Gratitude Practice Series: Lucky Dog

If you’ve ever shared your life with a dog, you know how they can transform everything, not just how we spend our time, but how we see the world. Their joy, presence, and unconditional love have a way of reshaping our lives in quiet but powerful ways. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude, and one thing that consistently rises to the top of my list is my dog, Beni.

We adopted Beni from Stafford Animal Shelter during the early days of the COVID shutdown in early 2020. He had been found sick and alone on the side of the road as a puppy, and the shelter staff named him Lucky after nursing him back to health. After we brought him home, we changed his name to Beni, after Andrew Benintendi, left-fielder for the Red Sox. (Benintendi was traded a year later to the Royals in a disastrous deal, but that’s a topic for another blog post.)

Still, the name Lucky feels right. While we gave him a new name, the truth is, we are the lucky ones for getting to share our lives with such a good boy.

What I love most about dogs, and Beni in particular, is the way they teach us to live better. Research backs up what dog people already know in their hearts: dogs are good for us. They support both our physical and mental health in powerful ways.

A 2019 study found that dog ownership is associated with a significantly lower risk of death, especially due to heart-related issues. People who own dogs are more likely to stay physically active, thanks to daily walks and play. But it’s not just about moving more—it’s also about feeling better. Simply petting a dog can lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and increase oxytocin, the chemical that promotes bonding and happiness.

But the gifts dogs give us go far beyond science.

Beni reminds me to slow down and be present. In the evening, when I find myself mindlessly scrolling, Beni doesn’t just nudge me off the phone—he enthusiastically insists, dropping a toy in my lap or loudly “talking” to me until my screen goes dark and I give him my full attention. He doesn’t need anything fancy, just presence. That’s his love language, and maybe it’s mine too.

One of my favorite things about Beni is how excited he gets to hop in the car, no matter what. He has no idea where we're going. It could be a trip to the vet, the grocery store, or his all-time favorite: a splash-filled adventure at the river. We might be headed across town or across the country. But every time, his tail wags like we’re about to do something extraordinary. And in a way, we are. Because he’s going with us. He trusts that wherever we’re headed, it’s worth showing up for.

Dogs don’t waste time worrying about what might happen next. They don't rehearse the worst-case scenario or ruminate on the past. They live moment to moment—sniffing the air, chasing a leaf, curling up on the couch. They teach us to do the same. Beni reminds me to go with the flow. To embrace the unknown with enthusiasm. To trust that sometimes, just getting in the car is enough.

I don’t think Beni knows he was rescued. I don’t think he understands that he was once sick and alone, or that he found a forever family during a time when the world was shut down. What he does know is how to love with his whole heart, how to greet the day with joy, and how to remind the people around him that life is happening now—not someday, but today.

For all of that, I’m deeply grateful.

This post is part of a monthly series on gratitude practice and appreciation of simple things in life. Click the "Gratitude" tab above to read other entries or here to learn more about Leah and Sage Behavioral Health.

1. Kramer, C. K., Mehmood, S., & Suen, R. S. (2019). Dog ownership and survival: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 12(10), e005554. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.119.005554

2. American Psychological Association. (2019). The truth about cats and dogs: Pets are good for mental health of ‘everyday people’. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/05/pets-mental-health