Dogs: Man’s best friend

Anyone' s best friend!

I grabbed a copy of Marley & Me in the airport the other day and read the entire thing on my very long day-trip.

I’m glad I read the book before I watched the movie (yes, I knowboth are soooo 10 years ago….). It was an easy, wonderful read that reminds a person about what matters in life, and how great life can be if one keeps things simple and fun….as a dog does.

One point that I found interesting is when the author cites the few times he, his father, and a friend had cried in their lives was when their dog(s) had passed. (I’m not saying Marley passes: he’s citing other dogs in his own and other peoples’ lives.)

The author basically says that dogs’ deaths are one of the few things that will enable a man to articulate and expand on his emotions. As a female who certainly abuses my right to talk about these things, this simply blows me away.

I understand that men and women are fundamentally polar opposites as far as their desire to expound upon their emotions and feelings. I believe, however, that most males draw on this generic understanding as a scapegoat so they don’t have to share their feelings and emotions, especially when it comes to relationships with women.

But this is what I don’t understand – many men won’t communicate about their relationships with women, but they’ll unload like a divorcee on Dr. Phil when it comes to their relationships with their dogs.

I know the addage of  ”a dog is a man’s best friend” is a cliche for a reason – it’s held true forever. I would argue that dogs can be a woman’s best friend too. They do remind us how to live with reckless abandon; to enjoy food, take naps, and run and frolic for no good reason and you’ll get your exercise. They exhibit loyalty and forgiveness and pure, unafraid love – all things we as people need to improve on as we’re incredibly imperfect beings.

Some jaded few might say, “well, that’s because men are dogs.” But I don’t necessarily believe this.

Maybe it’s because dogs won’t offer feedback like women will, which often confuses or conflicts the man’s feelings and opinions. Maybe it’s because a man’s love for his dog is more simple than his love for a woman. Maybe it’s because he knows the dog will never leave, so it’s safer and easier to love that dog whole-heartedly, no matter what.

Maybe women will never know the answers to such questions. So, maybe women just need to get their own best dogfriend. The man can share in the love, or not.

Best friend to a man, this hound has been a dear friend for me to lean on during more than one hard time in my life.