I have two dogs - a 13 year old Springer Spaniel, and an almost 3 year old Kokoni. Every single day, they make me smile, or laugh out loud with their antics. My Springer has grown up alongside my 14 year old son (who cannot remember what life was like without the bundle of often mud-caked fluff and huffing laughs which is our Dog) and I know, without doubt in my heart, that he would cheerfully sacrifice his own life to keep my human child alive. He's slowing down a lot now, but he still insists on cuddles to his time-table (he bunts arms up and over his shoulders) and on starting his day by looming over me on my bed (we've had to put a box at one end so that he can haul himself onto the bed, now) and gently, ever so gently, licking the end of my nose or my cheek - just once - in a "good morning: I love you! Now, where's my breakfast?" sort of a way. He lives his life to a regime, looks to me for reassurance constantly, but... I'd not swop him for the world. My 14 year old has the most loyal, the most loving, the most devoutly protective best friend in the whole world - and although I know that has to end at some point soon(er than I want it to), I know that my Spaniel has given my son the very best gift in life. True friendship.
My Littlun, the Kokoni... well, we were her 3rd home in 4 days when she was just 8 weeks old. She was malnourished, had an eye infection, panicked if I left her alone for a moment (she still does, actually). I spent the first 4 or 5 weeks of her time with us holding her like a baby, along the length of one arm, crooning to her as she slipped into sleep, her puppy belly resting on my wrist, her nose tucked into the crook of my elbow, and her little snuffles of snores reverberating through my bones. She watches my steps as I place my feet upon the stairs - both up and down - and she navigates her way through my crutches when I walk her with the ease of a practised swimmer. She tries to hold my hand in her mouth when I go down the stairs (which as she comes up to my knee is a bit problematic), and she will pointedly look between me and the safety rail until I have my hand upon it. She hurtles around like no one's business, until it's Quiet Time, at which point she rolls onto her back, legs and folded ears flopping, and snores in the depths of her crate downstairs, where she hoards her precious toys like she's Smaug... She loves my son, she is gentle with the rabbits and our aged cats (14 and 12), and she worships the ground my Spaniel walks upon.
I feel, very much, as though we give far less to our dogs than they give to us. They love us unconditionally, they lick away our tears, they lean against us just so that we know they're there - that they love us, that they will keep us safe to the best of their abilities, and although they're often mud covered, and not as fragrant as we'd like them to be (my Spaniel's flatuence is appalling... reeks of cabbage, even though he certainly isn't fed it - and always in the middle of the night, right next to my bed!), and noisy when they think they ought to be bellowing "go away" to whoever's dared to knock on the front door... we'd not be without them. I began my day with my Kokoni lying on top of my head, quietly grumbling at a cat who had decided it was past his breakfast time - she didn't want him to disturb my sleep, so was "no, go away, she's asleep!", and then had to have her nose halfway up mine as she determined how healthy I am, before side-eying the cat in a meaningful way. I'm currently sat with the Spaniel lying on the floor between me and the doorway, listening to him snore, knowing full well that he's placed himself there just in case ninjas break in... and aware that he's at that stage of deep sleep where nothing is going to wake him up (he's got hearing loss and selective hearing, too...).
They help me by being themselves. Every day. I'd not have them any other way. They love us, they would die to keep us safe, they think of me as their Mama, and they both know, without doubt, that I will never hurt either one of them deliberately. They trust me. I love them.