Monday, October 28, 2013

I think I'm a dog person


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.

21 comments:

  1. Love to see this! Dogs really do bring out the best in all of us. Can't wait to meet him!

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  2. hey nice post meh, You are one of the best writers I've seen of recent. I love your style of blogging here. this post reminds me of an equally interesting post that I read some time ago on Daniel Uyi's blog: How To Take Actions Everyday .
    keep up the good work friend. I will be back to read more of your posts.

    Regards

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  3. So happy to see that you're loving being a dog person. They really do shift things around in unexpected ways, don't they? As far as stressful life events, I've definitely had that experience- when I was in my car accident 4 years ago (hit by drunk driver), my dog didn't leave my side for 3 weeks. I've had some health issues since then, and whenever something flares up he somehow knows to be extra gentle with me. Pretty incredible how intuitive they are.


    Totally understand the chatter from strangers thing, but there's a benefit to it, too! When we moved, that actually helped us meet a bunch of people, including some who are now close friends because our dogs loved each other and were on the same schedule, so we just wound up spending time together (kinda like having kids in the same play group? ha!).


    Do I sense a post on your favorite dog treats/foods coming up? Would love to know what you like to feed him. I've done research on my own, but I bet you have, too...


    PS- Bronco is adorable - keep having fun with him!!

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  4. I hear you, they get you outside yourself. And I joke about strangers but I too have met neighbors I never new I had. I did love a comment on FB that you can walk around with a new baby and nobody says anything...but a puppy?

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  5. I will check out the post, thanks Dan.

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  6. we need a dog date (did I say that?). I'll be much more interested in Jerry now (although he was one of the dogs I loved even as a non dog gal).

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  7. Andrea@WellnessNotesOctober 28, 2013 at 5:12 AM

    Bronco is soooo cute! Glad he joined your family!

    Looking forward to trying Hilary's burgers! :)

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  8. Let me know what you think of Hilarys, he is cute and time to take him out..

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  9. I'm totally an animal person. I have cats. I have a dog. But in terms of the pet food thing: OMG. Total can of worms issue. It actually pisses me off to no end that there's not more regulation. We did a ton of research: http://healthfullyeverafter.co/blog/2013/8/23/cat-and-dog-nutrition-healthy-pet-food

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  10. Jess @ Keeping It Real FoodOctober 28, 2013 at 1:40 PM

    Oh wow—what a cutie! My friends have said similar things to me about pets—and babies—but I would not be surprised to find myself like, tripping-over-my-own-feet in love with a puppy. Sometimes I think about getting a dog, but my schedule is still a bit too all over the place. Good point about the chatter from strangers—I have enough of that as it is—it's why I walk so damn fast. Lots of creepers out there. I can't even imagine what creepers questions about pedigree and house-training would be like.

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  11. Congratulations on your new addition.. He sure is a cutie!!


    as someone who is very active in animal welfare, I do have to comment that I hope your puppy came from either a reputable breeder that wanted you to see the dogs they breed and know the breed's history and only breed selectively to enhance the breed or from a rescue. If you purchased from a puppy store or on the internet then the chances that your dog came from a puppy mill or a back yard breeder is 100%.. and the chances of your puppy having serious health issues over it's life time are pretty significant.


    Recently a co-worker purchased a french/english bulldog cross from a pet store, and the dog has been to the vet a dozen times in the few months she had him.


    Puppy mills are a serious problem and no matter what a pet store would tell you, no reputable breeder would sell to a store and not care where their puppies end up.


    If you did buy the dog from a store not understanding where the dogs come from, you can still do right by the dogs by no longer purchasing anything from stores that sell puppies. Even buying food there keeps them in business and perpetuates the problem.


    There is a darn good chance this comment is purely educational for the next person reading this, and I hope you do not mind my commenting.

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  12. never mind you commenting- no pet store I promise!

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  13. You can see yourself with puppy not baby?
    I almost forgot the crazy man the other night who said "your puppy is cute, I love animals it's people I hate"

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  14. can't wait to read Carline, I am a novice at the whole pet food thing.

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  15. I love all animals but am too selfish to go through the whole awake at all hours of night / potty training thing again. So many dogs on the UWS and I realize, the UWS is so unselfish! They have no problem taking their dogs out in freezing temps ... really so amazing.

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  16. did you just indirectly call me unselfish?

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  17. So cute :) after having a dog you will never be the same. They are family. :) Enjoy.

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  18. How fun! Nick wants a dog so bad, but I keep putting it off because, like you said, life is too busy. I love dogs, and actually love it when they lick my face :) I know we'd be fine with a dog but I'm just not quite ready yet...nope...not yet. Baby first. Yeah, we're doing it backwards.
    Too funny that Brad's makes puppy treats, because many of my clients would tell you that their "human" food tastes like dog food!

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  19. Ironically, I'm up reading this because one of my puppies just needed to go out in the middle of the night, and now I'm awake. . . . After ten years without a dog, after ten years of thinking the nicest people on the planet are usually dog people, after ten years of saying no to my kids, I am now a (two!) dog person. Despite the work, I'm so happy to be a dog person. My two younger girls are even utilizing the pups for their Halloween costumes. One of them is Little Red Riding Hood, so the dark-haired boy mini labradoodle is going to wear an American Girl night cap to be the wolf, despite the fact he's the sweetest temperament of a puppy. His cream colored sister is going to be a sheep for my middle girl to dress up as Little Bo Peep. We do work together as a family for their care, and a week ago the saving grace when we it was time to return home from Hilton Head was our excitement to see the pups! So fun. Glad you're enjoying yours.

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  20. Congrats on being a Hilary's Eat Well giveaway winner EA! Can you email me an address so we can get your coupons to you? Thanks! joanna@foodtrainers.net

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