A few weeks ago, we welcomed a new family member. Meet Cooper, our crazy, adorable little blond Labrador. We brought him home on a Sunday night and he’s turned our life upside down and added a few somersaults along the way.
Between his love of chewing leaves and bark from the back yard, his enjoyment of chasing my son around (who laughs and yells “Cooper!” at the top of his toddler lungs), and his newfound love of stealing the toilet paper roll out of the bathroom, he’s keeping this Mama on her toes.
But you know what? It’s all worth it.
From the moment we brought Cooper home, both the boys in this house — my husband and my son — were in love. Starry-eyed, couldn’t stop playing with the puppy, love. It’s fabulous. The three of them roll around on the floor together, playing and laughing.
My husband is in seventh heaven having a dog in the house again. We lost both our beloved pets within the last two years — the cocker spaniel, Xena was mine, and I had her for 13 years. Our other dog, Tucker the Golden Retriever, was my husband’s from puppyhood — 12 years. When Tucker passed away at the beginning of this year, we were suddenly –for the first time in longer than either of could remember, without a dog at our feet. (literally…Xena used to curl up at my feet, when she couldn’t finagle her way into my lap.)
And now, it feels like the house is complete again. And watching my son learn to play with the puppy, laugh with him, chase him, get chased by him — it’s one of the best joys I’ve ever felt. And I know that as they grow up, they’ll grow up together. A boy and his dog, his best pal, his buddy…it’s a relationship he won’t ever have with another living creature.
In this week’s PEOPLE magazine, there was a review about a book called COWBOY AND WILLS: A LOVE STORY by Monica Holloway. It’s about a young autistic boy and his dog and how that dog changed him. With such an overwhelming story of love that a dog can bring into a boy’s life. And that’s certainly not the only story I’ve ever heard of where a pet brought a miracle into someone’s life.
My husband and I joke that this puppy is sort of “his baby.” When my son wakes up in the middle of the night, it takes barely more than a sniffle for me to wake up and hear him. My hubby? Happily in REM sleep. But now? It takes barely a whimper from the puppy for him to wake…and me? Yeah, REM sleep is really nice these days.
I really think it’s a connection that only a boy (no matter how big) and his dog have. It’s just a sacred, special connection. And I’m glad I get to watch.
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Twitter: KrisKennedy
says:
Jeannie~
Oh, I remember getting our puppy (she’s almost 7 now!) and what a chaotic treat it was. LOL Your pictures are terrific! What fun, to watch your son and husband bond in yet another way.
(Oh, and your son is a CUTIE PIE!)
Kris
Twitter: jeannieruesch
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Hey Kris ! Thanks, I think he’s pretty darn cute myself. LOL
But yes, the bonding that’s happening between my hubby and son is another benefit. They are getting stronger together, which is wonderful, too.
And just like with kids, after only a short amount of time having Cooper in our house, I can’t imagine it without him.
HI Jeannie!
Your puppy and son are adorable! What a great post! We lost our dog last year. The kids didn’t get much time with him as he was very old and kind of grouchy. He was my dog from my single college days. LOL Hubs jokes my dog was the “other man” in my life.
Jeff was a McNabb (a herding breed) that had absolutley no cattle sense. LOL He was 9yrs old and had a rough life before I got him. He became my running partner and soap opera watchin’ pal. I miss him.
Hubs wants to get another dog in the worst way. But I can’t wrap my brain around having 2 toddlers and a puppy! OMG! It makes my mind whirl! BUT seeing your pics makes me think I might have been a little too hasty in saying no. Plus, I wonder if having a dog would help my son with is speech disorder. It’s definitely wroth a second look.
Thanks for the food for thought, Jeannie!
)
Twitter: jeannieruesch
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Sarah, you really might want to check out that book I mentioned above — the author’s son made huge leaps and bounds in his progress after getting the dog. He could talk to the dog, without worry, without stress… It might be a good read for you.
And yes, our other dogs weren’t really toddler proof. They were both older, more sedate and my son was still too young to really enjoy them. But now, he and Cooper get to grow up together. I love that.
Twitter: violaestrella
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He’s so cute, Jeannie!! The dog and your little boy.
What a nice family!
Twitter: jeannieruesch
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Thanks, Viola!
Twitter: wiremamma
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With our baby, Millie, reaching 10 this fall — we’re struck with the notion that a puppy is in our future. She’s still a young almost 10 – with just enough puppy in her to still want to play.
I ache for the thought of not having her with us, as she lays at my feet while I write — but I know that it’ll be my hubby’s baby, too. The girls are busy with their kitten – whom lately they try to dress in build a bear clothes. Poor little thing.
Anyway, thanks for the adorable pics and hope all’s well with you and yours…
Ash
Twitter: jeannieruesch
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Hey Ash..It was hard enough when Tucker, especially, passed away — explaining to my son where he’d gone.
He saw us put Tucker in the back of my car to take him to the vets, and he never returned from there. So for about three weeks after that, my son kept saying, “Tucker is in mama’s car.” When we’d go out somewhere, he’d look in the back and ask where Tucker was.
It was so sad.
I had a golden retriever named Cooper, many, many years ago. We’re strictly cat people now – well, I’m the only one in my family who likes dogs, so chances of me getting a dog are nonexistent. Though I told my hubby that if I ever go blind, I AM getting a guide dog. He thought that would be ok.
Enjoy your puppy…sigh. Almost as cute as a baby.
Twitter: jeannieruesch
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Cats are probably not likely candidates for this household. Both hubby and I are incredibly allergic to them. But then we’re also dog people, so that’s okay with us. LOL
Aww!!! What a cute puppy! Love the pic of your hubby playing tug of war! lol
I’ll be the party pooper and admit I’m not crazy about my dog… he’s slobbery, has an affinity for poopie diapers–and figured out how to open the diaper genie–sheds a lot, barks when the wind blows and whenever I pet him I get hives, lol… I feel horrible saying that…he was a mother’s day present…
On the otherhand, our kids LOVE him! They dress him up–no joke– in princess clothes, tie him up to the furniture, wrestle with him, ride him… Sounds like torture to me, but he LOVES it! He is the best dog a kid could have and for that reason, I keep him around
Well that, and the fact that he is cute to look at, and his quirky personality makes me laugh.
Twitter: jeannieruesch
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Okay, dogs and what they eat is more than gross at times. Ugh.
And what an image of your girls dressing your dog up. LOL You HAVE to get a pic of that.
I love your story. A dog is man’s best friend and we had to put our puppy(14 yrs. old) down a year ago. I still miss him terribly. He helped bring dh and I closer together as we would do things with him- walks, car rides, silly time, etc.
I’m torn about getting another dog as Sam was the one and only. Then I’m afraid of having to go through losing another friend also.
Twitter: jeannieruesch
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Hi Robyn — I know how sad and difficult it is to let go of a pet. They are such big parts of our lives, and sometimes it seems like they simply fill any room they occupy to the brim with love. So when they are gone, that room seems very empty. (And my feet got very cold, and sorely missed my cocker spaniel foot blanket.) And you are so right — pets can bring you closer. I’ve seen it already with our new addition.
Maybe someday you’ll just look around the house and realize it’s time for a new friend. That’s how it happened for us…we just said, “Yes, it’s time.”
I know that I’d never get another cocker spaniel — Xena was my one and only. And I’m pretty sure my husband won’t ever want another golden. But our newest Cooper is a lab — new to both of us, so he’s gaining his own special place in our lives.