2 Things Our Dogs Can Teach Us About Happiness

Dogs can bring us hours of happiness, whether we're playing fetch, teaching them tricks, or just sitting on the couch with them. Their love and loyalty can help us through even the hardest times. And dogs naturally do a couple of things that we humans can learn from. Here are two of them.

Have you ever seen a dog stressed out about its plans for tomorrow? Or one that's down because of a rejection a few days ago? Probably not! Dogs are great examples of living in the moment. Whether they're chewing a bone, playing with a buddy, or going for a walk, they focus on whatever they're doing right now.

We could all use a little more of that. How often have you been doing something that's supposed to be enjoyable, only to notice your mind has wandered off to worries about tomorrow, next week, or next month?

Try this on your next walk. Pick one of your senses — sight, hearing, smell, touch, or even taste — and put all your attention on it. You might focus on what you can see, or switch between a few senses, like what you can see, hear, and feel. Thinking isn't one of the five senses, so when you notice you're caught up in a thought, gently bring your attention back to the sense you chose.

Have you noticed how dogs enjoy the simplest things? I had a Shih Tzu, and it was amusing how much she loved a crunchy toy chicken I bought her. It cost about a dollar, but that didn't matter to her one bit. What did she love about it? Maybe the sound it made when she bit it, or how it felt when she lay on it.

For a lot of us, feeling content is much harder. It can seem nearly impossible. And yet most of us have plenty in our lives to appreciate. Many people find that practicing gratitude helps with low mood and anxiety.

Here's a habit to consider. Every night before bed, open a notebook or a notes app on your phone. Write down at least one thing you're grateful for today — three, if you can — and why. Spend about five minutes on it. It doesn't have to be anything big. It can be as simple as a one-dollar crunchy toy chicken.

So the next time you're with your dog, give them a good belly rub to thank them for showing you how it's done!