Dogs have many characteristics that everyone-even those hostile cat owners-are familiar with: they're playful, they're incredibly loyal, they can be beyond goofy and, of course, they're all very good boys.
There are certain things about dogs, however, that only puppy parents can truly understand. Some of those things are ridiculously adorable and others are downright disgusting, but they all make up the daily joy that is dog ownership.
Read on to learn about the 12 things that only dog owners really know-and what makes dogs our best friends.
Dog Hair Is Literally Everywhere-But You Don't Care
rabendeviaregia / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0After so many years of dog ownership, you learn to accept that every single surface of your home (and every item of clothing in your closet) is covered with a layer of dog hair. Our advice? Stop buying any dark-colored clothing; forget the special vacuum attachment for pet hair (it doesn't work!), and try to ignore the tumbleweeds of dog hair rolling across the living room floor. Just be sure to keep some strategically placed lint rollers around your house.
You've Pondered How Their Human Voice Would Sound
brambleberriesphotography / Flickr / CC BY 2.0Don't even deny it: You've spent who knows how much time trying to figure out what your dog's human voice would sound like. Would it be high-pitched? Low and gravelly? Would she speak another language? The possibilities are baffling and endless.
How Badly It Hurts When Your Dog Lets Someone Else Pet Him
howliekat / Pixabay / CC0 Public DomainNothing is more devastatingly heartbreaking than when your dog leaves your side, cozies up to someone else and lets that person pet him instead. Except when he looks across the room to make sure you're watching the betrayal happen.
You Haven't Used an Alarm Clock in Years
N_S / Pixabay / CC0 Public DomainOnce you become a dog owner, you can ditch the alarm clock-your dog will wake you up at the same time. Every. Single. Morning. But how would you prefer to wake up? To a loud, jarring, impersonal alarm clock, or a slobbery, happy face that wants nothing more in the world than to take a morning walk with you?
The Head Tilt Can Alleviate Any Stressful Situation
jeremy8 / Pixabay / CC0 Public DomainNot only can your dog's curious, inquisitive and adorable head tilt dissolve any negative emotion or stress you may be feeling, but if we gathered enough dogs and made them tilt their heads simultaneously, we could probably solve many of the world's problems.
Your Dog Eats Better Food Than You
maxpixel / CC0 Public DomainYou'll eat whatever conventional, mass-produced foods are on sale at the grocery store. Your dog eats only organic, non-GMO, gluten and dairy-free whole foods that are produced by a farmer/poet named Gregory in rural Massachusetts.
Your Dog's Bed Is Nicer Than Yours
skeeze / Pixabay / CC0 Public DomainYou probably have the same mattress you bought right after graduating from college-it's at least 10 years old, lumpy, sagging in the middle and covered with bargain bin linens. Your dog's bed? It's the most advanced, cloud-like memory foam with cooling ridges and made up with 1,000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets.
You Actually Forget You're Picking Up Poop
Kevin Sando / Flickr / CC0 BY ND-2.0You don't pick up your own poop. You certainly wouldn't pick up a stranger's (or a strange animal's) poop. But we don't hesitate for a second when picking up our dog's poop. Why? Maybe we're just so proud that they learned how to go potty outside… or just trying to help a pupper out 'cause they don't have opposable thumbs.
You Want to Skip Vacation to Stay with Them
Austin Kirk / Flickr / CC BY 2.0Dogs always seem to know when their owner is going on vacation. Whether they pout around the house or literally climb into your luggage, the guilt a dog owner feels when going on vacation is overwhelming. The worst part? You can't even communicate to them that you promise you'll be back soon, and with special puppy souvenirs. It's almost worth skipping vacation entirely to hang out on the couch with your pooch.
You Cancel Plans Because Your Dog Fell Asleep
Eugene0126jp / WikiMedia Commons / CC0 Public DomainHow many times (this month) have you cancelled plans with friends because your dog fell asleep on your arm or leg or foot, and she's just too precious and peaceful to possibly disturb?
You're Observed While Going to the Bathroom
lwpkommunikacio / Flickr / CC BY 2.0Dogs love their owners so much, they don't want to be apart from them for a second. And, for dog owners, seeing a pair of paws underneath the bathroom door waiting is too much to bear. The solution? Let the dog into the bathroom, so he can lock eyes and look deep into your soul while you finish your business. Obviously.
You Make up New Nicknames for Your Dog Every Day
Foundry / Pixabay / CC0 Public DomainDog owners put a lot of time into choosing the perfect name for their pet. My family, for example, had a shared spreadsheet of potential names before we picked up our dog, Brodie.
Dog's nicknames, however, are, essentially, the total breakdown (and annihilation) of the English language. They're often made-up words or sounds, or a combination of the two. Proof: Brodie's nicknames include Brobro, Bat Boy, Brobee, Brah, Snorgie, Poop Boy, Doofy or just howling. I literally just make a howling sound.