Modern Dog recently polled our loyal facebook and twitter followers to ask "what lessons have you learned from your dog?" (Check out the new fall issue to see some of our fav responses). This question prompted me to consider my own dogs and what valuable insights they’ve brought to my everyday life.

Roxy has taught me to be courageous. Watching this tenacious dog charge through life like it’s her own personal playground (despite being blind and eventually losing an eye) has reminded me that maybe I shouldn’t whine so much. She isn’t afraid of anything (except for loud noises) and possesses the most adventurous spirit I’ve ever witnessed in canine or human form. Roxy’s relentless in her search for rocks to climb and water to swim in, and would never stand for being pitied, so don’t waste your time.

Chance has taught me to ask for help. This once show-worthy prince was forced to re-evaluate his self image when his paralysis meant he had to rely on others for his…"personal care". Chance is a proud dog and I’m sure that his daily belly-band changes are less than ego-boosting, but that dog still manages to look down at me in a way that reminds me that I work for him. He demands attention when it’s necessary (and sometimes when it’s not) and has no qualms about letting you know when you’re doing it wrong.

Cash has taught me to forgive. We adopted Cash from another family when he was approximately 1 ½, and he came with some serious behavioural and aggression issues. At the time I was a 20 year old training novice, and the training of an 80+lbs dog was an intimidating task. Like many others, I turned to the old-school methods touted by many dog experts who claim that the path to a peaceful pack is through alpha dominance. If Cash challenged me, I would wrestle him to the ground and hold him there until he submitted. I lost my temper and yelled at him. A lot. There were times during that first year together when I questioned our decision to adopt him. Once it dawned on me that my forceful techniques were fueling the problem, I switched gears and instead tried clicker training. EGADS! This was not an aggressive or dumb dog, but instead one who required praise and stimulation EVERY single day. It is now so clear to me why the dominance methods did not work. Cash is far too sweet and eager-to-please to respond to that type of pushy insistence. Looks like I was the dummy, but luckily for me, Cash has been kind enough to act as though it never happened.

Come to think about it, these dogs have taught me far more than I could ever teach them. (Although teaching Cash to "play shy" is pretty darn impressive if you ask me!)