How Adopting A Dog Changed My Habits For The Better
About a year and a half ago, my boyfriend and I took a major step and started talking about adoption. I’d been begging my boyfriend for years and we had just recently decided that this might be something we were ready for. We knew someone who was looking for a new home and figured, “what’s the harm in meeting him?” I thought of it as a first-foray-into-thinking-about-maybe-adding-a-family-member-to-our-household-one-day thing, not a serious we-might-adopt-today thing.
Well, it was love at first site. Our baby was a big, goofy, fluffy, chocolate standard poodle with a shaggy haircut and the sweetest, shyest demeanor. After our playdate, we got in our car to leave and my boyfriend turns to me and says “we’re adopting a dog, aren’t we?”.
He says that he knew there was no way I could meet a dog in need of a new home and not fall head over heels for him (he’s right, I volunteered at a dog adoption event once, followed by me begging him come to meet a black German shepherd that I couldn’t keep my eyes off. Update: he was adopted before I could stuff him in my car).
Anyway, the next day, we drove back and picked up our new child, Bowie! I could not believe this moment had finally come and I was absolutely over the moon (I still am!!). He’s everything I could have ever wanted and more. He changed my boyfriend and my life in so many ways and I could not be more grateful.
TL;DR having a dog is a TON of work. We really lucked out because Bowie was already house broken, incredibly well-trained (#Blessed), so he has yet to have an accident in the house. BUT, with the good comes the “responsibilities”. This big ball of fluff is in need of going outside early in the morning and extends my morning routine by at least half an hour.
Over time, we adjusted to his routine though, and now we naturally wake up earlier and are forced to spend more time outside- which btw my doctor and vitamin D deficient skin was loving. TBD if we turn into that couple running around Central Park with our active ball of fluff.
By implementing all of these habits in our my daily lives, we’ve become all-around healthier and way more productive! He has also taught us so many valuable things about our relationship, like how to compromise for the benefit of our fur-child, how to be more responsible human beings, and how important it is to make time for each other and establish routines together. We now have a ritual of taking Bowie on his nightly walk together and, we go to the dog park every weekend, stopping for coffee and breakfast beforehand. It’s these little things that make me feel even closer to my boyfriend and makes me so appreciative of our little fam.
That’s not to say it’s always a literal walk in the park though! We have to carefully plan our days and nights to make sure we’re not leaving him alone for very long, meaning our social life has decreased (but who cares, I’d rather hang out with my dog anyway!). The hardest part for us is traveling. Luckily, we have family and friends who adore Bowie and are always jumping at the chance to babysit him, but it’s still cumbersome to plan everything out and ensure he’s in good hands while we’re gone. Not to mention the guilt!! He gets so sad when we leave him, my heart breaks anytime I even have to take the trash out and leave him alone for all of 30 seconds. This guy has turned my boyfriend and I into full-fledged mushy parents.
I am so utterly thankful for Bowie and what he’s brought to my life. He’s taught me how to put someone else’s needs before my own and how much work and love goes into caring for another being. Becoming a puppy mom is one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever undertaken, but is by far the most rewarding!
For anyone looking to add a furry friend to their family, remember to adopt, don’t shop! There are tons of amazing shelters and and rescues out there, like Muddy Paws Rescue, Best Friends Animal Shelter, or Animal Haven in NYC. A quick Google search will give you tons of options in your city, or check out your local ASPCA!
#EARealBabe
Cover image via New York Social Diary