Jeffrey S. Nevid, Ph.D., ABPP
Mindfulness
How thinking like a dog can make the present, present.
Posted September 18, 2025 Reviewed by Michelle Quirk
Key points
- The doctrine of presentism teaches that the only things that exist are those in the present.
- Past events are but memories, and the future remains an undiscovered territory until it enters the present.
- We can learn from our canine friends about embracing the moment.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
–Buddha
“If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
–Lao Tzu
“The present alone is what always exists, and it stands alone; everything else is only thought of.”
–Arthur Schopenhauer
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.jpg?itok=z9VKGAx4 "lum3n / Pexels")
Source: lum3n / Pexels
In a philosophical sense, presentism is the doctrine that only things in the present—the now—truly exist. Presentism beckons us to live in the moment. It is intuitively appealing as we only exist in the present, and our experience of the world is bound by each moment in time. We can accept that the past did truly exist, but it is now the stuff of memory, not current reality.
So the past is gone and the future is yet to be written. Yet, I’ve seen in my clinical practice how people can become mired in the past or preoccupied with the future or find themselves alternating between past and future. They tend to lose sight of what’s directly in front of them, the ever-changing present.
People with depression often carry the oppressive weight of past regret, disappointment, and failure. Those with problems with anxiety look apprehensively toward a future with a sense of dread or foreboding. They, too, may look backward, recalling negative experiences they take to be a prelude to future negative events (“What if it happens again? What will happen to me?”). Experiences in the present may trigger associations to earlier experiences that touch upon deep-seated issues of rejection, abandonment, failure, insecurity, and inadequacy.
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The thesis of presentism—that only the present truly exists—can be empowering. So can mindfulness, which can help center us in the present. While we can (and should) learn from the past and prepare for the future, it is only in the present that change becomes possible.
Living in the Moment
What is it like to experience presentism? Let me offer a simple suggestion: Think like a dog.
The human mind is certainly more complex than that of a canine, but one thing about our canine friends we might envy is their capacity for living in the moment. As I write this, I am watching a black terrier mix in the park running excitedly to fetch a ball, time and time again, completely absorbed in the task at hand, a living portrait of joy. As far as we know, dogs and other animals are tethered to the present, to the reality they hear, see, feel, sniff, and taste at each moment in time.
THE BASICS
Do Dogs Think?
This question has long been debated among scientists and philosophers. Many dog owners wonder what’s going on behind those doleful eyes. They intuit that dogs “think,” but the question begs a more scientific approach. We first need to distinguish simple stimulus and response patterns from the more complex cognitive processes involved in thinking—namely, the capacity to hold information in mind while performing operations on that information—analyzing, evaluating, and creating, and perhaps most importantly, using language as the medium of thought.
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A dog hears a rattling of keys. Does it think, “Great, my human dad is preparing to take me on a walk.” Or does it simply become agitated, aroused to action by past associations of keys rattling and leashes being attached and doors opening?
Unlike humans, dogs lack the capacity for language, of using symbols (words) arranged in a particular order to express meaning. We’ll leave to the realm of speculation whether dogs and other animals can bring the past to mind in some form or imagine a future reality. But whatever may be going through the mind of a canine, it doesn’t involve thinking in words muttered silently to themselves, as we humans do virtually every waking moment.
Thinking Like a Dog
A dog’s mental experience may be limited to its present reality, but the human mind is sandwiched between the past and future. To make the present more present, we can draw a lesson from our furry friends and think like a dog. Here are some tips that can help you to think like a dog:
Mindfulness Essential Reads
How Not to Be Owned by Your Emotions and Thoughts
- Become attuned to your surroundings. Take it all in and make the best of the situations you face.
- Take things as they come rather than magnifying them. Things just are. Don’t let your thoughts make more of them than they are.
- Focus on what you can do today, not on what you didn’t do yesterday. What’s done is, well, done. Make today count.
- Stop calculating what could go wrong in the future. Spending your time calculating all the things that could go wrong in the future can keep you from taking action in the present.
- Be fully present in the moment, absorbed in what you are doing, not on what you’ve done or what you may do.
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Dogs don’t dwell on the past. They don’t spend their days ruminating about the choices they’ve made or their disappointments. They don’t quiver in fear of the future. They don’t expect the worst, become filled with regret, or exaggerate the consequences of their actions. They live in the moment. We can take a lesson from our canine companions and reorient ourselves to the reality that all we ever truly have is the “now.” Or we could just try to think like a dog.
General Disclaimer: The content here and in other blog posts on the Minute Therapist is intended for informational purposes only and not for diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of mental health disorders. If you are concerned about your emotional well-being or experiencing any significant mental health problems, I encourage you to consult a licensed mental health professional in your area for a thorough evaluation.
© Jeffrey S. Nevid 2025
Exposing the Big Game 