Must love dogs

If you’re a dog person, you understand dog people and get it. If you’re not, you don’t. You’ve either experienced the relationship with a dog and know what it means to be loved by them and the feeling of the empty space once you lose them, or you don’t.

Much like there are dog people, there are also cat people. Occasionally, people will cross over and identify as both, but generally speaking, I think most people fall into one category or the other.

My husband and I both happen to be dog people. We both grew up with dogs and have never known a home without one. Last year, I shared about the loss of our beloved Newfoundland dog named Stella. I also shared the story about getting our new dog, Lucy, and how she became part of our family.

We were in our house for less than a week before arranging to meet Stella. I’ve learned after losing pets over the years that the amount of time you wait to get another pet after loss has no indication of the loss felt.

Lucy came to our home the week before Christmas. We drove up to the same shelter as our other dog, Elsa, and she was on her best behavior. We were foolish enough to think that maybe we actually got the first good puppy that has ever existed. She was so low key, not destructive, and eager to please.

The honeymoon phase did not last long. Once Lucy realized that the ink was dried on the adoption papers and that this was not a trial run, that she was in fact home for life, she got really comfortable. She had the nerve to actually behave like a puppy.

Seemingly overnight, this reserved and well-behaved, docile, and incredibly respectful puppy became the stereotypical puppy. My husband and I knew we jinxed ourselves. We knew it was too good to be true.

Fast forward about eight months and Lucy seemed to be calming down. I decided we should try to let her out of her crate for a short period of time to see how she would do. Well, I came home to a hole in one of our couches. My initial reaction was to be furious at Lucy. Once I had a minute to calm down, I remembered she was just a puppy. Even though she’s big enough and looks like a full-sized dog, I can’t expect her to behave like a senior Newfoundland. She’s no different than an oversized toddler that I’m expecting to behave like a seasoned dog.

The dog ate my couch. (Photo provided by Megan Rathz)

I am constantly telling myself as a mother of two small children that this is just a season of life. I know that before I know it, they will be grown up and this season will be different. The truth is the same for our dogs, too. We just always think they’re going to be there, but they won’t be.

Sometimes it’s really hard to have a puppy. There are days our lives would be easier if we never got Lucy. It’s the truth. Having two young children and trying to potty train a puppy in the middle of winter wasn’t easy.

I reflect back to when Stella was a puppy. I would joke and often say that I loved her but didn’t think I really enjoyed her until she was a couple years old and just acted like a normal dog. I don’t expect my two-year-old and four-year-old to act like older children.

I know there will come a day when Lucy is calmer and well-behaved. It takes time and a lot of patience. Even though it’s chaotic, the reality is I don’t want to wish a second away. The kids will grow up, Lucy will calm down, our house will be quieter. But for today, I’ll take the happy chaos.

Lucy on the new couch since she ate the other one. (Photo provided by Megan Rathz)

If I have any advice for anyone in the trenches with a new puppy, it is to hang on and not give up. It’s so much easier without them, but life is so much better with them. Don’t expect your puppy to behave like your 10-year-old dog when they’re only 8 months old. You wouldn’t expect that of your child, so don’t expect it of your puppy.

Nature has a way of teaching us things. It has a way of driving us crazy and adding such beauty to our family. Don’t give up on your family because if you’re like me and call yourself a dog person, they are family.

Megan Rathz is a wife, mother, and teacher. She says everything she has ever learned in life came from her Master Gardener mother.