Almost six months ago exactly, I made one of the best decisions: adopting a puppy.
The decision was uncharacteristically of me — I never make choices without careful research and consideration and talking to at least, you know, 10 people — but when I saw Lucy, something in me just knew. I had to take her home.
It hasn’t been easy, and for the first few weeks I didn’t know if I could do it: constant chewing up everything (my shoes, my desk, my iPhone charger, my computer charger, my favorite makeup brush, my original copy of The Great Gatsby…), having to rush home after work to feed and walk her, wondering if a guy would still be interested in dating a girl with a little white 8-pound pup and everything else that comes (and smells and sheds) with taking care of an animal.
But the amount of joy that she’s brought to my life can’t compare to any stress she’s caused.
She’s my companion and no matter how bad the date is or how difficult my day is — she’s there, happy and excited to spend time with me. I’ve come to love our puppy park weekend rituals (I get coffee, she gets exercise), I like waking up to her soft snuggles and in an odd way, she keeps me from doing things I shouldn’t. Like staying out too late with a guy who I know I’m really not interested in — she’s a great excuse to leave. Or not wanting to do anything at all but lay in bed all day — she makes me at least go around the block so she can do her business. Or leaving my room a completely disaster for weeks — she makes me so much cleaner than I’ve ever been.
I’ve always had pets growing up but it hasn’t been until Lucy that I’ve really felt like a pet owner. And yes, a puppy mom. Happy first birthday my beautiful little dog, I can’t wait to see what all the years ahead bring us! I’ll keep trying to find you a daddy and we’ll one day live in a bigger apartment and a long time from now, you may even have a yard (it won’t be as big as Central Park, though).
Here are my favorite photos from our first six months together:
Our very first photo together on my birthday, the day I took you home!
Auntie M for your welcome picnic in Central Park
The first time you met your mama’s hubby, J!
With Auntie M, Auntie J & mom!
How I explained your last name to you.
You love Friday nights with Netflix and wine, just like mom.
Your very first haircut!
You’re not a westie and you’re not on those Cesar commercials, but you could be!
You hated that surgery, but we snuggled to make up for it.
Home to NC for Christmas!
You hated saying goodbye to Grandmommy!
Our first flight delay together. Too bad you’re not old enough for wine.
Love your magazines, just like your mama. (Thanks for the photo, Auntie J!)
Every morning before I go to work, you have to sit in my lap while I get ready..
Mama likes to run, but you don’t like her to leave.
It’s cold in NYC, isn’t it Lucy girl?
You’re so cute the grocery stores here let you come inside!
Silly girl, hangers are for clothes, not for wearing!
Rain, rain go away!
Few days before your birthday! I love you!
loveaddictnyc.com 
Linds, do TRAIN your dog. They are so much more wonderful when they have a lot of things they do on command. Of course the ultimate rewards are a joyful “Good dog !” or “Good Girl” (if a girl), I also like to go further saying “Lovies” and pet my dog vigorously and just say over and over “Lovies!”.
Even when doing something wrong, “Stop!”, when the dog stops whatever it is doing wrong, or just running away, you follow with “Good Dog” and joy. And a stern “bad dog” is like being barked at angrily.
It may be your Pup, but you have to be the pack leader in the house. Loving you, never fearing you except to please you better. And any guy meeting your Pup has to treat her as if she is your child, which in essence she is.
Yes I know dogs, too. Yours shares a birthday with my daughter’s 7 lb Yorkie, now 7 years old. In the suburbs where I live, I can even walk her off leash, And she knows to stop at street corners and I carry her across the street. She knows, mostly, to not go in the street. Solves a lot of safety issues.
Enjoy her even more,
Lar
Lucy is a puppy school graduate! She knows sit, stay, wait, off, up, down, etc. My personal favorite to keep her from biting is “Lovers not biters!” and she’ll stop nibbling :)
She’s SO CUTE! I love my dog too and he’s just wonderful. I can’t wait for spring to get here so I can walk him around town.
All that I have to say is “Awwwww”. Love, Grandmommy! I woof you!
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