Man's Best Friend

Growing up I was always a cat person. As a child, I always wanted a dog. Hours were spent daydreaming about our joint adventures exploring the world, the dog heeding my every command. I was never able to have a dog though. We always had at least one cat in the house and I was told they would not get along. In hindsight, this was probably for the best. Dogs take a lot more care than cats, and I doubt, at that age, I would have been able to give a dog the time and attention it required, no matter how much I tried to convince my parents otherwise. I am still a cat person of course, but also have quite a soft spot in my heart for friends of the canine variety.

I maintained my desire for a dog into adulthood. Last winter I finally got a dog of my own. My chocolate Labrador, Sawyer, is sitting in the floor next to me as I write this. Let me tell you, he was worth the wait. He is everything I always dreamed a dog to be. Sure, he occasionally chooses to ignore my commands, but for the most part, he is a very good, obedient dog. Below you will find a picture of Sawyer and Tucker sharing a tennis ball.



Sawyer is a great friend. If I'm feeling down he can run into the room with his big goofy grin and I can't help but smile. He gives me a reason to get up and out. I doubt I would get nearly as much exercise if it weren't for Sawyer. We go on daily walks at the nearby Battleground Park. Obviously it's healthy for the both of us, but it's also fun to get out in the world, see some people, and make my dog extremely happy. Sawyer proudly walks next to me waving his tail. He always knows when someone is complimenting him, and let me tell you, he definitely gets the compliments. He has had countless people tell him how handsome/cute/great he is on our walks.

Seeing my dog happy definitely makes me happy. I simply say the word "treat" and he looks at me with such excitement and joy that my troubles have no choice but to take a backseat for a while.

Sawyer loves to play. He always seems to know when I come home from the pet store with a new toy for him. He sits and waits while I take his gift from the bag and remove the packaging. Upon receiving his new treasure, Sawyer proudly lifts it high in the air with his mouth and parades it around the apartment to make sure everyone (cats included!) has had a good look. If I need a break from the world, Sawyer is always more than happy to bring over one of his toys for a quick game.

Owning a dog is a great experience. There is a lot of time and work involved, but to me, it is more than worth it. Sawyer is a wonderful dog and a great friend. I just hope the cats don't get jealous!