Puppy-shaped therapy

Do therapists ever recommend that their patients invest in a new puppy? If I were a therapist, I'm pretty sure I would. Winston has been so good for my heart. I'm happy we made the decision to add to our family in this way. (Read: I'm happy Craig finally allowed me to add to our family in this way).

Now I remember why I have always been such a big dog lover. I love my feline friends, too, and I hope to extend our family even more with a couple cats in the future. I miss my Oreo everyday. The thing is, the human-feline relationship has a completely different dynamic than the human-canine one. Dogs work in packs. They crave companionship. Whereas cats can work alone and they're quite content with that thank you very much.

Winston just wants to be with us all the time. He adores us. There's a huge floor he can lie or sit on but he chooses our feet. There's a big couch he can sleep on but he chooses to curl up on our chests, our legs, or anywhere that presents the possibility of snuggleage.

He is incredibly intelligent and picks up on the vibes we send out. We play chase or hide and seek one minute and in the next we are cuddling. He is distrustful of strangers but quivers with excitement when he sees Craig or I. I've already seen his loyalty in action. Even though he's tipping the scales somewhere between 2-3 pounds I feel safer with him around. Mostly because his bark is a LOT bigger than he is!

Of course, like everyone, he has a character flaw. He's a licker. He licks in excess, and we're trying to teach him that one kiss will do. Hey, no puppy is perfect.

I think everyone should have a dog, but especially those who live alone or need a little lift. Dogs show more affection than most humans and the innocence in the unconditional love they have for their owners is pretty amazing. I think it's ridiculous to assume that animals do not feel emotions. I have proof to the contrary.