard, I realize that they always relied upon their instincts. Usually, when the owners leave their dogs with me, most of the dogs never throw a tantrum. They look straight ahead, deep inside knowing it’s all right, and it’s all going to be fine. Being instinctual creatures, they completely ignore the logical conclusions and make life easier for themselves.
However, as humans, we can’t completely ignore our logical thinking. But we can learn to balance and accept our instinctual parts more. I believe this would give many of us the peace of mind we need.
3. Trust is an emotion felt through connection and communication.
There are moments I’ve noticed some dogs fear their owners may never return; often times, they don’t and it is our responsibility to put them up for adoption. However, most times, you can notice in their eyes, the trust and bond that’s built throughout the years between both parties.
When the owners leave, you always notice that the dog walks back in proud and waiting for his fellow friend’s return. These dogs often spend their time playing and eating with not a care in the world. Although there were no words exchanged between the dog and the owner, they experienced non-verbal communication that gave them the assurance they need to happily wait for their return.
After several failed relationships, I realized during this job that trust isn’t just a word — it’s a form of communication, bonding, and caring that can only be perceived, not spoken. Hence, these days, I tend to focus on communication rather than assurance; these barking beings taught me that it’s the only way trust can be achieved.
In a nutshell, these are my experiences as a dog sitter. While there were many other significant moments, I believe these are lessons that could help many. After all, we are all here to help and influence one another in one way or the other.
Featured photo credit: Google Images via cdn.skim.gs
