What ADHDers Can Learn from Dogs
Dogs are great. I have written before about why every ADHDer needs a doggo in their life. I wrote it around my dog Charlie’s birthday in 2018. A couple of months later, I got a second dog, Ace. Charlie has since passed away, but I still have Ace. Charlie and Ace have taught me so much. In this blog post, I want to talk about some things we can learn from dogs. This will not be a pitch for getting a dog. Rather, I want to look at dogs and how they live their lives, and I want to enumerate what ADHDers can learn from them.
The Importance of Sleep
Dogs sleep about half the day. They know the importance of getting shut eye; they sleep every chance they get. Those of us with ADHD also need sleep. It provides a great number of benefits to us, but we do not always get the sleep we need. We get focused on other, less important things. This only makes our ADHD symptoms worse. So, to optimize our brain function, we need to follow the example of our dogs and get some sleep.
The Importance of Play
Dogs love to play. They can play for a long time and never get bored. It makes their lives interesting. Those of us with ADHD need to have fun in order to stay sane and to get stuff done. Doing things playfully can be a great way to live one’s life. It makes life more interesting. Those of us with ADHD have an interest-based nervous system, meaning we focus on that which is most interesting to our brains in the moment. By playing more, we can focus more. Life does not have to be dreadful, as our canine friends would tell us if they could talk.
Appreciating the Little Things
For a while, I received a subscription box for Ace. Every month, I would receive treats and toys for my dog. I was disappointed in the toys that came in the box. I did not think he would enjoy them. However, I was wrong. One of the toys he received is a chew toy in the shape of a flip-flop. I do not see the appeal, but it is one of his favorite toys. He loves chewing on it. I am surprised every time he gets it out. Moreover, the excitement my dogs have had when I arrive home after being away is something I greatly enjoy. Charlie used to sit by the front window of my mom’s house and would bark excitedly and run to the door when he saw someone pull in the driveway. Now, when I arrive home, Ace runs around and is super excited to see me. He has a similar reaction when he learns it is time to go outside. In short, it is the little things in life dogs notice and appreciate.
Humans do not notice the little things as much as dogs do. I think those of us with ADHD can use our wandering attention to notice the little things in life. By embracing this part of ourselves we can experience more joy in our lives.
The Importance of One’s Pack
Dogs are social creatures. They are loyal to their humans. They follow us around and are sad when we leave. They also can be protective of their humans. They prefer to be around others than to be alone. After Charlie died, Ace has been more reluctant to get in his kennel when I need to leave. He knows he is going to be alone. He does not like being alone and would much rather be around other people or animals. To dogs, the pack is everything. We ADHDers need a pack. We need family, friends, and other ADHDers to enrich our lives. Humans, like dogs, are social creatures. We need community.
Loving Unconditionally
Dogs love unconditionally. They will do anything to please their human. No matter how many times I walk out the door, my dog is always excited at my return. He never is angry at me for leaving when I come home. Humans are not like that. We do not love unconditionally, but we should. We should want the good of another. Dogs can teach us many things, but the pre-eminent thing they teach us is to love unconditionally.