04/30/2024
I’ve decided to share more of this dog adventure. Simply for myself/memories. But you may enjoy. 🤷🏼♀️ Please scroll past if you’re not interested.
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I think we’re on the 8th dog we have sat for so far in the past 2 months. No lie. Buster only died 3 months ago, like exactly 3 months ago. It was end of January. But we’ve had so much “dog” in our life since then that it seems lifetimes ago already.
But dude, we still miss you. Like a lot. Ya damn angry curmudgeon, GDmit I miss you. Loved to hate you but I mostly hated how much I loved your punk ass. I still shake your collar every once in a while to remember your sound. I think I will forever, too. Maybe not as often but I will til I die to honor your ability to be such a loveable as***le. (Sorry. But it was a complicated relationship 😂)
Anyway!!! My goodness it really has helped us all transition to a post-Buster world. We don’t have a dog. And that is sad. But we do need a dog. It’s good for all four of us humans in our own way. We have learned that we are 💯 a dog family.
Each dog has been a joy to home. We learn about their personalities and their presence eventually helps shine a different light on our family during their time here. As we have joked before, “we learned something about ourselves and each other.”
We have had 8 (assuming it was 8…) completely different dogs. All have had different needs and caretaking duties, and behaviors to be aware of. But those things that were different from the “general rest” is what made them UNIQUELY them. And so I have loved each of them differently (essentially different love/reinforcement languages). And I love it. It’s been so much fun!
Side note: So now Steve and I are asking more about these dogs’ personalities and abilities to know them going in; even the littlest bit helps us connect quicker. For everyone’s benefit. The longer stays, each dog has shown me their belly before they leave. And that’s the ultimate sign of comfort in a dog, it feels like. To me anyway. My point is, it’s positive reinforcement that they like us at the very least. So the dogs are ALSO enjoying their stay instead of being scared they’re actually separated.
Furthermore, two of said dogs (upon our first interaction post “move out/break up”) had noticeable positive reactions to me once seeing me again about a week or so later. So I figure I’m on to something with all of this. The dogs liked us enough to actually then consider me a pack member they were excited to see. Even more positive reinforcement.
So yeah. I think we found something we’re good at. And we do it together. Additionally, the therapeutic aspect for us all to have a dog around….. Trent’s showing signs of enjoying the dogs, as well. He mostly always simply tolerated dogs. Completely indifferent after toddlerdom. So his recent interest has been fun to attempt to cultivate. And Trevor likes when the dogs like him. Plain and simple. Oh, and to squeal over how cute the dogs are. He’ll probably do good in sales. Again, he’s got that charisma.
On that point: I always had a feeling we’d go into a family business together, I’ve said as much to some people. But never knew what it would be. Apparently it’s dog watching.
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This is Lucy.
Here is the answer to every question/comment we’d had so far:
“She is tiny - like 10 lbs. She is very sweet. We have her til Sunday, got her last Friday. She is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I learned that she likes to eat kleenex and chase birds. And really get all up in your face sometimes. (Which is hilarious given her penchant to run away/not listen so she can stay outside longer.
Her humans are on vacation in Banff. Yes, I have always wanted to go there too. If they send me pictures, I’ll add to this post if they don’t object. We met through Rover. That is correct, this is a strangers dog in my home. But we just love them.”
So who’s really winning here? Because it’s definitely us.
I’ll use if there is more come. Dunno.
