My friends laughed at me and saying things like “I can’t believe
you’re getting a dog” or “you don’t seem like a dog person” and I took great
(ok slight) offense to these comments. The dog owners I know love their dogs,
take care of them and walk them- did I seem like someone who incapable of these
things? I have a husband and two sons and (at least on certain days) I think
they’d say I’m caring maybe even affectionate. But deep down I know these
friends, as good friends often are, were dead on. I am not someone who ever
talked to my kids in the “gootchie gootchie goo” voice, I am not someone who pets
other dogs or someone who wants anyone, human or canine, to lick my face. I
should say I wasn’t that way before because now? I think I’m a dog person.
Like I’m sure many of you, I like my life full and add more
that I should. If my life were a plate, I would judge the portion of food on it
gluttonous. At work, I like to see 8 clients a day, that’s ideal but on many
days I see 12. I wake up at 5am to get stuff done. Right now I have a new book
coming out, we doing a major renovation in Vermont so a new puppy? Why not? Well,
when I was out on West End Avenue at 2AM with the new puppy the first night or
when he sprinted over to the carpet in the foyer (which I love) and “marked it”
or when he chewed on the wires that provide our internet connect I had a few
responses.
But here’s the deal- this little puppy Bronco is really
cute. And because I feed him and walk him (most of the time) and give him
(kale) treats he likes me. I loved a study conducted on married people that
concluded that your recovery from a stressful event is quicker when you’re
around your dog than your spouse, interesting. And the walking? Well my Fitbit
is happy (dog owners are more likely to get sufficient physical activity)…I get
home from spinning and we go for a walk or when I get home from work. The truth
is it’s nice to be outside at all these different times of day. I was watching
my new favorite show Super Soul Sunday yesterday and Ann Lamott said, “when you
are stuck spiritually just go outside”.
I used to be someone
who didn’t leave the house without brushing my hair and applying some concealer
and now I go out in pajama bottoms or whatever else I am wearing or not wearing
when nature calls for Bronco. The whole family is in love and it has given us a
project or cause to come together around. My 11 year old walks him and the 9
year old works on his training and my semi-reserved (opposites attract) husband
enjoys the lady-attention one gets when a grown man is with a teeny tiny animal
(I am approached less often but I do have some new gay, male friends so it’s
perfect). It’s really as though a whole parallel universe has been opened up.
If there’s one thing I could do without it’s the chatter
from strangers. Having a dog has been shown to increase social engagement but I
feel I was already engaged enough. I joke that I want a sign that reads “he’s a
Boston terrier puppy, he’s 13 weeks old, yes he’s a lot of work but it’s all
worth it.”
PS We had our follow up vet appointment. The little pup was
just over 5 pounds when we got him and in a few weeks he’s almost 8 pounds. Too
much “good” fat? I don’t want him to have issues but…kidding. Now that I’m in
this world, I was happy to see the FDA taking pet food more seriously.
Do you have a dog?
Have you considered getting one? Why/why not?
The winners of the Hilary’s Burger Giveaway are Nina, Andrea, Jen, EA (the Spicy RD) and
Sasha.
