Photo: John Huang
There's a reason why dogs are called man's best friend. While the world judges and questions your life choices, your trusty and non-judgmental pup will just be there, curled up on your side, offering wet kisses when they sense you're feeling down.
Whether you feel like your dog is like your child or not at all, there's no doubt that a dog's love for you is free and unconditional. This is because, since the beginning of time, dogs and humans have developed a trusting bond.
According to a Japanese study reported in The Guardian, this bond is thanks to the hormone oxytocin, which triggers maternal instincts — the same one triggered when a mother looks into the eyes of her child.
"The latest finding suggests that dogs have tapped into this ancient biological mechanism, and through it reinforced the ties that have existed between humans and dogs since the animals were first domesticated thousands of years ago," says the article.
By now, it's a well-known fact that the dogs we domesticate are descended from wolves. Researchers theorize that one brave wolf may have scavenged leftovers from humans, and more kept coming and coming, eventually trusting early humans. Soon, they realized that the wolves could be their most trusted allies and began to domesticate them.
They've been shown to go above and beyond just being cute companions. So even if a dog and a human have never met each other before, many of them would risk their life for that human. Don't believe us? This list of heroic dogs from Mental Floss might change your mind.
Certainly, life is just a little brighter when you have a dog, and illustrator John Huang knows that. In these nine comic strips, Huang shows how his life had changed before and after his golden retriever, Maimai, came into his life.
This can be your life too when you get your own furry, slobbery best friend.
Photo: John Huang
1. People's attitudes change.
Before, animals seem like a nuisance that you have no patience for. Now, they are an honorary part of your family.
Photo: John Huang
2. Your phone's photo gallery quadruples in size.
Did your life used to revolve around food? Not if your dog had anything to say about it! Anything and everything they do is just so dang cute that you just HAVE to document it.
Photo: John Huang
3. Your car is full of fur and dirt.
Sure, your car was a nice, clean space before. But you can totally handle the mess if it means there's an adorable companion in your passenger seat.
Photo: John Huang
4. Your electronics mysteriously break.
Sadly, though, your electronics can't stay alive for long.
Photo: John Huang
5. You spend all your money taking care of them.
Treat yo self? Not if your puppy has needs. In this case, treating your puppy to that adorable chew toy and fancy dog biscuits is much better than a fast food meal.
Photo: John Huang
6. You change what you do for fun.
Your social life is spend mostly at dog parks, becoming social with other dogs.
Photo: John Huang
7. You come home to your pup's happy face.
After a long day at work, nothing beats coming home to an excited furry face.
Photo: John Huang
8. You don't own stuffed animals anymore.
Who needs stuffed animals when you have the real thing?
Photo: John Huang
9. Dinner is a family affair.
You were free to eat and enjoy your meal. Now, it's every man (and dog) for himself. You spend more time protecting your food than actually eating it, but it's all worth it in the end when you see the happy look on your pup's face when you finally give in.
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