People have always considered their dogs to be one of their most loyal and dependable companions throughout history. Dogs, out of all the domesticated animals, fill the functions of guardian, helper, lifesaver, and companion more than any other domesticated animal. People have had dogs as pals and companions for generations. Dogs are wonderful buddies. The bond that exists between people and their canine companions is profound and ancient.
From lockdown buddies to exercise alibis, our dogs surely lived up to their name as “(wo)man’s best friends” in the year 2020!
At Eastside Writers, we started pondering how our “fur-kids” came to be such a vital part of the family… regardless of how big or tiny that family might be, as Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are quickly approaching. But dogs are the only animals that can have such a unique connection with their human companions.
Why your dog is the best companion, no matter what the situation is….
1. Dogs do not care about your level of wealth in any way.
Have you ever witnessed dogs loving their owners more because they have more money? No! Never. Their love for you does not have any conditions attached to it. They will never inquire about the amount of money in your bank account or whether you own a Rolls Royce Boat Tail. As soon as they feel that pleasurable bond with you, they will love you until the end of time.
2. The way that you look won’t ever influence a dog’s attachment to you.
They will not choose to stay with you because of your amazing body or seductive beauty because it has no influence, and more than that, it is not the deciding element of your appearance.
They do not care if you are dark-skinned or fair-skinned, how tall or how short you are, whether you are hairy or smooth, or anything else about your appearance.
3. Dogs never look at or decide on the basis of gifts.
The gifts you offer to dogs will never be enough for them to consider you a buddy of theirs. Dogs are not looking for gifts from their owners and do not maintain a close relationship with their owners on the basis of the gifts that are showered on the dogs. His affiliation with you passes even the most stringent tests of trust and bonding. Their devotion and faith do not depend on the tangible goods that you provide for them in any way.
4. Dogs won’t walk away from you for any of your petty reasons.
Even if you chastise your dog or act irritated at it at certain moments, the dog will still come back to you. They would never give in to their caprices and abandon you because of you. They may behave as though they have a grudge against you and protest some of your activities, but these reactions are short-lived. They won’t stop caring about you till the day they pass on from this universe.
The Background
Not only are dogs man’s best friend, but they are also his most trusted companion. Historians are in agreement that dogs were the first animals to be tamed and domesticated; however, they disagree on when and where the relationship between humans and dogs initially began.
DNA analysis has led the majority of researchers to the conclusion that the fluffy, warm-nosed buddy that you have by your side is descended from a pack of gray wolves that no longer exists. These astute canines decided that they would be better off remaining in the company of early hunter-gatherers rather than striking out on their own so that they could subsist off of the scraps that they could scavenge from humans.
Scientists have a theory that humans first started befriending wolves when they started raising wolf pups as pets and therefore started socializing the young wolves from an early age. And because wolves have an innate tendency to live in packs that have a distinct order of command, it was not difficult for humans to assume the role of the alpha wolf and establish themselves as those who must be obeyed.
And it was worth it when a man and a tame wolf made an effective hunting team together. Together, humans and wolves became complementary partners who stalked, trapped and devoured animals for their mutual benefit. Humans contributed their expertise and savvy, while wolves contributed their speed and sense of smell.
Tame wolves supplied bodily warmth and acted as early warning sentries when strangers or predators approached the pack. Wolves lived alongside humans because humans provided a reliable food source.
The animals that were willing to accept this relationship eventually developed into more submissive companions, and many generations later, humans had domesticated dogs while the wild gray wolves that their ancestors descended from became extinct.
At the very least, this is one of the possibilities; fossil evidence implies that domestication began as long ago as 30,000 years ago. If this is the case, then we had a soft spot in our hearts for our wagging-tail best friends long before we developed agriculture, language, or permanent housing—and even before we tamed cows, goats, or cats, as James Gorman points out. It was the first example of the term “special relationship.”
Ancient wolves found that they could scavenge the leftovers from human kills for more reward and far less danger than hunting themselves. This discovery led to the beginning of the interaction between humans and dogs. Their progeny became increasingly reliant on the kindness of human benefactors as the years passed, and as a result, we enlisted them in our service.
Although you might have a number of close friends, your dog can only have one.
King Frederick I of Prussia is credited as being the first person to utilize the phrase “a dog is man’s best friend,” which was coined in 1789. It is said that he once said, “In this greedy world, a man’s dog is the only buddy that will not betray or deny him. He is the only one who can truly be called an absolute best friend.”
There is evidence to suggest that having a dog can enhance your heart health, lessen feelings of despair, and even help you live longer. This symbiotic relationship has proven to be good for humans just as much as it is for the canine friends with whom we share our lives. Additionally, it is a connection that goes back in time by at least 15,000 years.
Why are they our best friends?
The 10 reasons are as follows:
1. Dogs have a lousy ability to remember things in the near term.
One of the more deplorable elements of having human friends is the fact that, in general, people remember every instance in which they were treated unfairly and will harbor resentment toward you for the rest of their lives because of it. On the other hand, dogs have the “talent,” or “gift,” of having a bad memory.
This indicates that you are free to play games with their tail, such as keeping away from their food and tugging on their ears to your heart’s content, despite the fact that these activities irritate the animal. You get to enjoy yourself, and within a few minutes, your dog will have completely forgotten about the situation and will resume treating you as if you were their best friend. It’s one of the few situations in life where everyone comes out ahead.
2. Dogs have excellent memories for the long haul.
Your canine companion may eventually forget that you pulled on their tail, but they will never forget the connection that they have with you. Furthermore, if you are kind to them, you will leave a long-lasting impression on them that they will never be able to shake off.
3. Dogs will watch out for your safety.
If a dog truly likes me, it’ll defend you much more vehemently than it did before. Your dog will be right there by you whenever a creepy solicitor or Girl Scout cookie-selling entrepreneur knocks on your door, and your dog will bark at them while you quiver behind a corner because you are too terrified to answer the door.
Obviously, this can get a little out of hand at times, like that one time when the UPS driver came to my house and tried to leave a package on my porch, but he was scared off by my three dogs, who rushed out to protect their territory. It’s easy to see why he’s taken to leaving packages by the front gate in their place.
4. Dogs have the ability to mirror your feelings.
Your dog will try its utmost to mimic your current state of mind by picking up on the inflection in your voice as well as the way you carry yourself physically. When they sense that you are upset, they will look at you as if you were a baby. When you become furious, the fur on their backs will stand up, and they will begin to bark and growl at inanimate objects.
Dogs will be there for you no matter what your mood is, whether you’re overjoyed, sad, or somewhere in between. This is in contrast to the way that other people may not respond to the ups and downs of your emotions in the manner that you would like them to.
5. Dogs are like miniature dishwashing machines.
I know what you’re thinking, but bear with me here for a second. Have you ever finished supper and realized that there wasn’t enough food left on your plate to conserve, but there was too much for it to be practical to wash in the sink? Now, here is where your dog comes in to play, isn’t it? Simply hand them the plate and allow them to finish cleaning it up. They’ll feel cared for, and you’ll have an easier time clearing the table and washing the dishes.
6. Dogs are wonderful tools for instilling a sense of motivation.
If you are concerned that using your dog as a dishwasher would cause them to gain weight, you do not need to be concerned about this at all. At least when they are younger, dogs enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. Take advantage of their boundless supply of energy by going for walks or, if you’re feeling particularly bold, run with them. They will be completely worn out and thoroughly entertained, and you will be well on your way to becoming a more physically fit person!
7. Dogs are extremely clever!
Dogs, in general, are some of the most perceptive creatures that can be found; yet, the level of intelligence can vary greatly depending on the breed you choose. This is evidenced by the variety of facial expressions they possess (the one in which they tilt their head and gaze at you in a perplexed manner is my personal favorite), as well as by their ability to craftily conceal toys in the most incongruous of locations and other behaviors.
Because of his impressive intelligence, my small schnauzer is one of my dogs, and he never fails to make me laugh. He is aware that I keep a few tennis balls next to my desk, but I don’t use them for tennis; instead, I merely toss them into the air whenever I’m trying to concentrate.
Therefore, what he does is conduct small investigations into my chamber at various intervals. If I am in the room, he will act as though he is checking out the view outside my window or examining my bed, while in reality, he is sneaking peeks at my tennis balls (which usually lay haphazardly on the floor). After that, he will leave, but not before performing an internal inventory check to determine the location of the balls.
8. Dogs will never again give you the opportunity to eat by yourself.
Who wants to have a meal by themselves? Even though I’m more of an introvert, I’ll confess that there are occasions when I enjoy going out to a good restaurant with a group of friends (only if I enjoy their company of course). You should not be concerned, since if you get a dog, you will never be alone at the table for supper. They will, of course, be sitting on your knee, breathing in your face, and requesting your food; yet, you will still enjoy their presence.
I had recently gone to eat in my room alone when I became aware of a definite panting and puffing sound emanating from outside my door. It turned out that my 14-year-old dachshund had dragged her chubby little body all the way up two flights of stairs to be there while I ate (probably because she expected me to give her some of my Chinese food, or else she would keep on making that annoying sound at the background
9. Dogs won’t just abandon you in the lurch.
Have you ever made plans with a human friend, only to find out at the last minute that they are unable to keep those plans? When you have a dog, you don’t need to worry about things like that. As far as I am aware, they do not know how to use telephones; therefore, there is no cause to be concerned about them dialing up the neighbor’s poodle to see if they like to hit up some local bars, leaving you to your TV and a meager, lonely microwave meal. They are there specifically for you, and no one else!
10. Dogs are well-versed in the art of living.
To put it more simply, dogs act like humans who aren’t concerned about the sillier parts of being sentient being, whereas dogs do behave like humans. To provide just a few examples, there’s dealing with obnoxious people all the time, getting an education, paying the bills, running errands, and so on and so on. They just want to get up, say hello to you, run around, play with their toys, eat, nap, eat again, nap again, say hello once more, and then go to sleep. That’s all they want to do. Is that really a problem?
It is true that we humans are held to some obligations as a result of our so-called “intelligence,” but it definitely would be lovely if we could all go about life as dogs do: carefree and absolutely certain of who we are. If you own a dog, at the very least, you have the opportunity to experience life through the eyes of your pet. It is very worthwhile, so long as you are aware of what you are getting yourself into.
Where did the expression “a man’s best friend” originate?
In fact, the expression “man’s best friend” was first used in the United States Supreme Court in the year 1870. At that time, a skilled attorney by the name of George Graham Vest was defending a guy who had a profound love for his coonhound named Old Drum. Vest contended that the neighbor who shot and killed Old Drum for trespassing was responsible for the death of more than simply a pet; rather, he was responsible for the death of a significant family member.
A popular quote attributed to Vest asserts that a person’s dog is the “one absolute, selfless companion that man can have in this greedy world” and “the one that never proves to be ungrateful or treacherous.”
Incomparably more than just a pet
Dogs have repeatedly demonstrated their unwavering faithfulness, kindness, and comprehension, in addition to their tenacious willpower. They cheerily greet us with a wag of their tail and a mischievous smile after what may have been the worst day of our lives, and they make us feel better by lifting our spirits in this way.
Dogs help humans with day-to-day duties, many of which may not be feasible without them. These tasks include herding sheep, hunting games, supporting people with impairments, and simply functioning as a companion unlike any other. Canines have been used as service aides for the blind as early as the 16th century, and by the 1970s, dog trainers had devised strategies for dogs to assist people with impairments.
As if those responsibilities weren’t enough, dogs also play an important role in the prevention of potential crimes and the saving of lives, as is the case with dogs trained to sniff out drugs and bombs. It is most typical to see German shepherds, a breed that has been around for more than two centuries, working as canine police all around the world.
Disclaimer:
The author’s views are his or her own. The facts and opinions in the article have been taken from various articles and commentaries available in the online media and Eastside Writers does not take any responsibility or obligation for them.
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