It’s been a year of having a dog! Our pup Kaira is about 15 months old and 43 lbs now. I’ve learned SO MUCH in the last year of having Kaira. It’s been fun, frustrating, and filled with so much love. A year later, Kaira is still sweet, sassy, energetic, nosy, playful, and sometimes cuddly.
She was about six months old when the world shut down and she had only been socializing with other dogs for about two months. I had been wishing she didn’t spend so much time alone at home and I got my wish granted when I started working from home in March. While she shows a bit of separation anxiety sometimes, I think she has loved having so much time together too. We’ve taken her back to the dog park when they re-opened (they actually shut down twice) and she loves playing. I think she has adjusted well to this year, thankfully! (Have you been following her Instagram account?)
In addition to sharing a bunch of cute photos from the last year, here are some of my thoughts, the pros and cons, on a year of having a dog.
Cons of Having a Dog
1. All the hair
Kaira is a shedder! Between spring and summer when she was shedding for the season – WOW. It was EVERYWHERE. We were emptying the vacuum every day and it felt uncontrollable. The rest of the year has been much more manageable but the shedding, in general, has been a bit hard for my black-heavy wardrobe. 😀 Thank goodness for our Roomba and new handheld for the couch.
2. Adjustments to schedules
Kaira’s needs for feeding, playing, and walking take time, so there’s a lot of putting aside things I’d rather be doing to take care of her. Working from home without a commute has helped with this because it gives me extra time before and after work. As with anything you commit to doing, you have to make time for it!
3. It costs a bit of money
Financial experts estimate spending about $500 on a dog annually. Between the “start-up” costs like crates and food bowls, annual shots, food, toys, and unexpected medical expenses (two infections), we’ve probably spent a little more than that this past year.
4. You’ll need to find a dog sitter
We took a few weekend trips, so we needed to find someone to take care of her. Thankfully, my brother-in-law lived with us, so it was easier. We also had a friend come over one weekend. Having a dog won’t keep us from going on a trip, but it is a little stressful lining up someone to take care of her and then wondering if she’s ok while we’re gone. There’s also a cost to this!
5. All the little stresses
On top of all the above stresses, there’s the time I thought she ate a green tea bag and drove her around to make her throw up. Or wondering if big dogs will beat her up at the dog park? Or when she kept getting ant bites in the summer and scratched her skin raw. Or when she got an ear infection. I could go on and on! All of these little stresses when you’re caring for a living thing.
Pros of Having a Dog
1. You’ll get more exercise and time outdoors
As I mentioned before, I have a bit more time in the morning since I don’t need to commute, so Kaira and I use it to go on a walk. We also play in the yard and take her to the dog park, so there’s plenty of time outside! I love it!
2. Companionship
It’s the reason why people get a dog, right? Constant companionship, like when she wants to play but I need to work, can be distracting, but she also looks to me because I’m her friend. She is so joyful most of the time. She is excited about playing all of the time. Then there’s watching her learn new tricks, snuggling on the couch, and having a shadow wherever you go. She has so much genuine, pure, and simple joy, it’s easy to feel that joy in yourself. There might be fewer items on my pro list, but for me, this one outweighs them all.
I’ve always been a dog person, and adding Kaira to our family has made this year so much better.
Having a dog has made me much more aware of the hundreds of dogs in Austin waiting for their forever family, especially older pups (over a year) and pit bull mixes. Speaking from the experience of having a pup that is a half pit bull and Staffordshire terrier, these breeds get a bad reputation for their playful nature and the shelter environment doesn’t help with their desires for companionship. In Austin, visit Austin Animal Center and Austin Pets Alive to find your new family member!
Hug your pups for me! I’m wishing you lots of joy with your four-legged best friends!
Do you have a dog? What’s your favorite thing about him/her?
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