Why do we love dogs so much?
Yes, companionship. Of course, unconditional love. Those are real and meaningful. But I think the greatest gift our dogs give us is something else entirely: joy.
Dogs don’t just experience joy—they practice it. Religiously. Daily. Loudly. It’s morning? Celebration. New toy? Celebration. Car ride? Celebration. Snack time? Obviously. You left the room for two minutes and came back? Absolute parade. To live with a dog is to live with a creature who insists—daily, relentlessly—that being alive is worth celebrating. Living with a dog quietly teaches you a radical lesson: joy doesn’t come later. It’s available now.