The kids have wanted an animal since I can remember. Unfortunately, the fair goldish wasn’t enough. Because my husb & I work full time and we are constantly at extracurricular activities, visiting friends or running errands, owning a dog never fit into our daily routine and busy lifestyle. The thought of taking care of one more thing was so anxiety-inducing and just not something we were ready to take on.
Flash forward to quarantine.
After years of the kids begging, pleading, and talking nonstop about owning a four-legged creature, we finally gave in and bought a damn puppy. We picked him up on Day 62 of the COVID-19 shelter at home order. Since some of us have terrible allergies, we preferred a hypoallergenic dog and were super picky about our breed. Luckily, we were able to find an adorable little Cavachon, and we named him Sonny. Our original name choice was Kevin, which I still think is the perfect dog name.
We picked him from the breeder which is about an hour away from our house, and I was so nervous the entire ride. My husband and I have never owned dogs (I had cats growing up), so the experience is very new to us. Dog virgins if you will. We are learning the ins and outs of crate training (which is terrible during the day, since we are all home), eating, and getting used to a new life where we are responsible for yet another living, breathing thing.
Sonny is so sweet and just the cutest thing, but to be blunt- a major pain in the ass. We basically reverted back to sleep schedules similar to when we had newborns. If you know me….you KNOW I need at LEAST eight hours of uninterrupted slumber. Waking up to take him out (and monitoring his pee/poo schedule), cleaning up accidents, making sure he eats and drinks, and also administering an antibiotic that he hates is just A LOT! He has a parasite, another thing to worry about.
Being a worrier, this is exactly as I thought it would be. ANXIETY INDUCING. *Pouring glass of wine to relax*
Our ten year old has been pretty good with the pup for the most part. We trust him to take him out for potty breaks and to help in other ways, like short walks and administering treats. Our sassy 7-year-old is quite the opposite. She is constantly waking him up (did you know most pups sleep 18-20 hrs a day?), bothering him, picking him up, and overall up his little puppy ass. Having to yell at her and monitor that situation 24/7 is just making things even more insane and causing a lot of tension.
If you are thinking of getting a puppy, you have small children and you (and your spouse) work, I would definitely take a lot of time to think about this decision. If you already feel overwhelmed with life, please make a list of the pros and cons of having an animal. The kids were so excited the first few days and they promised to be responsible and take care of the dog. We must have been drunk to believe them. We probably were lol.
Luckily, we are on day 18 of our new life with Sonny and it is slowly getting better day by day. He has been sleeping longer during the night & getting on a more regular schedule. While he is excited to steal our shoes, socks, underwear, and personal belongings, he also spends time with his doggy stuffed animal girlfriend. Since I have a shopping addiction, it’s been fun buying him little accessories, toys and treats. This dog is spoiled and we all know it.
When things with COVID slow down and life resumes and we are “back to semi-normal”, I will be anxious to see how life with a pup will be different. I can work from home occasionally, but the kids and husb will be at school. When I have to go into the office, the worries are already setting in of leaving him all day. See? It’s fun to have a puppy…they are lovable, smart, and loyal. But…a LOT to worry about. A LOT to think about. Life won’t be the same. Many friends promised me that it gets better and it will all be worth it in a few months. The pup still doesn’t fit into our lifestyle, but you know what? He will.
Leave a Reply