Mental Health and dogs

We under estimate the strength of our loving companions in helping our mental health.  I have been a breeder for many years and I have had a lot of people come to me over the. years who have said how much their dogs have saved their lives.  Dogs go back as far as man does in history. Drawings on caves from those early men/woman on earth of dogs helping them hunt wild animals for food.  Dogs developed along side us and we both had advantages of dogs.  I often joke and say if there is an apocalypse that I shall keep dogs inside my bed with me for warmth.  They will lay amongst us, they will eat beside us, they will hunt with us.  The benefits dogs have go much further.  

I have fibromyalgia and if you do not know what that is, it's very similar to multiple sclerosis for some of us.  Others not so much. But there are fatigue days and headaches where you're rendered with no energy.  If I put my hand out, Geralt appears from nowhere for me to stand and pop my hand on him.  Frooti my frenchie curls her body around mine with Kiki her daughter for warmth and helping with pain.  Brandi will keep checking on me to make sure im okay. Willow wants inside the blanket and would get inside my skin.  Nancy is a starer who will come and stare at me and checks im okay.  The whole pack have their little quirks I could write about.   But when Im on my own and I feel crap from this illness I have a whole little pack that is there who helps.  They have this amazing healing ability.  I also help them as on my good days when Im full of energy I help heal them with Reiki.  On good days you would not know I have this and the dogs get wider apart away from me, Ive noted this. They are not checking on me so much. Although they are never far.  My guardian boy Geralt will sleep on the sofa until he hears my gate move then he's going to bark at people. 

I will never forget one puppy owner who came to me.  Over weight (so am I), miserable, and most would have probably said no. But I could see past this and knew a puppy was going to give this man something to live for.  I saw him years later, a thin guy and he told me with tears in his eyes that his dog meant the world.  That the dog in fact saved his life as he was at the point of no return and had considered taking his own life.   I felt quite emotional because I had made a difference to someone and he was just grateful that I gave him the strength to carry on.   Wow!  Dogs eh they are just brilliant aren't they.

Now there is another side to this which is not so easy.   We have autism and adhd in our family. So we understand the plus and minus of living with this.  For some having the Vizsla can be a bit too much. So you have to also understand your limitations.  For younger children who are all over the place inside, we have seen children who just do not gel with the dogs well.  It maybe worth waiting until teenager years.  For some its fine and all is well as they are gentle with animals. For some however are a bit too rough with the sensitive Vizsla.  You must know your child and make that decision.  Nothing worse in bringing back a dog which you know has been rough with.  The dog then has issues for life.  

I popped out to a local store yesterday for some bits for the dogs.  A young lady with no hair (Cancer) in her 20's was getting off the shelf something for me then said.  "I have autism"!  I said who doesn't we are all on the spectrum somewhere. She felt immediately at ease.  I do not believe in giving labels in grading this.  How brilliant was she, with cancer, with autism working in a store doing something she was enjoying.   She confided I have 7 dogs!  people judge me for this. I said cough! I have many more and yes people judge. But dogs are better than humans they do not judge. She smiled.  She off loaded which is probably part of my energy giving her the confidence to tell a stranger to feel a bit better.  Reiki works in mysterious ways.   But here was another example of someone getting strength from her animals.  

So never under estimate the love of a dog and their brilliant ways of comforting people.  Getting out in the spring sunshine with the dogs you dont have a care in the world. The warm sun beating down on our face.  The fresh air and you can not bottle this and sell it on a shelf.  But it helps those who suffer with mental health and we should always be grateful for our loving companions. I know I am.  I will never be with out a dog in my life.   Dogs are special. xx