From Dr. Jane's Notebook

For the Love of Dogs

I have spent exactly three months of my life without the companionship of a dog. This lonely period of my life, when I lived in a college dormitory was short-lived. It was not long before before my "new" puppy and I were both given the heave-ho out of dorm life and into the world of pet-damage deposits. At that point, I became hopelessly attached to my canine buddy and resolved that I would always have a trusted companion by my side. Today, in spite of a long history of evictions from rental properties, I have remained true to my furry friends, and wish to take this opportunity to expound on the benefits of dog ownership.

Dogs are not afraid of the dark. Over the ages, dogs have developed the habit of barking at ghosts and goblins. As such, if they are not barking, you can rest assured that no such creatures are lurking.
They are excellent listeners and are very rarely critical. It is possible to talk with your dog on any subject. They listen non-judgmentally, rarely tell you things you don't want to hear, and never gossip.
Dogs will accompany you anywhere. They are the most readily available of companions, they never say "no" about getting out of the house, and never have any other plans which take precedence. Their only obstacles are "no dog allowed" signs, but fortunately, few of them are able to read.
Dogs are assertive and love to protect. As such, you can send them out to play with your children, send them to answer the door, and delight in the fact their barks are terrifying, regardless of their size, age or history of biting.
No matter what, your dog loves you. If you have ever been haunted by Telly Savales' question, "Who loves you, Baby?, a dog offers the perfect solution. For no matter how you look, what you say, how well people like you at work, and whether or not you exercise to keep fit, you can always count on the love of your dog.

Of course, there are certain down-sides to dog ownership. It takes a bit of effort to adjust to their needs. Of our three dogs, one is to lame to go upstairs, another is too phobic to come downstairs, and the third we can't let outside at all, without him running away. Our Pomeranian is one of the few dogs I know that actually ran out in the street and hit a car. Its difficult to communicate that dogs usually chase cars, not tackle them.

Not long ago, we went on vacation and left the dogs behind with a pet-sitter. I couldn't quite get used to the empty spaces by my feet wherever I went. You get used to tripping over them all the time. For as many excuses as there are for not owning a dog, I can't help but think of the words in the song "Bobbie McGee"... "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose". And when I get home each day, I know who's always waiting there to greet me.

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Last Updated November 14, 1998 by Gary M. Grandon, Ph.D.