The Benefits of Having a Dog - Hire a dog to do many jobs

When I got a new dog earlier this year, it came as a complete surprise to everyone in my extended family and friends. They couldn't see any benefits in having a dog that would require food and care. They told me it would be like having a baby and take up a lot of my time. Well, it is a lot of work to have a dog, but there are a lot of benefits to owning a dog as well. I did not know that I would be able to hire my dog to do many jobs for me.

He has willingly taken on many jobs in the household. He volunteered to do most of these jobs on his own, with little coaxing from me.

I have been able to hire my dog to do many jobs, including the following:

The first and foremost reason I got a dog was to get the motivation to talk a walk every day. I wanted to be healthier and exercise every day to keep my heart in good working shape. Zeus has been up to the challenge, and one of his many jobs is to be my personal trainer. When it is our time to take a walk, he will start whining, and he will continue to whine until we get our walk. It doesn't matter if it is raining or snowing or below zero weather, we take our walk every single day. There are very few acceptable excuses. The only time we don't walk is when the weather is extreme, such as a thunderstorm or blizzard.

One of his jobs is to be my own personal alarm clock. Zeus wakes me up each morning instead of letting me laze around in bed. He is smart enough to not try to get me up too early, but when it is time to wake up, he will make sure that I get up.

When I sit for long hours at the computer, Zeus comes up to me to remind me to take breaks - to get up and stretch, eat lunch or dinner, and let him to outside. He makes sure I stay on schedule by letting me know when it is time to switch tasks.

Zeus accepts me for all my faults. In fact, some of my faults are even valuable to him. For example, he loves it when I am clumsy and spill some food on the floor. He will clean it right up. If I spill something on the counter, I can add it to his food dish, and he will appreciate it.

When I am finished eating, he makes sure I get up and put away my plates right away. He would even be willing to clean my dishes if I let him.

When I am practicing photography, Zeus lets me take his picture without shying away from the camera or otherwise ruining my shot. I can try different lighting conditions, or different backgrounds. I can take photos of him chasing a ball, or sitting still and posing. He will patiently sit still and pose until I am satisfied with my shot, no matter how many times it takes.

When I take photos of my quilts, he will add the proper accent to make the quilt stand out. Look at how happy he is about my quilt in this photo. He only knows a few poses, so I am working on teaching him some new ones.

On our walks, he will bark at and discipline other dogs and keep them away from me, if they appear threatening. He lets me know which dogs are friendly and safe, and which ones are not.

He has learned not to bark at people as we walk by them, but he will watch them to determine whether they are safe and friendly, or scared and dangerous. He protects me in a friendly, good-natured way.

Getting a dog has helped me with my communication skills. As I train him, I need to make sure that my messages to him are clear and understandable. I also learn how rewarding good behavior and ignoring bad behavior is the key to getting him to do what I want. This information translates very well to people as well. I find that I am getting better at communicating clear messages to the people in my life.

As we take our walks, and he approaches children in a friendly manner, he is teaching them that all dogs are not dangerous. He teaches them how to properly treat a dog by stepping away from them if they do not approach him properly.

Besides accompanying me on walks, he provides overall companionship. He is excited to see us when we come home, and is always available for a hug. He keeps us warm and comforted as he lies down beside us while we are on the computer or watching television.

Zeus will signal to me when there is a strange noise or smell. He lets me know that someone is at my door by barking and running around.

My dog appreciates doing many jobs around the house. It keeps him occupied and gives him something to do. He knows that he is earning his food and shelter, and he enjoys looking after us. Have you hired your dog to do any jobs around your house?