As the new year of 2026 dawns, many of us are scratching our heads for a meaningful resolution that sticks. For veteran commentator Adrian Barich, the search led him to a profound and simple idea, perfectly captured in a timeless quote: be the person your dog thinks you are.
The Search for a Meaningful Promise
Barich admits that finding a fresh New Year's resolution becomes more challenging with age. The classics like fitness and weight loss have been tried, and while a marathon is a goal for the year, a dodgy knee keeps it off the official resolution list for now. His love for a good quote led him to explore historical pledges, including those from Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver's Travels, who in 1699 resolved not to marry a young woman and to avoid being overly severe on youth.
Yet, it was the canine-centric adage that resonated most deeply. "It's funny, but it's spot on," Barich reflects. Dogs, he observes, view us through a lens of unconditional admiration, seeing us as kinder, more present, and more deserving of devotion than we often are.
The Uncomplicated Goodness of Dogs
Barich channels the sentiment of comedian Ricky Gervais, who sees dogs as pure evidence of goodness without agenda. Their joy is simple and their love is genuine. They don't care about your bank balance, your job title, or your car. Their world revolves around simpler victories: your return home, a moment of attention, or simply sitting on the floor with them. That brief return for a forgotten item is, in their eyes, a heroic return from an epic journey.
The writer recounts years filled with the chaotic joy of three pugs, whose passing left a profound void. Against initial hesitation, the family welcomed Frank, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and French Bulldog cross, who restored laughter and light. This bond leads Barich to understand the extreme lengths some go to, like celebrities Barbra Streisand and Tom Brady cloning their pets, and he notes the emerging science of biobanking pet cells for potential future cloning.
The Science of Canine Connection
Barich delves into fascinating insights about how dogs choose their favourite human. Contrary to the belief that it's the feeder or walker who wins top spot, science suggests it's about emotional resonance and energy. A calm dog seeks the calmest person; an energetic dog finds its mirror. They crave familiarity and consistency, not effort. This is why every home has 'that person' the dog shadows, a choice often made without the human even trying.
The article also highlights the incredible olfactory world of dogs. With up to 300 million olfactory receptors (humans have about six million) and a smell-processing brain area 40 times larger, sniffing is their primary language. A leisurely 'sniffari'—letting a dog follow its nose—can be as mentally stimulating as an hour's exercise. Sniffing can elevate a dog's breathing to 150 breaths per minute, providing a dopamine-rich mental feast. We call it a walk. They call it a story.
As Frank lies under his desk, Barich concludes that dogs are one of humanity's greatest gifts. Their flaw is their tragically short lifespan, a fact underscored by his cat Tom's longevity. Ultimately, dogs aren't perfect, but they inspire us to strive for better. For 2026, Adrian Barich proposes a resolution we can all aspire to: to live up to the unwavering, idealised belief held in the eyes of our devoted canine companions.
