And children can learn a lot of their fur friends! Remembering to feed, provide water, and clean up after a dog can give children a sense of importance and satisfaction.

Dogs also teach children about socialisation. Like most of us, dogs are social animals who enjoy and need attention and affection.  By learning how to interact with a dog, children can learn how to better socialise with new faces and other children.

THEY PROTECT UR LITTLE MATES

Cold and damp… But still so cute! Your dog licking your face is a sign of affection and respect – communicating that Fido acknowledges you as the dominant pack leader.

Pups also use licking when curious about how you are feeling. Dogs have special receptors in their nose and mouth which they use to process and interpret the scented molecules found in human sweat. By licking your face, your dog may be able to determine whether you are happy or feeling stressed. And sometimes a human just tastes good!

The act of licking also releases pleasurable endorphins in dogs and often gives them a sense of comfort and security. Your dog may lick your face simply because it feels good (and we like it too)!

THEY ARE MORE LOYAL THAN MOST HUMANS

They are a reflection of your personality!

The kind of dog you have tells people a lot about your personality. A study in England found a very clear correlation between people’s personalities and what type of dogs they owned. For example, people who owned toy dogs tended to be more intelligent, while owners of utility dogs like Dalmatians and bulldogs were the most conscientious. But be careful: Dogs also take on their owners’ personality traits, so if you fly off the handle all the time, your pooch may wind up with aggressive tendencies.

1: When you drop food on the floor, they will eat it. Under my table has never look so good, I just wish I had a dog back when my kids were still babies and throwing food on the floor. They also like to eat the random scraps of food left behind.

2: They force you to exercise. Dogs like to go for walks. It gives you the perfect excuse to roam the neighborhood at night and look through your neighbor’s windows. And I mean that in a completely non-creepy way.

3: They are always happy to see you. Our dog gets so excited when everyone single one of us comes home.

4: When you are home alone you have someone to talk to. And dogs are great at looking at you and cocking their heads and pretending that they understand. I always tell my puppy how smart she is. And then she chases her tail around until she is dizzy and falls over.

5: A dog teaches your children responsibility. Left your favorite shoes in the middle of the room and the dog chewed on them? Well, should have put them away where they belong.

6: It also teaches your children compassion and anger control. See the shoes above.

7: Dogs like to snuggle up to you and keep you warm when it’s chilly.

8: Kids learn about taking care of someone other than themselves. I wouldn’t count on a kid doing all the chores related to a family pet, but mine are all certainly aware if the dog needs to be fed or needs fresh water and they will just take care of it. One of mine asked if babies were as much work as having a dog. Oh, how I laughed at that question.

9: Having a dog IS like having a baby, but only the fun parts.  You can’t let babies out in the yard to poop.  And you can’t leave them home all alone or put their food in bowls on the floor.  They have laws about these things. And even though a kennel might seem to be similar to a crib, it’s not the same at all.

IF THAT HASN'T CONVINCED YOU MAYBE THIS WILL..........