One of the most moving stories I have ever read about the relationship between a caring soul and his dog appeared in an article by Thomas Murray that was printed in The Wall Street Journal. When Mr. Murray lost his dog to old age, he began to think back on the joy that his dog had brought into his life and on what he had not noticed while George was still alive. I know the truth of it, for when my dogs died, I, too, wished that I had been more patient and considerate.

When the Murray family got George, they had to teach him to go up and down stairs, because he'd lived his life on one floor. Murray says that this was about the only thing the family ever taught him in 13 years. He says, "It was mostly desperation that made me finally give up and conclude that maybe this dog didn't come to us to learn, but to teach, though it took me a while to understand the lessons."

Murray started out trying to teach George by using a rolled-up newspaper to stop his barking and dancing through the house every time the doorbell rang or he heard a car in the driveway. "I think he was trying to make me understand," concludes Murray, "that a friend at the door, or even a stranger or the mailman, can be a nice little diversion on a humdrum day and something to celebrate."

George was impatient whenever his food was being fixed, prancing around the kitchen, standing on his rear legs, and then gulping down a full bowl almost before it was set in front of him. No matter what was done to calm him down, George never stopped this excitement, probably, as Murray decided, "to remind me of the pure joy of wanting and waiting for something and, by always wagging his tail the entire time he was eating, demonstrating that gratefulness is a priceless part of good manners and doesn't cost a thing."

Early on, Murray tried to get George to hurry up and finish his business outside and come back indoors. "In time," he says, "he taught me the joy of a much longer sunrise walk to see the new day, even in winter, and another after dinner to help put the day's worries in perspective. I grew to look forward to those walks as much as George did."

There are many other lessons that George taught the family, but here's my favorite: The Murrays tried to make Christmastime special by putting a red bow on George's collar and giving him extra treats, but they realized that on all the days that weren't Christmas, George was trying to show them that you can spread that feeling of anticipation and happiness over the whole year, not just when the decorations and the tree are up. George's lesson was that "the only presents that meant much of anything to him were those that were waiting for him, not just on Christmas, but every morning of the year—his family, his friends, his freedom, and not too many baths."

Murray's biggest regret is that "I'm a little ashamed that right up until the end, I was still trying to teach him things."

How Do You Score?

• Your dog wears a harness, not a collar, when out walking. Retractable leashes let dogs linger or prance ahead without being pulled (or pulling you).
• You walk early in the morning, so your dog doesn't have to wait to relieve him- or herself. You also walk 20 minutes after every meal so that he or she is not uncomfortable, and the walks last at least 20 minutes.
• Your dog's life is not one long series of commands: You let your dog live a little, make choices, and take his or her time.
• The yard is cleaned often-imagine if no one ever flushed your toilet!
• You bring water along when you go to the park so that your dog isn't parched and panting on the way home.
• You let your dog sniff and play with other pups on walks and at parks.
• When you leave for work, you leave on the AC, the lights, and classical music.
• Your cat never has to step into a soiled litter box.
• You don't appease your cat with food instead of play and attention. You liven up his or her life with toys and lap time.
• You provide a window perch so your cat can look out and cat trees and scratching boxes to help remove broken claws and stretch his or her muscles.
• Your bird, guinea pig, rabbit, or reptile spends as little time as possible in a cage, which is like living in an office cubicle.
• You speak softly, don't fight or shout in front of animals, and give them their own hiding places to dash into when they want to be alone.
• You take your animals to the vet at the first sign of illness but never leave them there longer than necessary.