As a young child, I was not afraid to be around dogs in the house. My Aunt always had dogs in her home, but I did not. Her dogs were around all the time when I spent the night. I was pretty much okay with the dogs being near me. She had three dogs; two Boxers and a Chihuahua. I never paid attention to the dogs when I was in the room with them and was never scared. They didn’t bother me, and I didn’t bother them.
An incident happened years ago that made me fearful of dogs. I dreaded being in the same space as any dog and wanted nothing to do with them. Big or small, the size didn’t matter; I wanted nothing to do with dogs. I never realized that a dog could be a girl’s best friend.
My husband grew up with dogs and always wanted one. We bought our first home, and he would mention his desire to have a dog. I was adamant that he was not getting a dog because I was scared. We had conversations back and forth over 20 years about getting a dog.
One day my husband decided that he was going to house-sit for our nephew’s dog. I was adamant still that there was no way he was going to house-sit a dog, especially since my daughter and I were both afraid of dogs. He reminded me that he always wanted a dog, and since he was not able to get one of his own, the least I could do was let him house-sit one.
My husband assured me that after having a dog in the house, I would come to love dogs and eventually want one. His statement went in one ear and out of the other. I agreed to house sit but still refused to consider ever having a dog.
My husband was right. I enjoyed having a dog in the home after I overcame my fear. It took several days to get used to the dog and being around him alone. This dog was not going to have control over me in my house. I refused to run around, hiding in other rooms whenever the dog was not in his cage.
The experience with the dog in my home put away my childhood fear of dogs. It allowed me to accept my husband’s desire to have a dog of his own. Four months after we house -sat our nephew’s dog, we bought our first dog. I admit I was still apprehensive, but once we got him home, I began to love him and enjoy his company. A dog can be a girl’s best friend.
Today, my husband says the dog is his, but I tell him the dog is mine. The dog and I have a special bond. He feels like my best friend. My dog is a best friend in how he gives comfort to me, but never utters a word. His kind and loving face speak volumes. He is excited to see me when I come home. He sleeps by my bed at night until I go to sleep, and then he gets in his bed. I never imagined that I would love any animal the way I love my dog. It is a beautiful feeling.
