My Dog is Teaching Me New Tricks

I'm a dog lover and toyed with the idea of getting one for about a decade.   For part of this time, I was working 14+ hour days in a hospital and just didn't feel I had the lifestyle for a dog.  Then I started a position where I worked from home but traveled a lot, so again, I doubted I could take this on.  Then one day, I came to the realization that many people have dogs and don't have ideal situations but they make it work.  I wasn't getting any younger, and I saw how much of my life had already gone by without having a dog by my side.

I now have Leo.  He's a mini bernedoodle and approaching 2 years old.  He was my first experience taking care of a puppy on my own and with all of the accidents, misbehaving, middle of the night walks, barking, and random throwing up, I questioned many times if this was for me.  I love the little guy but he's a lot of work!  I had to accept that my floors will never be as clean as they were before he arrived.  I'll always have to make time to bring him to the vet and to boarding and all of that costs money.  I will forever find poop bags and dog treats in the pockets of my jackets.  And I'll never eat anything in my house without being stared at.  But he's worth it.

Leo is always excited to see me and its great to come home to him after a business trip. He gets me out of the house on walks and keeps me company at home.  I'm still working on his social skills, as he gets overly excited to see new people and other dogs to the point where he has some bad manners.  I hope to begin bringing him with me to breweries and other dog-friendly events, as I think he'll be a big hit!

Sometimes, Leo just seems very unsettled in the house.  I'm usually running around cleaning the kitchen, replying to email on my laptop, or doing various other things around the house when I'm not working.  I make sure he's fed, walked, and has something to chew on or keep him busy but I can tell none of this is satisfying him.  Do you know what eventually makes him happy?  He becomes content when I sit with him.  That's all it takes.  And when I really think about this,  sitting down with him is as beneficial to me as it is for him.  He's telling me to slow down and take a few minutes to relax.  He just needs a little love and attention, and he wants to give love too.  He has taught me to slow down and just be mindful, which is hard for me to do on my own. 

I love that Leo makes people smile.  I noticed this the other day when we were walking in my neighborhood.  Neighbors who are walking their dogs will always stop and chat with us but even people getting out of their cars or sitting on porches will smile when they see Leo.  He brings joy to them, and I love that about dogs. 

While I continue to train Leo to walk nice on a leash and stay, he continues to teach me patience and to slow down.  Instead of rushing him through a walk because its cold (or too hot) or I'm crunched for time, I now prepare for a longer walk and listen to podcasts while I'm doing it (pairing, as podcaster Gretchen Rubin calls it), then it doesn't seem like so much of a chore.  I take in the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that we sometimes catch and remind myself to be grateful.  And I remember to take the time to just sit or play with him, as all days should be good days for dogs while they are on earth.