Why Dogs Are Great

Before we get to the ten reasons for 'Why Dogs are Great' let me tell you about my dog. My dog is the very reason I wrote this lens.

My dog's name is Harry and he is a Rhodesian Ridgeback cross. This means he is part Ridgeback and part some other breed.

Harry is huge. He is probably bigger than most dogs because he weighs as much as some people. I don't know what breed his parents were but he is bigger than your average Ridgeback. Last time I weighed him at the vet he was over 60 kilos. Harry isn't over weight either.

If I had to describe my dog I would affectionately call him a 'beast'. I call him a beast dog because he does beastly things.

Beastly things my dog can do include;

1. Inhale his food rather than chew it.
2. Collects a bone on EVERY walk he goes on. I don't know where he gets them.
3. Eats cat poo (I know... how gross).
4. Vomits up his own food and then eats it again later.
5. Can eat a hamburger and then spit the lettuce out at the end ... virtually untouched.
6. Lick his own ... 'nether' regions.
7. Hear me whisper to him from another room and knows when I am coming home in my car or on my motorbike before I can even be seen.
8. Eat 1.5 kilos of chocolate and survive!
9. Live on friendly terms with two other cats
10. Can escape from almost any yard.

1. Dogs Can Improve Your Mood: Whether you are stressed or angry your pets will sense your mood and provide you with company until your mood lifts. My dog comes up to me and nudges my arms over him for a hug when I am not well. Research has even shown that a cat's purring can help alleviate the symptoms of headache. I think dogs can do the same with a wag of the tail and an affectionate lick. Giving your dog a good belly scratch or a rub down can lift the darkest of moods.

2. Dogs Encourage You To Get Out And Exercise: Dogs should be walked often. If they don't get adequate exercise they often exhibit destructive behavior. This can include sulkiness and chewed beyond recognition shoes and other household items. Call it blackmail or coercion dogs encourage you to get outside and exercise. Might as well lose those extra pounds while you are at it eh?

3. Dogs Can Help With Social Support: Dogs can be a talking point and dog owners love to talk to others about their dog. In short dogs can help you meet people.

4. Dogs Prevent Loneliness: Dogs are friendly and give you company when there is no one else around. Given the slightest encouragement they will try and hop on your lap for a cuddle. Granted, when your dog weighs over 55 kilos this can be a health risk. My dog even follows me around the house!

5. Dogs Provide Unconditional Love: When you rouse on your dog they will know how angry you are and skulk away, tail between the legs. But dogs rarely hold a grudge. Give them any sign of affection and it will be returned. All will be forgiven.

6. Responsibility: Dogs can teach you responsibility. They need to be fed, provided with water, shelter and exercise. Their health must be cared for. Dog ownership can also provide kids with valuable lessons too.

7. Law Enforcement: Dogs are used by law enforcement agencies the world over to bring criminals to their knees. This sounds violent and while there are attack dogs not all dogs serve this way. Many dogs are used as sniffer dogs to track down drugs, missing persons and explosives too.

8. Protection: Dogs are very protective of their 'pack'. If their pack includes you and your family then you will be well protected against those that threaten you. If a stranger enters my property, or acts aggressively towards me, my dog lets them know all about it. Even if you have a small dog it will let you know as soon as someone enters your property.

9. Serve and Assist: Dogs can also provide assistance to the disabled and the handicapped. For example Seeing Eye dogs assist the blind to move around in unfamiliar or dangerous environments.

10. The tenth reason is up to you. Leave a comment below and tell everyone why you think dogs are great.

1. Dogs have been man's pet for over 14,000 years.
2. Dogs descended from the wolf family that roamed Europe, Asia, and North America.
3. Dogs have 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth.
4. The dog is one of the most popular pets in the world.
5. Dogs do not like to be left alone for long.
6. A dog's sense of smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than a human's smell
7. Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill
8. Dog's nose prints are as unique as a human's finger prints and can be used to accurately identify them
9. A puppy is born without teeth. When your pup is three to four weeks old, 28 teeth will break through the gums so the puppy will be able to eat solid food.
10. Dog's are pack animals.

The benefits to having a dog are many. So I sat down after writing this lens and thought to myself, 'there is so much more that I get out of having a dog'. You know, the little things that most people don't take notice of at first. Here is my bonus list of the little things having a dog will give you.

1. Scare Away Pests - Stray cats and birds that poop on your outdoor settings will give your house a wide berth if you have a dog.

2. Discourage Burglars - This is purely anecdotal but a neighbor told me once he saw a couple of youths walking down his street once writing notes on each house. They didn't stop at the houses with dogs. Dogs are territorial and hate strangers on their turf. Burglars with always go for the soft target and a house with a dog isn't soft.

3. A Living Bin - My dog loves 'left overs'. That stake bun, slightly off milk, the left over sausage, the lasagne serving from a week ago - your dog will eat them all up and love you for it.

4. Hoover Time - One of my two cats has a weak stomach and when he eats too much, up comes the food. A quick whistle and my dog cleans up the mess. I know, gross huh? Save me a lot of effort though. Once I spilled a saucepan full of curry in my kitchen. The sauce splattered everywhere. Dog to the rescue again for phase 1 of the clean up.

5. Pick Up Pooches - All single people should get a dog. They are conversation starters and always cute in some way. Attract the opposite sex with your pooch.