Millennial With a Dog
I think it’s time I talk even more about my dog. When you’re a dog dad, that’s what you end up doing. Let’s dive in, shall we?
I’ve dreamt of having a dog for the longest time, actually since I was 10 years old. I used to beg my parents to allow me to adopt a dog. I asked and begged but to no avail. I got the usual spiel about how I would not be responsible enough and that it would be too expensive. Looking back, I think my parents had a point. But the excuses kept coming. I was always told to focus on my studies rather than thinking about a dog. Now, I do have some theories about my parent’s opposition to having a dog. For one, I believe it was, in part, the fear of uncertainty. They didn’t grow up with any pets, so perhaps taking care of a dog frightened them. Maybe they were simply not dog people. Actually, that last part has been disproven. Ever since I introduced them to Armie, they have been enamored with his cuteness. My parents actually treat Armie better than me. I’m honestly a little jealous of all the attention that Armie is getting from my parents. Funny how things turned out.
Anyway, I was determined to get a dog, so I began doing my research on everything I needed to know about being a dog dad. It turned out there was quite a bit of learning I had to do, no surprise there. For example, which breed of dogs did I want? Which breed of dogs have predisposed health issues? What is the size of the dog I wanted? After considering all these factors, I narrowed down to two breeds: Welsh Terrier or Labradoodle. But I ultimately ended up getting a Welsh Terrier, and here is why. For one, they are very well tempered and extremely friendly. In my case, Armie doesn’t even bark. Well, maybe only when there is an intruder. I was surprised at how great of a guard dog Armie can be; I digress. Armie only weighs about 25 pounds fully grown, so he is easy to handle. Because I travel on the plane every year, I knew I had to have a small to medium-sized dog. Armie was perfect for that category. In the end, I think it came down to my lifestyle that led to my decision to get Armie. I got Armie from a breeder right out of college. My hours of the day were somewhat unstable, so I needed a dog that didn’t require too much attention and can be independent. Though many of Armie’s behavior came from training, he was the type of dog that didn’t expect too much facilitation.
Partner in Crime
What more can I say, we’ll be in each other’s lives till the end of time.
It’s been two years since I got Armie. I can’t say it was all smooth sailing. Trust me when I say that raising a puppy is a full-time job. I got Armie at 10 weeks old, so there was a lot of training during his first year. I still remember taking Armie to his first walk. I bought a harness that was way too big for him, and he wobbled along the sidewalk. He ultimately grew into the harness, but at the time, I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. Even now, I’m still continually learning how to be a better dog dad. A big part of that learning involves understanding how to balance my time with Armie. In the few months of having Armie, we both had pretty bad separation anxiety. I would feel incredibly guilty and heartbroken leaving Armie at home by himself, while I’m at work. He would continuously cry, and I would cry too; we were both crying left and right. But I’m glad I had gone through that. Learning how to be a dog parent is hard and sometimes painful. At the end of the day, all you can do is your best.
An important fact to note is that dogs are for life. I’ve heard so many people getting adorable puppies and ultimately surrendering them because they can’t commit. That honestly breaks my heart. So if you’re planning to get a dog, be prepared to have that dog for the long term. If you can’t commit, that’s okay! You can look at cute corgi pictures on Instagram or even volunteer at an animal shelter (I did; I volunteered at SFSPCA throughout high school). But please be prepared to be a dog parent when you commit to a dog.
Sleeping Priority
Armie takes his naps very seriously. It’s probably one of his favorite hobbies.
There is such much about being a dog dad that I want to cover in this post, but it would be way too long. Instead, I’ll leave you with a bit of advice: Make time for your dog, there is always enough time. They may only be in a small part of your life, but you are in every part of their life.
Love from Tyler and Armie
Until next time!