Alya has been a member of our family for almost 5 years now and although I’ve had some interesting pets in the past, Ayla is by far the kookiest dog I’ve ever had. I’ve learned many things from our dog, and she’s already made a huge impression on Mackenzie, so I thought I would have a little fun today and talk about the 10 life lessons I’ve learned from our dog.

1. Sleep is essential

   Ayla never misses an opportunity to nap. EVER. I think she can actually fall asleep in less than 30 seconds, and if I had to pin a deadly sin on her, it would have to be sloth. Newfies are notoriously lethargic — but that’s not a bad thing since when they are hyper, you’re in danger of the house falling down because of the earthquake they cause. Getting plenty of sleep is essential for your body to function at its fullest potential. For most people, eight hours truly is best even if most of us rarely manage to sleep that much.
   

2. Never turn down treats

   Although it can get you in trouble with your weight, Ayla fully believes that any and all treats are a blessing. And if you look at any and every extra morsel in your bowl, uh plate,  as a treat, then you can still manage to stick to your diet. Besides, a nibble of chocolate here or there is good for the soul.

3. Always stop for some lovin’

   Ayla will stop to get love from anyone on the street. Some people don’t even know they want to give her lovin’ but she pulls it out of them. No one can resist that silly face. So if someone wants to give you love, support or just a random hug, I say go for it. Ever seen one of those people standing around with a “Free Hugs” sign? If you didn’t stop for a hug, you should have. Sometimes a random hug is just what you need. I’ve stopped and it was totally worth it!

4. Lean on others for strength

   Newfies love to come over, stand in front of you and just lean on you while you pet or talk to them. It’s almost as if they are just overburdened with their own weight and they know they need your support. Leaning on the wrong person can have bad results (say if it’s grandma and you knock her over) but knowing when you need help and finding someone who can at listen to you or maybe even help accomplish your tasks is crucial.

5. Get excited about the little things

   Ayla gets excited about just about anything. A friend coming over, the doorbell ringing, people talking loudly as they pass by the house, seeing another dog during a walk (whether she knows them or not). Sometimes she gets a little too excited and is hard to handle. But taking an approach that every day is an adventure and there is always something happening to be excited about in life is a wonderfully positive outlook that I try to incorporate into my life.
   

6. Be nice to everyone, no matter how mean they are to you

   Even when another dog looks like she’s ready to bite Ayla’s head off, she still approaches them with a happy wagging tail and a look as if she has no clue that they want to kill her. If only we could all be so happy-go-lucky about the people that irritate us on daily commutes or that steal our parking space.

7. Shake off the bad vibes

   There is one dog in our neighborhood that always tries to attack Ayla through the fence when we go by. And whenever we get past that yard, Ayla will shake herself off, almost as if she’s shrugging off all the bad stuff that dog just barked at her. Some people in life seem to be there just to try to get you down. But you don’t have to listen to them. And when someone you don’t even know starts attacking you or your family (hopefully not physically), just turn around and walk away. Don’t value a random stranger’s opinion more than that of your true friends, family, or yourself.

8. Don’t always act your age

   As I mentioned before, Ayla is nearly five now. But she still acts like a puppy most of the day. Well, when she’s not sleeping. And puppies do a lot of that too. She still rolls onto her back and kicks her legs up in the air at least once a day. She still runs around like her tail is on fire when she’s playing. So regardless of what age you really are, no matter how many responsibilities you have; always take some time to act young. We’re as old as we feel…and we often get to feeling much older than we are when we’re weighed down with lots of daily tasks. But we’ve got to remember to turn back the clock still too. Play on the floor with your kids or grandkids. Jump on the bed sometimes. Go for a sprint in the spring rain. Just let yourself feel like a kid again.

9. Sometimes begging does get you what you want

   Ayla doesn’t beg much, but in the evenings she is used to getting a dried lung waffle or pig’s ear or some other disgustingly yummy treat when we eat dinner. So sometimes, when she’s extra hungry or our dinner is later than usual, she starts to get impatient. She’ll come to the living room, then lead us to the kitchen, and do a little whiny dance and just be annoying in general. All this commotion is hardly necessary since she knows she’s going to get something, but she always hopes that she can speed up the process. So if you really, really want something and you’re willing to make it happen, a little bit of begging, pleading and cajoling may help sometimes. At the very least, keep yourself and your desires out there so people don’t forget you, and make it worth their while to reward you.

10. Acting silly to entertain others is worth the reward

    We have a few tricks that we’ve taught Ayla over the years like “Gimme’ 5”, “Shake”, “Up High (high 5)” and so on. We sometimes go through the whole string of tricks in succession and by the end of it, Ayla is drooling like a fountain. Now it might be overkill but Ayla knows that this madness will lead to a yummy treat. She also knows that being excited about family when they come to visit also often means more treats. Although it might not be as simple for us as a dog biscuit, entertaining others and giving a bit of our time often comes with a reward far better than a bonbon. Brightening someone else’s day with a phone call, a card, an email or a personal visit could make their week — or even their year.