How a Dog — or Any Pet — Help Us Become Better

Dr. Robert Graves reflects on how the love of Elsie, the dog, –or any pet– can strengthen emotional wellbeing and deepen personal growth.

“If anybody had ever told me that I’d be doing videos for social media with a dog in front of me…", reflects Dr. Robert Graves. Yet behind the humor is something deeply human. Speaking about Elsie the dog –part of the family and co-founder of EIVSOM–, he admits his profound love for her. That discovery unexpected and transformative, reveals how a dog’s love expands our emotional capacity. It softens us, grounds us, and reminds us of what consistent affection feels like in practice.

Dr. Graves describes how pets give us so much love, especially through the powerful ritual of returning home to pure excitement and warmth. This kind of connection regulates emotion, reduces stress, and reinforces positive energy patterns. As he notes, “she definitely feels the emotion,” highlighting the reciprocal nature of companionship.

Importantly, this is not just sentiment. “Therapy dogs… the warmth and the gift that they can give to us as humans is well researched,” he explains. A dog’s love encourages emotional intelligence in action — presence, empathy, and unconditional regard. In many ways, they model what it means to maintain positive value systems daily. Sometimes, becoming better starts with receiving love freely — and learning how to give it just as consistently.