For years, I have been bugging my parents to let me have a dog. Right from the start, I’ve always loved the idea of taking care of a puppy, seeing them grow and turn into a full out adult dog. There are moments when I’d be walking on the sidewalk and a canine would be walking with their human companion. I envy those people because they have a dog they can treat as their own child.
However, I used to have my preferences. Back then, I loved the idea of taking care of a husky. They are just very beautiful, with their close resemblance to a wolf. I pretty much blocked off the idea of owning a different breed, until one day…
One day, my mother finally decided to let me have a dog. She knew how much I loved the idea of having a husky, but she also knows how understanding I can be. What she did change my entire mindset of how you should treat any dog out there.
Story of me and Leo
You’re probably wondering who Leo is. Well, to answer that briefly, it’s the name I decided to give to my dog. To be completely blunt, for a few days before he was going to be picked up, I hated the idea of having him; just because he isn’t a husky. I kept it secret because I didn’t want to hurt my mother.
You see, Leo is a chow-pin; half chow-chow, half aspin. With that information, you can guess why I wasn’t very happy about having him. I pretended to be excited as days before his arrival approaches.
In preparation, I watched and read a lot of facts worth taking note of about taking care of a dog. However, every time I get excited, I just then remember that he won’t be able to exceed my expectations simply because he wasn’t a husky. He was a chow-pin.
First Night
I can clearly remember the first moment he stepped into our house. I just finished taking a quick shower while listening to music. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I was surprised to be happy. A smile stretched throughout my entire face. As I leaned closer to him and he took a step closer to me, his head tilted to the side, examining who I am.
He was small, light, and easy to carry. We let him scan the entire place like a private investigator on a crime scene. He literally went everywhere; the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, even sat for a while under the table. Of course, he wasn’t able to go upstairs yet because he’s not ready to get up the stairs. He slept for at least 6 hours; changing different locations to sleep in.
By the time it went dark outside and we all finished our dinner, we thought it wasn’t the right time for Leo to go upstairs yet. This means that he has to sleep downstairs, alone.
Just so he can be used to having me around and for the benefit of starting to like him, I spent the night sleeping on the couch while he slept on the floor. We offered him a clean rag to sleep on but he prefers the floor. When he fell asleep, that was the time when I reflected upon myself.
Am I really too shallow just to dislike him simply because he’s not a husky?
I understood the division of thoughts rummaging through my head: I was only satisfied with his presence because he fulfilled my wish of having a dog. However, he wasn’t good enough to make me truly satisfied because he isn’t a husky. I slept that night with that thought echoing through my head as he sleeps peacefully.
Leo’s Growth
He grew up faster than we expected. For a few weeks after his arrival at our home, he gained weight and grew up exponentially fast. He started to eat a lot more, drink a ludicrously large amount of water, and have a lot of energy than we can cope with. I was especially surprised because this wasn’t what I expected from him. You can’t really blame me since this is my first time taking care of a dog.
Soon, he was able to climb up the steps of the stairs. We’d just be surprised how fast he was able to get up and down in such a swift manner. He started to jump on the chairs he wasn’t able to a week prior.
His development satisfied my desire to watch a dog grow. However, that materialistic side of me always seems to slide in, “He still isn’t a husky, idiot.” That thought stopped me from fully loving Leo, even though he gave me his unconditional love and affection.
I was guilty. I can see my mother and sister’s way of accepting my dog. My dad, well, let’s just say he doesn’t like the idea of having a dog around. Fortunately, Leo is really starting to grow on him. I’d just be surprised when my dad would play with him around the house. I was glad that they are starting to accept Leo as part of the family, but I still couldn’t get fully satisfied simply because he wasn’t a husky.
Realization
Months flew past like seconds. I was surprised by how much Leo has become someone we’re used to seeing every day. When I go downstairs to eat breakfast, he’ll be right at the bottom of the staircase, waiting for me. There are even those silly times when he’d be the one to wake me up from my sleep.
Slowly but surely, I was able to understand one simple fact I wasn’t able to for a long time.
A dog is a man’s best friend, regardless of their breed.
I was embarrassed of myself for being too materialistic and picky. I was mad at myself for judging Leo simply because he wasn’t a husky. I realized that there’s more into a dog than their breed; they are also living beings that can feel love, that can love, and can show love.
I was guilty of only giving Leo a small amount of love even though he was ready to offer me his. Now that I’ve finally realized based on my own experience, I was able to finally give what Leo deserves. He wasn’t just a chow-pin, he was a part of the family.
A dog isn’t just defined by their breed. There’s something more than their physical appearance. A dog isn’t just like our cellphones; they have character, they have life, and they give love. Leo changed my perspective on how to look at life and I am grateful for having him as my companion.
Never be too shallow towards a dog
This is one thing I struggled to understand, and you might struggle to understand it, too. Hating a dog just because he didn’t exceed your expectations is not a great mindset. I’ve learned that sure, Leo isn’t a husky and he didn’t exceed my expectations because of his breed, but he exceeded that standard with his unconditional love. The way he interacts with me makes me forget that I like huskies more than chow-pins. I want that to let it sink into you. The dog’s breed isn’t the only great thing about them, it’s also their attitude.
Just because a breeder or someone sells a dog for a cheaper price, doesn’t mean they’d be less of a dog worthy of affection. I know that cross-bred dogs are way cheaper than pure ones which spark a conflict in people’s minds. A dog’s worth isn’t dependent on the price of which they were bought. Money isn’t the issue here. The issue is how those specific people think.
It sickens me when people compare their dog’s prices as if it’s a competition to see who’s richer. A dog is your companion, not an accessory you can brag to others.
All of them deserves love
No matter where they are, no matter who they are with, no matter what breed they are, they all deserve love. There will be times when your dog might misbehave or do something they shouldn’t. In which case, some people’s reaction would be is to discipline them by hurting them. If you’re like this, stop right now.
There are many disciplinary actions you can give to your beloved pet, but hitting them should be your last resort. Not only do they hold grudges, they can forgive, but they can never forget. If the purpose of the slap is to let them know they’re wrong, it won’t be an effective procedure.
You see, dogs would focus more on the fact that you hurt them, rather than the wrong things they do. They might even start to dislike you for doing that which is something you shouldn’t strive for.
There are many different disciplinary responses you can give to your dog. What we like to do is to put him in time-out. It’s either put him inside his cage, don’t pay attention to him, or even take away his toys. That way, his mind wouldn’t be hindered by pain or resentment. He’d have the clear mind necessary to assess what he did wrong.
Every dog is different
Just like humans, all of them are different. They might be the same breed or have the same features, but they have their own personality, their character. That’s what makes them different to other dogs out there. The way they act and behave will be dependent on their surroundings, or how you treat them. If a dog starts to distance himself from you, that’s the time when you should be scared. You’re at the brink of losing a best friend. You wouldn’t want your dog to hate you, do you?
Dogs who are mistreated are often afraid of humans, except for the ones he really trusts. I know this for a fact because Leo doesn’t really care about my father’s presence. He’d rather just look at me than take a glimpse of him. I do hope their relationship would improve soon.
You might be amazed by the dog trainers you watch on the internet. You might think they’re easy to do but, in reality, they’re not. You need to have a lot of patience with your dog. Just because another dog immediately understands their human’s instructions, doesn’t mean that your dog would too. I remember the first time I trained Leo to sit. It took me just a few minutes before he was finally able to follow. However, laying down was a difficult step for him. In time, he was also able to do it.
Just like you, dogs need time to learn and adapt.
All dogs are beautiful
Remember the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”? Well, it also applies to dogs as well. Each one of them is amazing creatures, it’s just up to you to see their beauty within their own way.
Growing Bond
We’ve finally grown accustomed to his company. He was able to adjust to our schedule; when we’d wake up, sleep, eat, and work. He patiently waits for us to finish what we’re doing then he’d ask us for something he wants. However, there are those times when he’d get impatient so he’d try to grab our attention to give him something.
Most of the time, I’d know what he wants me to do, whether it’s to give him food, water, snacks, attention, or if he wants to go upstairs.
We can see the way he’s relaxed whenever we pet him. He loves receiving belly rubs from us. He especially likes it when we play around with his toys. We bought him some toys to munch on, even a homemade one made from my old t-shirt. I noticed how Leo was satisfied with what he gives him. He appreciates the little things we show to him.
I find it funny whenever I’d go downstairs to grab a glass of water, he’d be by the stairs looking at me, waiting for me to go back up. I like the feeling of safety and comfort he gives whenever he’d be there with us, even when it’s late at night. I like how he efforts to follow me downstairs even when he’s fast asleep.
We noticed how much time he spends staring outside of our house, observing the people and cars passing through the road. Since he was born while we are under quarantine, the only time he was able to go outside was when we’d take him to the veterinarian. I do feel pity because I know how much dogs love walks. I made a mental note to myself that the moment this quarantine is over, we’d spend at least 6 hours outside so he can have a little adventure.
Hello and Goodbye
Because I have to visit my dentist monthly (under strict rules and regulations), there are times when I have to leave Leo inside the house. He seems to know whenever I’d be living the house. When that happens, he really tries his best to pull me back from going through the front door. He’d either hug my foot down, block my way, or take my shoes and snatch it away. No, I didn’t find it annoying. I actually thought it was nice how he’d like to have me around the house.
When my appointment is done and I get to go home, Leo would literally be waiting for me by the door. He even rushes to jump at me while his tail wags wildly. He can’t help but jump up and reach up to me, excited and happy to see me again.
The same thing actually happens to my mother and sister as well. I can see how Leo waits for my mom or sister to go back home and it makes me happy seeing how he’s looking forward to their return. My dad, well, Leo doesn’t really care about him as much as he does for us, but I’m hoping he’d grow closer to my dad in time.
It seems nice when you see dogs do that to their owners on YouTube but it feels even nicer when it happens to you.
Every dog can love unconditionally
Yes, that’s right. Dogs have the ability to gain and express emotions. They’re not stone cold. They’re not just inanimate objects. Dogs are like humans too. They can feel sad, happy, mad, or even rage. They can understand the emotions you show them and they can assess them depending on their maturity. Yes, that’s right. Dogs mature too!
Man’s best friend
If a dog is finally used to living with you, he’ll start growing on you. I remember there was a few days before Leo showed a lot of interactions with me. Most of the time, he used to approach me when I have food, then he’d be off somewhere inside the house, wanting to be alone. It’s completely normal, guys. You don’t immediately be close to a stranger; it takes time.
However, when the time comes that a dog is finally ready to become your friend, he’d always be looking forward to seeing you every day. Whenever I’d be inside my room, working on my school works, and I’d need to use the restroom, Leo always rushes to run at me. Just hearing my footsteps sends alarms to his brain, making him aware of my presence.
Whenever I’d go upstairs to my room again, he’d try his best to pull me away from going upstairs. By the way, now’s the time to mention that we have a small board we use to block him off from going upstairs. Why do we do that? Because having a dog while you work is a big distraction. You’d want your focus to be concentrated on your projects, not your dog.
Yes, I don’t have Leo staring at me while I type, although I could really use his company. I think of it this way: after I finish my school works, I can play with Leo for a little bit. That gives me a lot of motivation to work harder and better.
