7 days

I know that I have talked a lot about timelines, and what can happen in a period of time. In my last post, I discussed perspective and what sorts of angles one takes on his or her life, depending on the situation at hand. So, for this entry, let me just reinstate that much can happen in a week's time, any week of the year. But this week in particular has been pretty life-changing, since Mike and I brought home our first dog.


Not to be that kind of pet-owner/mom already - but she is completely fantastic. Yes, I believe she was our greatest choice, and like any parent or pet-owner, I suppose it is good to believe so! We searched for a couple weeks for litters online, and ended up calling a couple breeders in the area to go out and see some pups. She and her sister (the only 2 of 9 who were left) were so sweet, it was definitely hard not to want to take them both home. But the one we chose, had a little endearing teardrop-shaped spot under her right eye. Knowing what we wanted to name the dog (Windsor, and I will explain), we felt like the little bald "drop" was a perfect "Windsor wink." Plus, she nearly followed us right to the car after our first visit out to see her.


Sidebar: "Windsor" has been an inside joke/possible dog name for Michael and I since 2005. In college, I surprised him with a mini vacation to Philadelphia, where we were lucky enough to stay with my aunt, who at the time lived by the Art Museum in Center City. In order to do all the touristy things each day, we would walk by the Windsor Suites and Hotel off the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The name just hit us like a "snooty" type of establishment - even though we're sure it's not! - and so we would tip our noses in the air walking by and pretend we had just come down from our room there and were on our way to observe the finest luxuries the City of Brotherly Love had to offer. ... Anyways, it's our own little story from our life together, and it just stuck with us all these years! Thus, little W's name, Windsor. :)


It was a great experience finding her and going through our selection process. The family had both Mom and Dad on site, so we could tell that she was going to be a big girl! Her mama is about 85-90lbs herself. But both parents were calm and excited to meet us too, licking our hands from behind their kennel. We brought little Windsor home and she was both excited, and a bit shy at first. No doubt, there was a number 1 & 2 accident in the house within 10 minutes of walking in. That first day of piddles in the house, we told each other, "Okay, here we go, this is what we signed up for, so let's gear up." We played, went for a quick walk. Attempted stairs (we live on the second floor of our apartment building), and tried our best just to make the first day be about her. Seemed to work, because she slept the whole night! Barking and whimpering surely ensued, but after about 10 minutes of crying, she put herself to sleep in her crate, and slept nearly 9 hours until waking her new Mama up on Sunday, around 6:45.


This past week has proven to be new, tiresome, challenging, but hopeful. We have met many people in our complex with dogs, and they all have opinions on her temperament and size. And about other dogs in the neighborhood. Truly, never would I have thought that you get a dog, and then you get neighborhood gossip. It's comical! There is an off-leash dog park by the complex's main office, and we interacted with some dogs there, and therefore gained some insight (both good and bad) to how people train their own puppies.


Coming home after working with kids all day, I find I am still working with a toddler, and then hearing what people want to say about Windsor, I know I am in the same boat with other "parents" as well. There is always a "way" to train your dog, or to raise your kids. At work, it can be a struggle just utilizing your philosophies with your company's, not to mention the requests of your clients (families) and the kids desires - hey, I believe their opinions matter, too! So with Windsor, even just in the past week, Mike and I are trying to accumulate all the positives and negatives of her desires, our background with raising pups with our families, our families' opinions and ideas about their experiences, professional outlets (stores and online), books, the Internet, all venues. There is much to be said about whose research and reputation matters most, so we're trying to take it all in, while doing what's best for our Windsor. Working full-time we have to think dearly about the time she spends in and out of her kennel. Mike can get home during lunch to take her out, which has been phenomenal, and while I feel somewhat guilty about this reality, she will (and has begun to already) adapt to her structure and routine. It's going to be what she knows, and let's face the fact that a dog just wants your love. So if you at least have that when you come home, she'll be happy happy happpy (wag wag wag!). Not to mention that weekends will be that much more special when she does get your extra time!


She has experienced a lot so far with us, and us, through owning her. Talk about switching up priorities and appreciations! Mike, thank you for waking up early with me to take care of her and to come home during lunch to do the same! She is worth it, I promise. And we have the next 12-15 years to live our best lives with her, and give her all the love we can offer in return for her undying affection.