How has your dog changed your life?

This post was sponsored by Milk-Bone® as part of a Two-Post Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

“You can have a dog when you are old enough to take care of it.”

How many kids have been told this? I certainly heard it A LOT growing up. I never got my dog as a child. I’m sure it scared me for life.

Now that I am older, with a family, I have realized just how much having a dog can affect your life. Now Ted, an Australian Shepherd and Corgi mix,  has become part of our family.

As badly as I wanted a dog as a kid, I was hesitant to actually commit to one. My kids (and my wife) didn’t wait for me to be fully convinced. Ted joined our family while I was Scout Camp with my son. I literally came home to a new dog, but he has kinda grown on me and my kids absolutely adore him.

Of all my 6 kids though, my 11 year old son Richard is definitely the most attached to Ted.

He constantly refers to him as “his dog” and he loves him dearly. He misses him when he goes to school and rushes in the door when he gets home to yell “Teddy”. He walks him, feeds him and even cleans up after him. He sleeps on Richard’s bed at night. Now that I am writing this, I guess that probably does mean that my 11 yr old is old enough to have a dog.

I’ve been amazed at how much more than “just a dog” Ted is for Richard.

Not only has having a dog taught him responsibility but Ted is Richard’s best friend and helps him cope with the stresses of being a kid. After Richard has had a hard day after a school test or a big assignment, Ted drops a ball at Richard feet seemingly saying “the scores don’t matter” and all of Richard’s cares suddenly disappear. They will spend hours playing together (Ted has a bit of a ball addiction).

Dogs seem to know when exactly we need them. They snuggle up next to us to let us know we are not alone. They calm us down and show us the world from a different perspective. They always do more than expected.

Milk-Bone loves to make dog treats that give you an opportunity to give back to your dog and show them you care. Whether they are doing an amazing trick like catching a ball in mid-air or by following the instruction to stay when the when the delivery guy comes to the door. Be inspired to do more.

This year is the 20th Anniversary of Milk-Bone’s partnership with Canine Assistants, a non-profit organization that trains and provides service dogs to people with physical disabilities and special needs. To celebrate, Milk-Bone has created a special video that shows some of the people their dogs have helped over the years and how these dogs are some much more than just pets.

These dogs change people’s lives as my dog has changed mine.

So if you will excuse me, my dog is telling me it is time for me to take a break from writing so I can throw a ball . . .