You can learn a lot from being a pet owner and the lessons begin from the first day your furry family member steps into your life and continue after you say your final farewell, says Deanna Mascle

It has only been a year since I lost my beloved Labrador Shamus and I still miss her terribly. Friends have told me to get another dog, but I find that rather hard-hearted. If my husband died people wouldn’t send me right out to pick a new one and if my son died people wouldn’t simply suggest I get pregnant again.

Shamus joined our family during the first year of our marriage, more than a decade before our son made an appearance, and moved from New York to Kentucky with us. During her last years she steadily grew weaker and struggled with many health issues but she was still so loving and uncomplaining. It was so very hard to say good-bye and even more difficult to know the world contains one less gentle heart. But the lessons she taught me live on.

Stay in touch with loved ones

And I mean really in touch! We humans don’t touch each other enough. Sure, we cuddle our babies, and fondle our new lovers, but in every relationship there comes a point when kisses are perfunctory farewells and hugs are doled out sparingly. Dogs know a simple touch from someone you love can make any situation better and sometimes make all the difference in the world. They appreciate the wonder and magic of a kiss (or lick) just because they love you and know that sometimes just sitting close enough to touch frequently keeps the cold, dark nights at bay.

Never miss chance for nap While most of us can’t work into our schedules the 20-hours of sleep time that dogs enjoy, we could all benefit from taking advantage of some down time to relax and rejuvenate. Your dog knows how to relax, just roll on your back and let your tongue loll out. You’d be surprised how wonderful it feels!

Jealousy is a waste of time

It would have been understandable if our dog took an instant dislike to our newborn. After all, for 11 years she had been the “baby” of the family. Jealous? Not our Shamus. She instantly bonded with the little screamer even though we didn’t let her get too close while we sussed the situation out. Then as the baby grew she was the epitome of patience with all his hair-gripping, lip-tugging, ear-pulling explorations. She was his guardian angel, playmate, and furry walker and she loved every minute of it.

The best toys are found

Expensive squeaky toy? Shredded in minutes. Knobby ball? Lost in the bushes. Rubber bone? Shoved under couch. Frisbee? Played with every day and stowed carefully on bed when not in use. A person’s hand? Endless play opportunities. Dogs and young children teach us an important lesson about gifts. Your time and attention are the greatest gift of all and with a little imagination and energy you don’t need any toys at all, let alone expensive, electronic gadgets.

You are never too old to play

Arthritis and muscular atrophy sometimes made it a challenge for Shamus to get around, but she still loved to wrestle and will even romp for a little while. We humans forget that the need for play and fellowship does not disappear when we leave childhood. There is no such thing as being too old to play. Perhaps we need to revise our choice of game and venue, but no matter what our age, there should be no limit to our ability to join in the fun!