I never knew I wanted a dog until I had one. Basically, I had 2 or 3 really bad relationships in a row and I decided, screw men, I'm getting a dog.
I started looking online. I found myself drawn to brindles and pitbull types, but I didn't want a pitbull. I didn't think pitbulls were inherently bad as most people do, I just didn't want to risk the possibility of getting a powerful dog that had the potential to go bad. I remember very well being the hospital with my second round of kidney stones, on IV drugs, and talking to Robby about this. But he was right; just meet the dog and find the one that works for you.
I was smart enough to know I didn't want a puppy and I didn't want a dog that barked since I would be working and lived in an apartment. I also wanted a girl. Those were my stipulations. Also, boy or girl, the name was going to be Bailey for 2 reasons. Reason 1: I liked the name from Party of Five. Reason 2: I liked the name of Bailey when I named dogs in Sims. Legit reasons.
So, I looked and looked online and found a shelter I wanted to check out. Sarah went with me and we found this shelter on a Saturday. Just looking, no taking home yet, as I had no supplies. The cages were all chainlink, outside kennels, and there were maybe 15 to 20 dogs scattered between them all. We walked out and the very first cage had this cute, medium sized brindle dog that I was like, awww. I bent down and she came over to sniff me and I was in love, but you can't fall in love with the first dog you see.
So we walked down the line of kennels. Dogs were barking and jumping and yapping and growling, but that brindle dog just watched us quietly, no barking, no panic, just calmly watching. I watched her more than I looked at the other dogs to be honest. Sarah and I asked if we could walk her and the worker guy got her out, saying she was a good dog just as she rolled over so we could rub her belly.
We walked her on the little paths they had nearby and she was just a good dog. I could feel it. It was Halloween time, so she was a little spooked by the toy ghosts in the trees, but not barking or charging or running, just flinching when they swung. Her name at the shelter, by the way, was Leanne. Terrible.
I found out that she had been left tied to the front of the place, one of the last dogs they let stay; now they have a sign that says if you abandon your dog here, it goes to the kill shelter. She wasn't quite a year old they didn't think, and she was labeled as a plott hound mix, and I was told she was really smart. One of the workers said she climbed on the dog house and scaled about halfway up the chainlink fence one day (they didn't have tops on them). We tested her in the house where they kept the cats, and she didn't seem bothered by them, or wanting to chase them. She seemed perfect.
But I couldn't take her that day. I'd have to come back tomorrow. But tomorrow was Sunday, and Sunday's they didn't do adoptions. Also, would she be there in a day?
The guy said if she was a little dog he'd be worried, but she'd been there a month, and bigger dogs didn't really go fast. Also, I was told that though they don't adopt on Sundays, there were having a Halloween party, so people would be there, and if I wanted to adopt a dog, they weren't going to turn me away just because it was Sunday.
So Sarah and I went and bought stuff I needed from Pet Smart. I decided she was pink girl, so I got a pink collar and leash. I got a crate and dog food and everything I needed. We went back Sunday and they were happy to adopt her to me. The one girl was grateful I was changing her name because Leanne was so bad for a dog. And just like that, I was a dog owner.
After we got home, I had researched that it was good to walk with your dog to bond, so we went on a walk. I had gotten her toys that she immediately chewed up into tiny pieces (she's never, ever ate anything she's chewed up, she's a nervous destroyer, but not eater). I had to give her a heartworm pill, I didn't know how, but after some coaxing, she took it.
Then. That first night. I couldn't let her roam because I didn't know what she'd do. She had to go in her crate. But how to get her in there? She and I sat in front of the crate for a good half hour. I tried to motion her in, she wouldn't do it. I tried to put food in, she wouldn't do it. Finally, I crawled in, laying half in, half out, and had some food in my hand. She crawled in with me! That was the trick! The first night, without much of a fight or fuss, she was in the crate! And she slept in it the whole night! Without whining or making noise at all!
I woke up and she was fine. I took her out to potty, I don't think she ever messed in the house. I fed her, got ready for work, went to put her in the crate, and she went in without a problem. She was literally crate trained from day one. She was, and continues the be, the greatest first dog anyone could wish for. She and I bonded immediately, sleeping on the couch together, going on walks, just a lot of trust all at once.
I knew, after only a few days, I had found my soulmate in a dog. She is one of the greatest things to happen in my life, and I will forever be grateful that I have had the privilege of being her owner.
I started looking online. I found myself drawn to brindles and pitbull types, but I didn't want a pitbull. I didn't think pitbulls were inherently bad as most people do, I just didn't want to risk the possibility of getting a powerful dog that had the potential to go bad. I remember very well being the hospital with my second round of kidney stones, on IV drugs, and talking to Robby about this. But he was right; just meet the dog and find the one that works for you.
I was smart enough to know I didn't want a puppy and I didn't want a dog that barked since I would be working and lived in an apartment. I also wanted a girl. Those were my stipulations. Also, boy or girl, the name was going to be Bailey for 2 reasons. Reason 1: I liked the name from Party of Five. Reason 2: I liked the name of Bailey when I named dogs in Sims. Legit reasons.
So, I looked and looked online and found a shelter I wanted to check out. Sarah went with me and we found this shelter on a Saturday. Just looking, no taking home yet, as I had no supplies. The cages were all chainlink, outside kennels, and there were maybe 15 to 20 dogs scattered between them all. We walked out and the very first cage had this cute, medium sized brindle dog that I was like, awww. I bent down and she came over to sniff me and I was in love, but you can't fall in love with the first dog you see.
So we walked down the line of kennels. Dogs were barking and jumping and yapping and growling, but that brindle dog just watched us quietly, no barking, no panic, just calmly watching. I watched her more than I looked at the other dogs to be honest. Sarah and I asked if we could walk her and the worker guy got her out, saying she was a good dog just as she rolled over so we could rub her belly.
We walked her on the little paths they had nearby and she was just a good dog. I could feel it. It was Halloween time, so she was a little spooked by the toy ghosts in the trees, but not barking or charging or running, just flinching when they swung. Her name at the shelter, by the way, was Leanne. Terrible.
I found out that she had been left tied to the front of the place, one of the last dogs they let stay; now they have a sign that says if you abandon your dog here, it goes to the kill shelter. She wasn't quite a year old they didn't think, and she was labeled as a plott hound mix, and I was told she was really smart. One of the workers said she climbed on the dog house and scaled about halfway up the chainlink fence one day (they didn't have tops on them). We tested her in the house where they kept the cats, and she didn't seem bothered by them, or wanting to chase them. She seemed perfect.
But I couldn't take her that day. I'd have to come back tomorrow. But tomorrow was Sunday, and Sunday's they didn't do adoptions. Also, would she be there in a day?
The guy said if she was a little dog he'd be worried, but she'd been there a month, and bigger dogs didn't really go fast. Also, I was told that though they don't adopt on Sundays, there were having a Halloween party, so people would be there, and if I wanted to adopt a dog, they weren't going to turn me away just because it was Sunday.
So Sarah and I went and bought stuff I needed from Pet Smart. I decided she was pink girl, so I got a pink collar and leash. I got a crate and dog food and everything I needed. We went back Sunday and they were happy to adopt her to me. The one girl was grateful I was changing her name because Leanne was so bad for a dog. And just like that, I was a dog owner.
After we got home, I had researched that it was good to walk with your dog to bond, so we went on a walk. I had gotten her toys that she immediately chewed up into tiny pieces (she's never, ever ate anything she's chewed up, she's a nervous destroyer, but not eater). I had to give her a heartworm pill, I didn't know how, but after some coaxing, she took it.
Then. That first night. I couldn't let her roam because I didn't know what she'd do. She had to go in her crate. But how to get her in there? She and I sat in front of the crate for a good half hour. I tried to motion her in, she wouldn't do it. I tried to put food in, she wouldn't do it. Finally, I crawled in, laying half in, half out, and had some food in my hand. She crawled in with me! That was the trick! The first night, without much of a fight or fuss, she was in the crate! And she slept in it the whole night! Without whining or making noise at all!
I woke up and she was fine. I took her out to potty, I don't think she ever messed in the house. I fed her, got ready for work, went to put her in the crate, and she went in without a problem. She was literally crate trained from day one. She was, and continues the be, the greatest first dog anyone could wish for. She and I bonded immediately, sleeping on the couch together, going on walks, just a lot of trust all at once.
I knew, after only a few days, I had found my soulmate in a dog. She is one of the greatest things to happen in my life, and I will forever be grateful that I have had the privilege of being her owner.
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| Bailey and her pink leash and collar. Also a sweater, cause I'm that type of dog mom. |
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