Get ready for a shocking confession: I’ve never had a pet in my life. Well, up until the past couple months, that is. As a chronic petless person, I have had times where I’ve really wanted a dog. Obviously, as a young child I would beg my parents for a puppy but they stood their ground.
At the time, I couldn’t understand why we couldn’t add a dog to our family. Now, as a parent myself, I totally get it. Having to take care of another living being is a huge commitment that is totally different from having a child.
Maybe in the Future?
Before my husband and I started having kids, we were considering getting a dog in the future. But after having our first, it didn’t even cross my mind. Caring for children was difficult enough without the addition of an animal. I did, however, notice our daughter always loved dogs we’d see at friends’ houses or at the park. Our second child was the last and he showed even more affection for dogs than our daughter did. As our children got a little older, life got more manageable and we started to notice that the time to add a furry family member might be coming up.
Our house has outdated flooring, a big backyard with a new fence and we have an adult at home most of the day since I work from home at least one day a week and my husband is a full-time college student.
Time for a Puppy
The tipping point was when our family of four went to the What If Festival in downtown Colorado Springs. The day was filled with activities and experiences and treats but when our two-year-old son woke up the next day, the only things he could talk about were the two dogs he got to pet. We knew we would soon be adding a dog to our family.
In the few conversations we’d had about getting a dog, my husband and I both knew we’d want a goldendoodle (a golden retriever and poodle mix) because if we were going to add a dog to the family, we didn’t want to add the shedding. Long story short, we were able to find a breeder with 10-week-old goldendoodle puppies available. We drove out to meet the litter and instantly fell in love with a little boy who our kids named Toast.
Chaos and Love
Adding Toast to our family has certainly introduced an element of chaos but not as much as I would have expected. Potty training has gone shockingly smooth and he hasn’t destroyed a single pair of shoes or piece of furniture. The main issue we are continuing to deal with is puppy-biting, which the vet has said will get better with age. (But if you have any suggestions, I’m open to them!)
Our children love Toast, as do I. He’s a sweet puppy that has brought a lot of love to our family. And he has helped teach our kids about the responsibility it takes to care for another living thing.