What I’ve Learned From My Dogs

Written by Kendall Bergman

Warning: For those of you who don’t care about pets…especially dogs, last week I posted about National Dog Day, today’s blog is about…well, dogs…and then later this week I’ll be posting on National Service Dog Day. Lots of dog action. Take it in and then breathe out. I’ll leave the dogs alone for a while.

Listen…I was well into my 40’s before I took home my first dog. His name was Jonah and he was a 6-year old wonderful standard poodle. I adopted him from my eldest sister and was smitten from the get-go. This dog loved me unconditionally, showed me that sloppy is better than empty and invited me to play in a way that I hadn’t done since I was a child.

He was in my life only 4 months when he came down with kennel cough that quickly moved to pneumonia…he died in my arms and I was heartbroken. This loss was part of the reason I never wanted a pet in the first place. You meet this creature, fall in love and inevitably outlive them. 

Through the wisdom and encouragement of my sister and best friend, I brought home an 8-week old puppy just a couple of days after Jonah was gone. Sunny chose me really. I want to be really clear here…Sunny could never replace Jonah. Jonah changed me for the better and I will be grateful to him forever. 

Where Jonah stepped into my life in a gentlemanly way…with kindness, ease and discipline, Sunny entered my life like a tornado. When she was 10 weeks old I took her to the vet for her first check-up, convinced that she was either defective or possessed by the devil. I said as much to the doctor and the old guy simply chuckled and said “No, she’s not defective or possessed. What you have here is a healthy active puppy.” I was speechless. What the heck had I gotten myself into?

I wasn’t sure I would survive and if Sunny hadn’t been so darn cute I wasn’t sure she was going to survive either. Friends and family…and yes, even that vet…encouraged me that the puppy terror was a phase and that she would grow out of it. And sure enough the days turned to weeks that rolled into months…and before I knew it Sunny had become my sidekick and best friend.

She has shown me that I am prone to stress and anxiety. She has taught me to regulate my stress and anxiety, remember to breathe and take long walks. She hasn’t given her love as readily and freely as Jonah…I’ve had to gain her trust and with that she has showered me with love.

When the world shut down in March of 2020…and we were all stuck at home to shelter in place and figure out how to work remotely, it was time for another dog. I brought Otis home when he was 10 weeks old. He was scrawny, full of fleas and I immediately had buyer’s remorse. In all honesty, it took about 2 weeks before I warmed up to Otis. And once he and I connected, I haven’t looked back. Otis is happiness wrapped in a 4-legged fur suit. 

I knew Sunny wasn’t going to be happy…and I was right. She hated me and Otis for about 6 months. My sister says that Sunny knows how to hold onto her principles. This is an apt description. Sunny gave me and Otis the cold shoulder and was happy to let us know her immense disgust for the entire situation. I think she was wondering when the puppy was leaving…and she didn’t care where he went. 

Otis, on the other hand, was in love…not so much with me, but with Sunny. What comes around goes around as the saying goes. And Sunny was in for it. She had terrorized me when she was a puppy and now Otis was terrorizing her. I enjoyed every bit of it. Everyday of Otis’ life is the best day ever and he lives each moment with gusto and exuberance.

In short, here’s what I’ve learned from my dogs:

  • Jonah showed me what unconditional love looks like. He was an unexpected gift and will be in my heart always.

  • Sunny is like a mirror…reflecting back to me with fierce honesty and infectious whimsy.

  • Otis…well Otis is constantly inviting me to play. He reminds me that life is short and it’s always a good idea to throw a ball.

If you are considering getting a pet, I encourage you to do so. Do your research…think and pray about it. It’s a responsibility, but the return is immeasurable.

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On Self-Forgetting