Blogember Day 12: Your First Pet
I can't just tell you about my first pet. I need to tell you about all the dogs I've ever loved. When I was a little girl we had a German Shepherd named Edgar. He was as tall as me and easily out weighed me, so we would often come eye to eye. I was scared of my own dog. He would yawn and I thought he was trying to bite my face off. It was my responsibility to feed him, but I didn't do such a great job. I didn't like him knocking me over as I tried to pour food in his bowl. As an adult, I realize that Edgar was likely a very sweet dog, he couldn't help his size. He wasn't trying to be a bully, I was just too small.
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What a big mouth you have! Better to eat you with, my dear! (Not Edgar but you get the idea.) |
I spent most of my life afraid of dogs. I didn't like my friends dogs much and I certainly didn't like when strange dogs barked at me or jumped on me. I remember when I first started running on the streets, I had this paralyzing fear that one of those dogs would jump a fence, or a stray dog would bite me.
The first dog I ever called my own was a Pekinese named Baby. I adopted him later in his life, when he was already 10 years old. He was a bit of a grumpy dog, but he was so small and cute, he was harmless. Hubby always said he was just ticked off that he was boy named Baby. He once bit hubby in the face, so we nicknamed him face. He wasn't much of a running partner, but that little guy could book it. If he would get out, I would have to chase at full speed to catch him. The beginning of my love affair with dogs had begun.
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our Pekinese Baby aka FACE |
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My first running partner sweet Candy |
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Our big baby Mattie |
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Mattie loved to swim, but good luck getting her out of the water. |
We adopted Ollie last year around Thanksgiving. I had no idea I would fall in love so quickly. While no dog could replace our Candy and Mattie, Ollie definitely filled the hole in our hearts. Ollie quickly became my newest running partner and the star of this blog, and our house.
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Ollie as a baby. |
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Ollie always getting in the shot. |
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Run with me momma. |
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Handsome boy Ollie |
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Happy Dog Ollie |
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Deck Dog Ollie |
I had to wipe a tear as I revisited the dogs in my life. I went from being a dog-fearer to a dog-lover because of the unconditional love of these dogs. I loved them all so much.
Tell me about the dog you love in the comments.
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Lea
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Dogs play such a special role in our lives! I had a dachshund growing up that we loved for years. I wish I could get a dog now, but since I'm not really "settled" into a city or even country yet, it will have to wait. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love dogs SO much. Growing up we always had tons of animals and tons of dogs. One of my favorites was our rottweiler - we would play tug o war with him and he was so strong that he would lift us off the ground with the rope and spin us around in circles! I miss him so much!
ReplyDeleteAww love this! I had a dog growing up and had him for my whole childhood but it wasn't until our first of our own that I became a true dog person!
ReplyDeleteOther than Mitzy in my teenage years, I wasn't a dog-lover. At all. Then I still didn't like dogs (borderline feared them) until we adopted Sallie. Now, I'm a dog-lover, but I definitely prefer small dogs. Big dogs still kind of freak me out.
ReplyDeleteLucky you to have known and loved so many nice dogs. I am a huge dog lover... My last precious babe was a beautiful Springer Spaniel I called Scout (Gleneire's Scout's Honor) and she was my baby and my bossy Alpha female friend. She past away at my bedside very unexpectedly late one evening, and the tender age of 7. My husband and I walked around like zombies for almost 2 years. That was 6 years ago and I have not been able to have another pooch in my life permanently... but a big goldendoodle named Kai who we babysat 2 winters helped heal the broken hearts a good deal. Aren't dogs just the best?
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs to Ollie, I am so glad you have such a great friend, Lea.
I love this post Lea:) My dogs have never really been great running partners, but my life would be incomplete without them. I grew up with a pekinese mix who lived 16 years I think. Then we had a lab mix named Madi who lived until she was 12. Now I have my 2 sweet sharpeis Rocky and Adrian and they are the best dogs ever. They make me smile all day every day:)
ReplyDeleteaww, you had a lab maddie too - like us! :)
DeleteAww, what a sweet post. We have an almost 14 year old lab and he was so strong and I never could even walk him, he dragged me. We adopted Molly a year ago and she actually likes to run. She's pretty good at it too. Unfortunately, I usually run at 5AM when Molly (and everyone else) is still asleep.
ReplyDeleteSuch a heart felt post! Dogs really do capture your heart and are the best running partners!
ReplyDelete