Getting a dog has been a revelation for me in many ways. If you have a dog, you are constantly reminded of the value (and vicissitude) of “living in the moment”.
Has having a pet (pets) taught you anything about your own life?
I’ve learned that there is no death too cruel for coyotes.
Chasing skunks around the backyard is almost never a good idea.
To turn around 3 times before going to sleep.
I need to try harder to fit into the pack.
When all else fails, take a nap.
Shaking your ass and licking someones face is an easy way to get what you want.
If something unusual happens, run and hide.
(I have pet rats.)
Dave Barry wrote an entire book about it – and a sweet and thoughtful one, too:
From a description:
As Dave Barry turns seventy–not happily–he realizes that his dog, Lucy, is dealing with old age far better than he is. She has more friends, fewer worries, and way more fun. So Dave decides to figure out how Lucy manages to stay so happy, to see if he can make his own life happier by doing the things she does (except for drinking from the toilet).
My dog turns around at other times, too.
Very true. When Bernie the Bernese Mountain Dog would come into the kitchen knowing it was dinnertime (I’ll never figure out how he knew – same time each day) and I happened to be up to my eyeballs preparing people food, he would quietly toddle off to his room and have a nap until things improved. 
His dinner needed attention because it was never just kibble – it was always something warm and yummy on top, sometimes grilled beef or chicken, sometimes a stew …
The power of unconditional love.
One thing that will never cease to amaze me – the amount of universal outrage that will be expressed when any random brown dog is abused. But. If you substitute that random brown dog with a random brown person … uh, suddenly not so much with the universal outrage 
I could write a lot more here, but I’m pretty sure y’all catch my drift.
Absolutely. And the beauty of it is that it goes both ways: “A dog is like a child who never grows old – always there to love and be loved.”
My little Lewis the mini-dachschund does the same thing. He may work me over for an hour being adorable and cute and doing all in his power to induce me to do his bidding (cuddles, meal, treat, play), but when nothing works, he just takes a nap.
He knows he will win in the end – sooner or later, I will capitulate to his demands!
Everything’s more fun with catnip.
Rattlesnakes are no fun either…
Being around my sister’s cats has taught me to be really careful in walking. I can’t just go tromping off to the kitchen for a soda; I have to pretty much watch every single step. Cats love to get tangled up with people’s feet!
From my sister’s dog, I learned the importance of taking water when out walkies. Humans need hydration, but doggies need it more, and more often.
I’m sorry to say that these pets have also taught me that I would be unsuitable as a pet owner. I love 'em, but (same with kids!) I’m just not able to devote myself wholly to their needs, and with pets (and kids!) there ain’t no other way.
Mrs. L had a golden retriever before we met. The dog was at the vet’s and whoa, they discovered she had a heart murmur. The vet told Mrs. L to take her home, enjoy what time was left (maybe a couple weeks) and brace for the worst.
Mrs. L wondered if the dog should rest, not strain herself, hoping to extend her time. She decided that no, as long as the dog wanted to go for walks she would take her. And at every walk that dog pulled at the leash, never needing to rest. Then one night Mrs. L came home and found the dog had collapsed and died. From the awkward position it looked like she had taken a step when a thunderbolt of a heart attack hit in mid stride and took her.
As we get older many of us are going to get some bad news about our health and mortality some day. A lot of people might buy in completely, making us just give up or thinking doctors know everything. However, that dog didn’t know any better so she lived full tilt until the day she died. Most importantly, maybe, is that she didn’t last two weeks: she lasted 18 months, about 78 weeks.
I learned that just because my iguana escaped from his aquarium and hadn’t been seen for two weeks didn’t mean he wasn’t still around.
All life ends. It’s the love you give and receive that makes it worthwhile.
StG
Barking like crazy and threatening to pee on the floor gets you a nice trip outdoors. Where you can run like crazy and bark at every non existent squirrel before giving a quick, tiny pee to show them you meant well.