When I was a kid, I wanted to have a big dog that would protect me. A German Shepard or a Rottweiler seemed like a great choice. As I got older, I still wanted a big dog – not for protection but for companionship and play. I wanted a Golden Retriever or a Lab.
For a while, I wanted a really smart dog. I wanted a Border Collie or and Australian Shepard.
I never got any of them. The largest dog I ever owned was Ziggy, my 35 pound Kerry Blue Terrier. He was adorable, but a real handful to manage for the 10 years that he lived.
At the time we had Ziggy, we rescued a miniature poodle named Shorty. The last dog I ever wanted was a fluffy, little miniature poodle. But he turned out to be one of the best dogs I ever owned.
To keep Shorty company after Ziggy died, I talked my wife into letting me adopt another dog. I purposely chose a small, shorthaired mutt. I wanted a dog that didn’t require monthly groomer visits and a dog that was small enough for my wife to walk without hurting her back.
My wife tolerated my love for dogs. She loved all of our dogs too – even thought she preferred cats (which we also had).
If it wasn’t for how important dogs were to me, I’m pretty sure my wife would have been perfectly happy with no more dogs.
Now that my wife is gone, I’m free to get whatever dog I want.
I liked having Ziggy and Shorty together. For about 5 years, they were well physically matched despite their size differences. We’d hike for hours in the woods and the neighborhood streets. They’d wrestle in the house. They loved going for car rides. They kept each other company when we were away.
I decided then that I’d always have 2 dogs.
But after Shorty died and left us with just Snickers, I didn’t get another dog. I was working all the time. My wife was home and had to take care of the dog most of the time. She didn’t want another one.
I figured I’d just get another dog someday if I ever retired or was able to work less.
That’s exactly what happened. I adopted Wiggles in 2019 just before the pandemic shut the world down. I had settled into my home and wanted a walking companion. Snickers was my constant companion but was too old to walk more than around the block.
Wiggles was just a 10 lb little rescue puppy. She looked like a hound mix, so I guessed she would be 35-50 lbs once full grown.
I figured getting a small puppy would make it easier for Snickers because they could get to know each other while Wiggles was too small to overwhelm Snickers.
Well, I was wrong on both counts.
Wiggles was like a little bowling ball. She’d run full speed, caroming off the walls, the furniture, me or Snickers. She was a little 10lb fullback.
And she never grew an inch. She’s still 10 lbs three years later.
Snickers is 13 and she’s really slowing down. She is perfectly content to eat, lay in the sun, bark at the UPS guy and sleep most of the time. She walks, but only for a few minutes twice a day.
There’s no way I’ll introduce another dog into my home as long as Snickers in alive. It would be too hard for her physically.
I figured I’d adopt another dog after Snickers dies.
But recently, I’m thinking maybe not.
My big dog experience when dog sitting for my neighbor made me realize how easy small dogs are compared to big dogs. I really don’t want to deal with everything owning a big dog entails – big turds, big medicine costs, strength and lots of shedding.
As I thought more about it, I’m not sure I even want a second dog. Wiggles is a great companion. She is very mellow and content (except around bikes, skateboards and scooters). We have a comfortable, predictable and enjoyable life together.
I’m not sure I’d want to interrupt that with another dog.
Only time will tell. Snickers may be with me for a few more months or a few more years. As long as she is alive, I won’t be doing anything.
And afterwards, we’ll see what opportunities present themselves.
Unless I decide to travel internationally, walk the Appalachian trail or live out of a backpack, I can’t imagine I’ll ever live without a dog.
But maybe one is enough.
