My four-year-old fur baby melted my heart instantly. I had never known the joy that comes from having a creature depend on you completely. There can be no denying that Gigi has changed me for the better. However, this unconditional love is not the only thing I have realized thanks to this tiny bundle of fluff. Here’s what I’ve personally earned since becoming a fur mama:
1) Grandparents spoil their granddogs with rotten with treats. After we visit my Dad, Gigi never fails to need an intervention and treat detox.
2) Early mornings are bearable when you have a dog. There isn’t much that gets me out of bed happily before 10am, but Gigi’s energy, kisses and stumpy wagging tail get me up each day with a smile.
3) Another dog’s kibble is always better than your own stuff, so be sure to always investigate your friends’ food thoroughly or you might miss out.
4) Two rounds of obedience classes and private at-home training won’t change a dog’s personality. Gigi is exactly who she wants to be. She can shake a paw, sit, stay, lie down and dance for treats, but regardless of how good she is at “tricks,” she’s still got a personality. She barks, prefers to sleep on the couch instead of her bed and never lets me forget that she’s a feisty little girl.
5) The infamous Napoleon complex exists in small dogs. Gigi loves meeting dogs her size or smaller, but forget making friends with bigger canines. She’s not into that battle.
6) And finally, dogs watch TV. Some say this isn’t possible, but Gigi memorizes commercials and barks at all animals and babies on the screen. I watch her head tilt and see her stand on her hind legs looking right at the television while I howl with laughter. I also know to change the channel when certain commercials come on so she doesn’t go on a rampage.
What have you learned from pet parenthood?
