ziaruth27

[ziaruth27]

An Introvert and Her Dogs

Did you know that many introverts are hardcore animal lovers? (Including me!). Why? Because animals fulfill a very specific role for us introverts that people just can’t.

All my life, I grew up in a family surrounded by indoor and outdoor animals, that I loved being around with them rather than playing with other kids. Honestly, I was such an extroverted kid back then; outgoing, talkative, and confident but everything started to change after entering school. I've been bullied since the day I entered school and it cause a lot of trauma ( mentally, emotionally, and physically). It ruined my self-esteem, I became less talkative and afraid of socializing with other people. It got to the point that I developed anxiety, paranoia, and panic attacks. Until now, I still struggle to control them but with the help of my family, therapist, and my dogs they were the ones who always comfort me every time I experience them.

How Having a Dog Had Helped Me as an Introvert?

My dogs named Bella, Cupcake, and Luna provides companionship and unconditional love that I needed as a person who had a hard time interacting with people.

Since Shih Tzus are known for being  affectionate, happy, outgoing house dogs who loves nothing more than to follow their people from room to room. Here are some interesting facts in each of my dogs:

Bella the 8 year old half-Shih Tzu and half-Pomeranian

• Doesn't like her grandaughter (Luna)

• Has huge temper towards her daughter (Cupcake) and her grandaughter (Luna)

• Loves to communicate with us by barking

• Very smart and knows tricks

• Has a lot of look-alikes such as a polar bear, pig, cat, etc.

• Always alert even when sleeping and easily startled

• Dislikes children

• Barks at everything

• Gets jealous and loves attention

• Foodie

• Loves walks

Cupcake the 7 year old Shih Tzu and ¼ pomeranian

• Timid but gets easily excited when it comes to feeding time

• Knows how to sit and play hide and seek

• Very friendly even to strangers

• Rarely barks

• Easily get scared of storms

• Loves her puppies so much

• Loves to dive into trash

• Chews on socks

• She favors me more

Luna the 1 year old princess type Shih tzu ⅛ pomeranian

• Very noisy and aggressive even when tiny

• Very playful

• Gets irritated when teased

• Uses her paws as a shield every time you give her medicine or just by touching her mouth

• Hates bath times

• Doesn't like to brush her fur or brush her teeth

• Looks like a cat, ewok, skunk, etc.

• Has a high pitch tone of barking

• Loves chicken

• Loves to sleep between any kind of shoes

• Loves her toy duck so much

• Loves to play with socks

• Loves to sleep on rugs

• Pees everywhere

Having a dog in the house has been good not just for me but also the whole family in a lot of ways, and I believe that among those ways, it has helped me as an introvert. (After all, we introverts have a deep connection with animals!) Since I’m always trying to learn and grow as an introvert, I’ve looked for ways in which owning a dog can help me. Here are some of them.

1. They give me something to talk about when I don’t know what to say.

Whenever I see people who are interested with animals it’s a great “in” to start conversations, luckily some of them even became a friend of mine which in turn gives me more confidence in my ability to successfully interact with others.

2. They don't judge you.

This is one of the reason I prefer animals over people, just like my dogs I noticed that they don't judge us just by looking on our physical appearance but rather appreciating us for who we were.

3. A source of comfort.

On these days, my tired introvert soul need something to nourish me and cheer me up and my dogs fulfills this need. Everytime I would have a bad day, it helps me to know that I can come home with a cheerful dogs rushing to greet me and snuggling with their furry face that will always love me no matter what and would always listen to my crying moments and try to make me laugh for me to cheer up.

#mansbestfriend #dog parent #animal lover