Life Lessons from a First Pet #MFRWauthor

Growing up with pets is a privilege I’m grateful to have had. My first dog was part of the family since before I was born. Sam was a St. Bernard-German Shepherd mix. A big, handsome guy who would carry a sack of potatoes into the house when the family returned from grocery shopping, and who was patient and gentle with babies and small children.

I learned many basic life lessons from sharing a house with Sam. First and foremost, I learned respect for all creatures. My parents would have it no other way. The dog was always treated with kindness–no annoying him. He didn’t mind being used as a giant pillow, though, and my brother and I used to cuddle with him a lot.

From Sam, I also learned about unconditional love. He was always a friend I could count on. He was as much a part of the family as any human member, and to this day I think of him just as often as the people I grew up with, and with more fondness compared to some.

The most difficult lesson I learned from Sam was how it felt to lose someone you love. I still remember how sad I was the morning he died.

To this day I have always had at least one dog as a member of my family. Currently, I have two, a Great Dane mix (once you love big dogs, you’ll probably always love them), and my first tiny dog, a chihuahua mix. It’s been quite a learning curve, caring for my first tiny dog. One thing about animals, you never stop learning from them.

Did you have a pet growing up? Maybe you got your first pet as an adult. I’d love to hear about them, so feel free to leave a comment.

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