I love cats. I love how God designed them to be very intelligent, having such unique personalities & having amazing physical abilities. They have beautiful coats & amazing eyes that are captivating yet intimidating all at the same time. They groom themselves, which makes them very clean creatures. Felines are satisfied with a full bowl of food, clean water & a nice litter box. They sleep most of the time, playing only on occasion when they feel like it. Cats view the house they abide in as their own personal domain. Humans are allowed to live there only if they serve them & don't annoy them too much. Every once in awhile they will show some affection by purring when scratched behind the ears or they will jump on their human's lap to take a nap. All in all, cats are very self sufficient & easy to take care of. It has always been my humble opinion that they are the best animals to own.
Dogs, on the other hand, are not very good pets (or so I thought for years..). To me, dogs have always been too messy, too hyper, too needy & way too stinky. Plus, having to scoop thier poop in the yard & seeing yellow stains on the grass is something I have never been too keen on. Dogs shed, they slobber & lick your face. Yuck, that's not desirable at all! They certainly don't seem very smart, at least most of the dogs I've ever met. Plus, all the walks & play time they require is a lot of work.
Although all this information is true, I have TWO exceptions to my disdain for Canines… First would be my childhood dog. My parents had a Cockpoo named Josh when I was growing up. This dog was mellow & kind. A complete anomaly to the list of characteristics as stated above. He was one in a million! The second exception is a specific breed of dog called the Golden Retriever. I actually have had a soft spot for Golden Retrievers since I was fifteen. Something about their temperament & the look in their eyes that seems different from other types of dogs. So secretly, I wouldn't have minded owning one, but I would never let it become a reality. My husband, Ira (who's extremely allergic to dogs), told me right away that he would never own a dog. He hated dogs! He was the last person on earth who would own a dog. Period. So I decided to let that dream go & held to my earlier description of dogs, deciding that cats are way better.
Along with our three daughters, we were quite content with our cats: Momo, Artyom, Atreus & very old Pepper. We've been so blessed & our home has always been a happy place. However, over time, Ira began to notice that I seemed downcast & almost depressed more so than normal. Being “Middle aged” (or so they say) with my hormones all over the place & my children more independent in 2nd, 3rd & 7th grade, I was finding myself with time on my hands, but no enery after a full day of homeschooling to do anything. He was concerned. I needed a distraction & a break from the monotony.
Ira works in an office environment in close proximity to his staff. When his coworker, who also was struggling with depression tendencies, adopted an emotional support Golden Retriever puppy, he began to toy with the idea of what it would be like for our family to adopt a Golden. He knew very well that I always wanted a Golden Retriever. But could he tolerate the dander and other disgusting dog habits….? When the young puppy, named Maverick, started to arrive at the office every day, my husband would pet him & be covered in kisses. The puppy wanted to be with him in his office. Daily, I would hear about how sweet Maverick was when Ira returned from work. I could tell his heart was melting. And the most surprising thing of all, he didn't have any allergies! This was unheard of for him with other breeds. For some reason, Golden Retrievers didn't cause an allergic reaction at all. One night, he mentioned it might not be so bad for us to get a dog. After 25 years of marriage, we finally have a home with a backyard in a neighborhood where everyone else has a family dog. He said it might help me emotionally to have a companion. With a twing of excitement & a small twinkle of hope in my eye, I told him I would buy a golden right now if he was serious. We laughed & dropped the subject. I resolved that he really wasn't serious. However, the next morning, he sent me a link to Maverick's breeder with a picture of the puppy's sister. Mixed with excitement & hesitation, I emailed the breeder. Sadly, that dog was adopted. However, I felt like I couldn't give up that easily. God had somehow changed my husband's heart about this, so I better see if the Lord had another opportunity available. It couldn't hurt to look, right? Well, all the Golden Retrievers in Colorado were too young to adopt & were located over 100 miles away from us. All but one that is…. One puppy was still available from a litter that was ready to go home in two days. She was located just a few miles away from us on the Colorado Plains! A picture of a small cream colored English Golden Retriever with brown eyes & white lashes was staring back at me. Immediately I prayed that if this was God's will, then please let this be my dog. Then I emailed the breeder. Within an hour, I had an appointment for me to meet this small puppy that afternoon! Thr breeder informed me that four other people the day before had showed interest, but every person decided they didn't want to meet the puppy. The breeder was excited to find the last puppy a forever home & eager for us to meet her.
I drove with my girls a short way up the road to the house where the puppy was. When we went to meet the breeder, she was holding this small white dog, who was the size of a teddy bear. I asked to hold her & when I did, it was so special. What in the world was I doing? I dont like dogs, right? But the second I held this puppy, I felt relaxed. I noticed she smelt like fresh dog shampoo mixed with that undeniable scent of a dog. However, there was something about it that didn't bother me quite so much. She was so sweet & gentle. My daughters were extremely excited, each taking turns holding her. Then I got to meet her father. My eyes widened as I saw him; a massive cream colored Golden Retriever, half the size of a horse excitedly walzed in. He looked very regal, being a champion dog from Siberia. I then noticed how huge this puppy's paws were. This was going to be a big girl, nothing like the little cockapoo I grew up with! Even though this was insane of me, I couldn't help myself! I put down a $500 deposit (yes, a very expensive puppy). After waiting two days, my puppy was delivered to my door. It was so much fun to watch her explore her new home & to cuddle her. That evening, my husband got to meet her for the first time. There was an instant connection. Ira actually seemed to like a dog! After much deliberation between the five of us, we named this little girl “Cookie”.
Even though I was feeling stressed about how the transition of having a dog would be, when we finally got her, I was surprised at how smoothly things went. Now, don't get me wrong, we had to potty train & had our fair share of accidents to clean up. The cats weren't too happy about this intruder, but they soon realized this pup was here to stay. They have decided to tolerate her presence. Momo established that he is still the king of the castle & has put Cookie in her place. The youngest cat, Atreus, has actually become her playmate. Before Cookie, my daughters never liked to play in the backyard, but now they play outside daily running around with her & enjoy having a little puppy to play with, even in the snow! As for Ira, I never in a million years would have thought he would have become a dog dad, but he undeniably has! He lights up with a smile when he sees her. He proudly wears my comfortable "Dog Mom" hat from time to time. I can tell the warm greeting of Cookie running up & jumping with kisses is just what he needs after a long day. Who would have known he needed an emotional support dog as well!
As for me, I had no idea how this little dog, who isn't quiet so little anymore, would affect me in such a positive way. First of all, I understand now why people call their dogs their “fur babies” because, in many ways, having a puppy is similar to having a baby. I've learned it's very important that there are no small objects on the floor so as to avoid having to dig around in Cookie’s big slobbery dog mouth to retrieve the lego she wanted to eat for a snack. I don't mind giving her doggy baths or cleaning up after her as much as I thought I would. There is something about the kindness in Cookies brown eyes & her happy smile that warms my heart. The ever ready energy to play tug, take a walk, or run in the yard has forced me to get up & get moving on those otherwise dark, emotional days. Even though she's almost as big as me now, she likes to sit on our laps & wants to be held like a baby. She's not only brought joy to our family, but others as well. I take her to visit my parents & my grandmother, Nanny Bee, a few times per month. Nanny Bee has always loved Golden Retrievers & she has a soft spot for Cookie. In an unprecedented turn of events, after realizing what joy a dog could bring to their home, my parents decided to adopt a cockapoo puppy! After waiting many years to get another dog, I know this little guy will be a good companion for them & bring excitement to their lives! And, of course, Cookie will be pals with him for sure. Remember that puppy Maverick that began this whole thing? Well, he has become one of Cookie’s best pals. We take her to Ira's office so they can play & wrestle. It's incredible how quickly this dog has become part of our family. She is a blessing & I thank the Lord he allowed for us to find her.
How do I feel about canines now & have my opinions changed? Well, dogs still slobber, are messy, are needy, are smelly, and are loud. However, they are absolutely wonderful in spite of it all! I've learned dogs are kind, playful, loyal, protective, give companionship, and are extremely smart (at least Cookie is anyways😉). Felines will always have a special place in my heart, but now I have added space to love & respect canines too! So yes, I have finally moved to the group of people who love their dogs because I love my sweet Golden Retriever named Cookie💕
So, what about you? Do you have a special dog that you would like to share about? Feel free to write your experience in the comments below!
Until next time, keep smiling, my friends 😉👍
-Mandy 🌸🪻🌷💜
I really enjoyed your post!! It is amazing how a dog can wiggle into your heart in a split second! You can look into their eyes and just know they were meant to be with you! God gave them to us to make our journey in life full of unconditional love and acceptance. They are a comfort, companion and will love you for their lifetime if given a chance. After many years, we will receive our new little puppy coming from Ohio next Wednesday!! Your post has reminded me just why we love our doggies so much and made me even more excited to meet our little guy!
Miss M that is one cute pup .
I see she thinks she is a lap dog 😂