A GIRLS BEST FRIEND

It occurred to me while on my morning walk with Jess this morning that a dog is the must have accessory.

Allow me to explain. Since we got Jess, I have had more conversations with my neighbours and general members of the public in my town than I had in the whole month and half we lived there without her.

On the way to the park this morning, the guys in the garbage truck who pass us every morning, actually leaned out the window, waved, and said good morning to us. People are interested in dogs. They're cute, well, for the most part they're cute. There are exceptions, like the rat sized pug faced chocolate colored yelping runt of a thing that lives next door. I always find it quite amusing when the guy who lives there, complete with bad ass tattoos and punk-rock themed wardrobe, walks this rat sized pug faced chocolate colored yelping runt of a thing. It's doing his image any favours.

They're friendly. Generally speaking, this is true. Jess is very friendly towards other people. Male dogs on the other hand, hmm.. Not so much. She clearly has man issues, so she's definitely my kind of dog! In all seriousness, she's not that bad, the occasional one she'll bark at and have a go at, but most of the time it's because they barked first or they sniffed her some place she didn't want to be sniffed.

For fellow dog lovers, they're a topic of conversation you wouldn't other wise have with a random stranger in the street. The first time I walked her, I had three people stop me and tell me how gorgeous my dog was, and how she was in fantastic condition (with the exception of the dermatitis on the back legs and tail, and the sore paws from my brother letter her nails get too long.. Both of which are now on the mend!) Stress Relief. I actually don't remember the last time I felt stressed out. Having a dog is relaxing, you forget about the small things because you have a purpose.

You look after and care for your pet, you play with them, you chill out with them, and they generally give you something to focus on other what ever mediocre thing is effecting your stress levels. It probably wasn't that important to start with anyway.

They love you pretty much unconditionally. Of course this is because you feed them, walk them, pick up their poo, stroke them, and generally give them somewhere clean and dry to sleep. But I'm convinced Jess smiles at me, and just before I leave for work while I sit with her post-breakfast and give her a stroke, she will always, without fail, lick the underside of my chin.

Everyone should have a dog. A REAL dog, that has lots of energy and wants to play, and can pick up a soccer ball in it's mouth. And not one of this bite sized miniature things that you carry around in the latest Louis Vitton doggy bag.