Thursday, April 4, 2013

D is for Dogs!


     If someone would have told me in my twenties that I would one day be surrounded by dogs I would have thought they were nuts.    At that point in my life I was certain that if I never married and had kids I would be that recluse old lady living on top of a hill surrounded by cats.


     Life can turn on a dime and the day my husband walked into my life my tendency for cats started to fade.  In 2004 he suggested we get a puppy.  I personally didn’t know what to think.  I wasn’t convinced it was a good idea.  After all, I didn’t know what to do with a dog.  That made little difference.  In moved our rat terrier, the family Pupster and before I knew it, I was crooning “And they called him Puppy Love!” to him at the top of my voice.  

      The next summer my husband called from Oklahoma with the news that he had bought me a late birthday present: a baby Boston terrier that I named Jolly. As soon as I laid eyes on that puppy, it was love at first sight.  Jolly had me at hello and has owned my heart ever since.  He has grown quite a bit since he first arrived and turned into a big lovable teddy bear that I could not imagine life without.


       It wasn’t long before my husband complained that he wanted a dog that could go with him on the road.  He was lonely and wanted a puppy of his own to love.  That is when he started searching high and low for a min pin.  I personally thought he was nuts but went along with the plan to make him happy.  One summer day the kids and I drove out into the country and bought Tia, certainly the smallest dog I had ever seen up to that point.  She was adorable and soon became my baby.  It didn’t help that about that time my husband changed jobs and went to work for a company that didn’t allow pets.

       Time passed.  My daughter got a kitten that became exclusively her pet.  My son was saddened that none of the pets were particularly his.  Over Easter weekend my husband was surfing Craig’s List when he discovered a free Chihuahua puppy advertised.  My 7 year son has met the first girl who only has eyes for him and has won all our hearts.  Her name is Zoë.  It seems my house is over run with dogs, which is why this year…D is for dogs!!



50 comments:

  1. Awww, lucky you! I wish I had the room to have several dogs. I just love them. Unfortunately, the one we have now does not like her fellow canines at all, so we wouldn't be able to bring any more in even if we did have room. These pups are all adorable. I love how you say you were singing to the dog! I sing to mine, too. Her name is Honey, and shortly after we got her I started singing, to the tune of "Money makes the world go round" from Cabaret, "Honey loves her belly rubs." (I think she thinks I'm crazy.) It's too bad your husband wasn't able to have his "traveling companion" dog. They add so much to our lives. Great post, Kathy.

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    1. ElaineLK, I love my dogs. They are like kids. They need a lot of love and a lot of patience and care. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  2. Hi Kathy, I love your word choices so far and those doggies are all adorable. I couldn't help but smile as you recounted how each joined the family and turned you from a cat woman to a dog lover. We have one dog and two kitties, and they all rule the roost. Life wouldn't be the same without our babies. Thanks for the smile and enjoy A to Z. I am just a novice and I appreciate coming by and reading what you experts have to say. Enjoy your blog title as well. Very cute. God bless, Maria from Delight Directed Living

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    1. Maria, I am so pleased you enjoyed my post. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  3. I guess you know, I love my dogs too. My two are rescue dogs. My little rat terrier mix must remember be homeless because she loves to cuddle and is eternally happy. Enjoy your babies.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. Joyce, I love cuddly doggies!! Thank you for stopping in and for your comments! ♥

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  4. Dogs are wonderful "people". I've had quite a few dogs in my life, and still don't quite know how I am surviving without one now. The last dog I had was Spike, 1/2 boxer, 1/2 your-guess-is-as-good-as-mine...(I think a pitbull, but what do I know). Thank you for this blog. I'm sharing this with another friend who is a Doglady. :D

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    1. Mary, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  5. I always hated dogs - I was afraid of them. And then we got one 3 years ago and everything changed :) you'll never find a bigger dog lover than me.

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    1. Judy, I was a lot like you. I was terrified of dogs as a small child. Who would have thought I would have ended up owning some? Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  6. These are such cute pictures. I especially like the one where he's wearing the white shirt.

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    1. Cynthia, my kids had so much fun dressing Tia up in dolly clothes! LOL Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!♥

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    1. Tayla, I am so pleased you enjoyed seeing them! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  8. Dogs are super - yours are so cute - thanks so much for sharing.

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    1. Suzy, I am so pleased you enjoyed my post. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  9. Oh, my gosh - they're all so cute! I am partial to Bostons, as I have two of my own that I adore! They think I'm they're my mother. What great family dogs they are!

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    1. Beachlover, I love my Boston. He is the biggest teddy bear!! My whole family just loves him to pieces. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  10. I wasn't allowed to have pets while growing up. I finally consented to a dog in 2003 and that's when Pepper came to live with me. She is the sweetest, orneriest, most spoiled, special pup ever. Her brother, Sagan, is a sweet goofball - think Baby Huey!!!! Russell longs or a beagle though; he's always had tons of them.

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    1. JoJo, I see a beagle in your future!!! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  11. I, too love dogs and yours are quite precious. I have had two dogs- both golden retrievers.

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    1. Megan, golden retrievers are such sweet dogs!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  12. This is a great blog post! I can relate to your love of cats, and I love the story about how you converted to a dog lover. So cute that husby wants to take one on the road with him. Too cute.

    Love your style. Hope to see you "C"amping sometime. hehe

    Dana
    Waiter, drink please!


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    1. Dana, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. I still like cats, but my love of dogs may have over rode that. LOL Thank you for stopping in to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  13. Welcome Zoe! I had dogs all growing up and we loved having one for the first 13 years or so of our marriage before she passed peacefully in old age. So pleased they bring such joy to you and your family Kathy!

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    1. Amy, thank you for stopping by, sharing your memories, and for your kind comments! ♥

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  14. Love your blog title, and your poochies! We are down to one, having laid to rest our beloved lab five years ago. Now our other dog is an old gal and we're stock-piling tissues for the inevitable. I think for a while, we'll be dogless. Give our hearts time to heal. Besides, the cats pretty much have the house locked down... ;)

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    1. Deborah, I can't imagine having to endure losing one of my dogs. I am sure I will be devastated. Thank you for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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  15. I love dogs, but just don't have the time to take care of them properly. So, I don't have any.

    Dropping by from the A to Z Challenge. It's my first year.

    Brett Minor
    Transformed Nonconformist

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    1. Brett, they do take a level of dedication...that is for sure! Thank you for stopping in and for your comments! Hope you are enjoying the A-Z!

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  16. funny, I've always been a cat person too. Actually, was terrified of dogs -- until we got our poodle last year. A realy gift as we have allergies and this sweetie doesn't make us sneeze! though I can't imagine how you manage all the vey bills. Good god. this dog has cost us a fortune...

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    1. Sandra, they do add up! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  17. So sweet! I'm definitely a dog person. ☺

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    1. Dana, Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  18. I've always been a cat person, but I love playing with my friend's dogs. I just can't do all the work of training and walking, etc., so my own dog is not in the cards. I can always borrow my daughter's doggie for an afternoon.

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    1. Cat, they do take a lot of work but they are wonderful bed warmers on a cold night! :D Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  19. Lovely photoss of your dogs, Kathy. It took me a long time to get over my fear of dogs after being chased by one when I was about seven.

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    1. Paula, I used to be afraid of dogs but then all of my dogs are small which helps that issue. Thank you for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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  20. Great story! We have had a number of dogs. The last four were Standard Poodles.

    I've been thinking about your blog title. Are you the wife of a laughing tucker, or are you a tucker's wife who laughs a lot? These existential question are so difficult, especially for a Bear of Very Little Bain.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting

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    1. Rob-bear, I am a trucker's wife who tends to laugh a lot. LOL Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments. ♥

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  21. Ahhh. I've only had one dog at a time, but that's been enough so far. It probably makes a difference if they're smaller ones like yours, or large Labs or something. Ours is a poodle mix and she's about 16 yrs old. She still likes to run though.

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    1. Suzy, at this point until I get my groove I am feeling a little overwhelmed with the new pup. Tomorrow will be the true test because the kids go back to school and I will be on my own will all the dogs for 6 hours. Thank you for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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  22. Gotta love ALL those big, warm, loving eyes! Great photos and warm and fuzzy words that show much love for your dogs. I have a ChiWeenie named Dolly...she's a DOLL, I can't imagine life without her. Thanks for this Dog Lover's share.
    Sue~CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

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    1. Sue, I bet she is adorable! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  23. Love it! My house is overrun with dogs on a regular basis, but, they belong to my clients, so they go home again. Kind of like grandchildren. :-) Would love to have another dog of my own again, (our beautiful Dalmatian passed away in 2007 and we always had dogs before that, too), but it's just not practical right now. Great photos!

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    1. Debbie, so sorry to hear about your dog. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  24. What a cute bunch of pups!! I'm so happy for your youngest!! My kids all want a dog of their own, and while we have 4 here (3 resident and 1 foster), I am not inclined to let them each have their own. Our dogs sort of own US...and so I tell them they have to share!! LOL :) They love the fact that we foster...and it is like getting a new dog every few months!

    Cheers, Jenn.

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    1. Jenn, my son loves the new addition and the fact she sleeps with him. She is really a sweet girl. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  25. Thanks for stopping by my blog page, Kathy. You might have noticed the cover of Charlene the Star. That's our dog, Elliott, on the cover. He's in the story and he's happy to be feeling like a celeb. He's also on the cover of Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes, with his friends, Hattie, Wooliam, and Charlene.

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    1. Deanie, that is amazing! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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