“Puppy Love” People

Puppies! We love them, but they sure can be rambunctious even destructive at times. They don’t take no for an answer and they take testing your patience to an art form.

Our nine-month-old weimardoodle, Harper, is no exception. She can go from the most cuddly, loving creature on the planet one moment to “devil dog” the next.

She’s a chewer and a scavenger. She’s constantly looking to get something in her mouth and if it gets our attention that much the better. She’s mauled cords, gloves, rolls of toilet paper; anything that presents an opportunity.

A puppy’s antics can annoy and even anger. Yet, five minutes after scolding Harper for something she’s cuddled up next to me and I’m telling her how much I love her.

Our ability to forgive our little friend is quick and endless. Why aren’t we better at treating other humans with so much grace?

If another human negligently destroyed your shoe or rammed into your car, you’d probably be a little miffed maybe for an hour maybe all day. The puppy does it and you’re over it and moving on.

Why don’t we apply “puppy love” to people? What if we granted loved ones and strangers alike the same level of understanding we give a puppy?

There are all kinds of reasons we could give for this differentiated behavior. A puppy’s just a puppy. They can’t help it. That guy who cut me off in traffic is an adult human being on a mission to ruin my morning.

The fact is our reaction - to the puppy and the imbecilic tweet - are both our choice. If we can choose it with the puppy, we can choose it with other human beings.

Try “puppy loving” someone the next time another person upsets you. The world and your day will be a better place.

Just in case no one else has reminded you today, you are awesome!

Ray