Even therapy dogs need time to just hang out with other dog dudes. Duke is my new dude. I met him one day in the parking lot where I work while I was on break. Doc set up the introduction as she knows I need to spend some quality time with other dogs. We hit it off right from the start and had a fun time wrestling, chewing on each other and just spending quality time together doing dog things. I think everybody needs a best friend. That friend should be there for you through think and thin and that includes having your back if a dog fight breaks out.

Photo by Angela Kirk

When Doc does her therapy group on Friday morning’s I am distressed when I hear that some of the patient’s no longer trust anyone to be their friend because they have been betrayed by people that they thought they could confide in. They even go as far as to say that the only one they can trust is a dog. Now that just makes me sad when I hear that. I feel privileged to be one of the ones they trust, but they also need human connection.

Doc once told me that when we are betrayed by others, we get scared. But here’s the twist, we say that we loose trust in others, but what really happens is that we loose trust in our ability to judge if others are ok. So how do you know if you can trust others? You can never be sure 100% but here are some tips; 1. Observe people over time, everyone eventually reveals who they really are, 2. If they are gossiping about others in front of you, they are probably saying things about you behind your back, 3. Are you always there when your friend needs you, but they are always busy when you need them then watch out, 4. Listen to your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

Although Duke and I have hit it off, it will take time to trust him with all my doggy secrets. Hopefully we will have a friendship that lasts a long time.