Aliens, Dogs, and Being Alone

Aliens, Dogs, and Being Alone

When we want some noise in the house, we turn on ridiculous television shows with mellifluous male voices that don’t require any attention. Nevertheless, some of the words penetrate—especially when they’re part of the intro to every episode. One particular phrase always sticks with us:

“We are not alone. We have never been alone.”

The program is talking about aliens. But we’re not. We’re talking about dogs.

Dogs on their own are wonderful companions and truly ensure that we’re never lonely. But dogs also create community among people.

The Ultimate Icebreaker

This week, Hope had to have a routine, yet uncomfortable, medical procedure. Medical offices will never be her happy place. But the professionals there are people whose job is to help you feel at ease, so they’re happy to indulge in small talk.

Hope mentioned that she’s a dog trainer. That’s all she had to say. The rest of the appointment flew by with chatter about dogs. She learned how smart, yet unsocialized, the tech’s dog is—and how much joy the dog gets from learning new things. The owner had already taught her dog a few tricks and behaviors without even realizing it.

You’re Already a Dog Trainer

Because we all do. If you have a dog, you’re a dog trainer—even if you don’t think of yourself that way.

All the little things you do, like having your dog wait while you prepare their food, are training games. Playing hide-and-seek is a training game. Getting your dog to “hop up” onto the toilet lid to get brushed is a training game. And every single one makes life together easier and better.

You’re not the only one who’s developed these little routines. Everybody does. Your unique solution—or your current struggle—might be the exact thing that connects you with someone else.

Finding Your Community

In our classes, we often ask if anyone has questions or problems they’d like us to address. More than once, while we’re mulling over an answer, another student immediately jumps in with a solution that worked for them. Or, at the end of class while the puppies play, owners swap anecdotes, brainstorm enrichment ideas, or talk about fun dog content they found online.

Dog owners are not only your people; they’re an invaluable resource for living with dogs. There is absolutely no horrible—or wonderful—thing your dog can do that hasn’t already been done before. And dogs are always the ultimate conversation starter.

Try it next time you’re at a loss for words: just share a story about the last silly thing your dog did. You’ll instantly find your people. Some of them may become lifelong friends—and all of them will appreciate a bottomless topic of conversation.