{"id":9338,"date":"2013-08-04T11:10:09","date_gmt":"2013-08-04T18:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shibashake.com\/dog\/why-get-a-dog-5-reasons-for-getting-a-dog-2"},"modified":"2013-08-04T11:10:09","modified_gmt":"2013-08-04T18:10:09","slug":"why-get-a-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shibashake.com\/dog\/why-get-a-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Get a Dog – 5 Good Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dogs eat a lot, poop a lot,\u00a0eat their own poop<\/a>, have many other bad habits, and get into all kinds of mischief. They are expensive, and require a lot of effort and time.<\/p>\n

So why do people even think of getting a dog?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For me, life before dogs was not very happy, nor very healthy. The only time I used to laugh was when I was chugging gin and tonic (love that drink!). Now, my dogs make me laugh all the time. I have a Shiba Inu called\u00a0Gin<\/em>, and a Siberian Husky called\u00a0Tonic<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For real? Nah.<\/p>\n

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Here are five key reasons why people get dogs, and why dogs are worth all of, and more than what we put into them.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

**\u00a0Note<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 If you are interested in getting a dog,<\/a> do not<\/strong>\u00a0buy one from an online-buy-a-puppy site or from a pet store. Such places support and finance\u00a0puppy mills that not only breed unhealthy puppies, but also keep their dogs in cruel conditions. Instead, consider adoption or\u00a0getting a dog\u00a0from an\u00a0accredited Kennel Club breeder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Why
Why Get a Dog – 5 Reasons for Getting a Dog<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n
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1. A dog will keep you happy, healthy, and help you lose some weight<\/h2>\n
\"Why
Why Get a Dog \u2013 A dog will keep you happy, healthy, and help you lose some weight.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

Physical exercise is extremely important to living a healthy and happy life.<\/p>\n

I hear this all the time, but motivating myself to actually go to the gym every day is close to impossible. I pretty much have to fight a mental battle with myself everyday, and frequently, it is my lazy butt persona who wins.<\/p>\n

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Dogs need to take walks every day. In rain, shine, or snow I take my dogs out for their\u00a0daily walks.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Unlike visits to the gym, I can\u2019t get lazy, and I can\u2019t come up with excuses of other things I need to do. When it is time for their walks, they will come and find me, and give me intense, meaningful looks.<\/p>\n

I have had several fitness coaches, but none have been able to motivate me as well as my dogs. Those deep eyes, and expectant faces gets me off my lazy butt every day of the week.<\/p>\n

\"I
I have had several fitness coaches, but none have been able to motivate me as well as my dogs.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n
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2. A dog will keep your mind engaged and active<\/h2>\n
\"Matching
Matching mental wills with my dogs; otherwise called dog obedience training.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

In addition to physical exercise, mental exercise is also important to living a healthy life. My dogs have taught me many things, and they continue to challenge me every day.<\/p>\n

For example, dogs have a really weird fashion sense. They do not see the difference between a pair of torn-up sneakers, and my prizedJimmy Choo<\/em>\u00a0shoes. Both are fair game as chew toys. They also think that mud on designer clothing is very much in style. Therefore, I have to come up with many ingenious ways to convince them that there is some value to human fashion after all.<\/p>\n

Getting dogs to respect human fashion, as well as follow basic house rules and manners, can take a surprising amount of time and mental effort. As a result, I think less about food, and burn off extra calories while matching mental wills with my dogs; otherwise called dog obedience training.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Therefore, in addition to being great teachers, dogs are also great diet coaches!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/strong>Just don\u2019t ask them for advice when it comes to fashion.<\/p>\n

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From the dog\u2019s point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog.
\n~~[\u00a0Mabel Louise Robinson<\/em>\u00a0]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Why
Why Get a Dog \u2013 A dog will keep your mind engaged and active.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n
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3. A dog will teach you to relax and be Zen<\/h2>\n
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\"Why
Why Get a Dog \u2013 A dog will teach you to relax and be Zen.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/p>\n

\"Dogs
Dogs may feel stressed, or depressed.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Embrace nothing: If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet your father, kill your father. Only live your life as it is, Not bound to anything.
\n~~[\u00a0Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.<\/em>\u00a0]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Live in the moment, and follow your own wisdom, that is what Zen is about.<\/p>\n

Telling someone to \u201clive in the moment<\/em>\u201d is similar to telling someone to “buy low and sell high”. Easy to say, but very difficult to implement. Dogs, however, make living in the moment seem easy, because that is what they naturally do every second of the day.<\/p>\n

Some people mistake this to mean that dogs do not feel or do not have memories. Quite the opposite.<\/p>\n

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Dogs feel very strongly, and they can have very detailed memories of things.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Just like us, they may feel stressed, or depressed. However, the key difference is they move on and leave the past behind.<\/p>\n

My dogs help me stay connected to the world around me. They provide me with a fun, and sometimes very demanding activity to take my mind away from my troubles. They teach me to move on and let things go, just by being who they are.<\/p>\n

This results in less stress, less sadness, and a happier, healthier life.<\/p>\n

\"Dogs,
Dogs, however, make living in the moment seem easy, because that is what they naturally do, every second of the day.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n
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4. A dog will make you laugh<\/h2>\n
\"Why
Why Get a Dog \u2013 A dog will make you laugh.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

My dogs make me laugh every day. They are always doing silly and funny things that make me smile, even when I am troubled.<\/p>\n

My Shiba Inu has this butt-in-the-air move (see below) that he thinks is just\u00a0too hot to touch<\/em>. Whenever he has an audience, he will start performing this butt-move as if to say,\u201clook at me, I\u2019m too sexy!\u201d.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that there are many health benefits to laughter. It can boost our immune system and help stave off viral infections. It can help us relax, and reduce stress related illnesses (e.g. high-blood preassure, ulcers).<\/p>\n

Laughter is also a good tonic against\u00a0negative feelings\u00a0such as depression, frustration and anger.\u00a0A life filled with laughter, is a good life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.
\n~~[\u00a0Samuel Butler,Notebooks, 1912<\/em>\u00a0]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"My
My Shiba Inu has this butt-in-the-air move that he thinks is just too hot to touch.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n
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5. A dog will be your loyal friend for life<\/h2>\n
\"Why
Why Get a Dog \u2013 A dog will be your loyal friend for life.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

Dogs spend much of their lives observing us; our mannerisms, routines, and quirks. They probably understand us better than we understand ourselves.<\/p>\n

As a result, dogs share a bond with us that is difficult to replicate with people.<\/p>\n

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