You can learn a lot about living life more mindfully if you take a leaf out of your beloved pooch’s book.
Aaron Waters, country manager of PETstock NZ knows a thing or two about playful pups, so we quizzed him on exactly which parts of a dog’s nature we can take on board for ourselves, to ease stress, be more patient and live life with a little more conscious confidence.
Patience
If you have ever participated in puppy school or obedience training with your dog, you may have realised just how patient you can be. Learning what motivates your buddy, how they feel and act in different situations and being able to celebrate your achievements together (knowing how to ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘drop’ is a big deal!) will not only teach patience, it’ll strengthen the bond you share, too.
Forgiveness
Chewing your favourite shoes, digging a freshly planted garden or destroying a brand new bed are just some of the ways dogs inspire forgiveness. However, the skills we learn by understanding why our dogs behave in a certain way and then finding ways in which we can keep their lives enriched and exciting are also hugely beneficial to us humans!
Confidence
Dogs have a special ability to give us the confidence to meet new people. Whether it be at the dog park or in the vet clinic, it can be easy to share a conversation with a fellow pet owner about one of our favourite family members. They can have a calming influence and encourage people to be more relaxed, more sociable and more accepting of others.
Happiness
There’s nothing quite like being greeted at the door by your pooch’s wagging tail and slobbery kisses after a long day. Known to reduce stress, loneliness, depression and anxiety in humans, there’s a reason why it is said that dogs are our best friends.
Health
Many would agree that, if it weren’t for their pooch, they’d be a lot less active each day. Dogs inspire us to get outdoors and exercise, increasing our own fitness levels and pulling us away from the daily grind in the meantime.
For more on mindfulness, see the new issue of FQ Life, on sale now!
