Dog Days

Rolling around the floor with my Golden Retriever, tufts of hair (hopefully his) flying into the air, I find it hard to imagine a world without him. I find it even harder to imagine a world without dogs.

Accompanying humans for the past 20,000 years (some argue double this) it is not surprising that our canine pals have become such an integrated part of our society, our way of life. It is a position that they have worked hard for: herding livestock, joining hunts, protecting homes, rescuing travellers and even guiding the visually impaired. That last part of their remarkable CV is perhaps the most touching. The fact that humans are willing to put our trust fully in another animal, allowing them to lead us through the often-chaotic world.

One of the really distinguishing features of dogs though, is their sheer diversity. Despite having all shared a common wolf ancestor, dogs are the most diverse animals in the world. You don’t have to be a dog lover to spot the difference between a Jack Russell and a Great Dane. Even two Great Danes might not be quite alike.

Although breeds tend to have similar behaviour patterns, dogs have incredible individual character (to the annoyance of some owners) that sets them apart – just like people. Similarly, to how much of the Roman Empire’s success was built on its adaptability and integration of different cultures, canine success may be due to their ability to morph themselves over time to fit different climates and purposes. Whether that be collecting waterfowl on the Scottish lochs, joining NAVY SEALs on dangerous combat operations, or poking their noses out of a Gucci handbag, dogs have always found their place in our plans.

Speaking of plans, these were put to a halt for many of us following the pandemic. As usual, rather than wallowing in negativity, dogs seized the opportunity and made it their year. Year of the Dog. Well, technically they will have to wait until 2030 for that, according to the Chinese calendar, but dogs wouldn’t let such a technicality get in their way.

Giving people a reason to step outside, or a friend to have in isolation, dogs once again showed how vital they are. It’s no wonder that so many people became new – or returning – dog owners during the past lockdowns. We have known for a while now the positive effects dogs can have on mental health, with many schools and other organisations having a dog for that express purpose.

Despite the towering veterinary bills, having a dog in your own household is probably one of the best investments you can make. As well as their benefits for mental health, they can have tangible benefits on our physical health too. For example, it is thought that simply owning a dog can lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. Not to mention the fact that you have an energetic, four-legged reason to step away from the couch and get some fresh air in your lungs.

Beyond the myriad roles and alleged benefits humans have bestowed upon dogs over the ages though, the real reason why people keep dogs is for their unyielding companionship – irrespective of our own character. This is summed up eloquently by Aldous Huxley, who said:

“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.”

It is this unconditional admiration and lack of judgement which really sets dogs apart; their complete unawareness of prejudice, and total lack of ulterior motives. Well, except maybe food.

As the debris (read fur) settles, and my Retriever finally puts a stop to his excited chortling, I watch him lying on his back, tail between his legs. In this pose, he has about as much resemblance to his Grey Wolf ancestors as he does a giant plush toy. And although he may have been truly bred to collect waterfowl in the lochs of Scotland, he has adapted naturally into our home, nestling his way into our plans.