Life really is very much like a book. Days within paragraphs…weeks becoming the pages…and the chapters that begin and end just as life changes us and weathers us.
A good friend of mine (whom I have known some 10 years I suppose) has been a constant in my life as we both moved in parallel lines. In many ways we are similar creatures from the outside…We both have always had 5ish dogs in our family and found great joy through the connections of training and canine sports. We love our dogs. We also have two year old daughters, and we both have experienced the natural shift as we made room for a very different sort of love.
As our daughters burst into our world, we both endeavored to include our fur children in the life of their tiny, pink, fragile “littermate” as much as possible. We took them on walks together, taught our babies (through example) to touch lovingly, and respect their furry siblings. But that’s not all we did.
This may not be the pep talk you are expecting or the words you would anticipate from my mouth, but we gave our dogs another gift. We gave them our faith. Our faith that they would understand that babies are just one season….one chapter of our very long relationship. We gave ourselves the freedom to not hate ourselves if we became a little less attentive. Took a few less photos. Occasionally utilized a babygate when needed. We never loved them less. If anything, my respect and adoration for their expanded loyalty and love for my child deepened my connection to them.
We take in so many dogs from moms who are swarming with hormones and desperately trying to adapt to their expanding world. The guilt and pressure they put on themselves….
That their dog deserves MORE attention.
That the dogs life has so DRASTICALLY changed.
That he could never be happy without being the CENTER of the world…..
To these mom’s I say…. have a little faith in your furry best friend. Babies are a blink. Believe in his devotion, just as he believes in yours. He will adapt, just as you will to the sleepless nights ahead. He will enjoy making that tiny cooing child the center of your mutual worlds eventually. EVERYONE needs time to adjust. Time as a wonderful gift. Time and and permission to be less than perfect.
I promise… real love will endure through bad days too. And who knows about REAL love better than your dog.
Trixie is available for adoption at www.cvrrescue.org and would love to be a forever dog.
Laura
Ps some other ways to support our ongoing quest to educate and adopt…..
August 5th and “uncork your creative side” by painting your very OWN wine glass!!! http://bit.ly/2unav79 august 29th to paint a canvas-sunflower. (And enjoy some drinks and food at Phase 2 with some of your friends 
?) http://bit.ly/2uV6ubn
