Dogs are man's best friend and the apple to many a human's eye. They are always there for their owner and provide constant love and affection. Three years ago, I sadly lost my yellow lab Sunny due to kidney issues. Finally, after two years of begging and begging, we have another puppy. Oakley is a 5-month-old yellow lab who has become the little brother I've never had. He's a handful, but he has changed our life for the better. Here are 10 things that change when you become the big sister...to a puppy.
1. You have to listen for unusual noises.
Every second I'm in the same room as Oakley, I'm listening with hawk ears for strange noises. This is definitely a big thing for people if you have a potty training puppy! Or if your puppy, like my own, enjoys chewing objects that are off limits.
2. You come to terms with the fact that there are now three kids instead of two.
We have a cat who is spoiled, but Oakley is a whole new level. Oakley is like the little brother my sister and I never had. He's as much work as a 4-year-old, but is furry and has a tail. Also, my mom dotes over him as much as she would dote over a kid.
3. Cuddles become the best part of the day.
I've always loved dog cuddles because you can actually hug the animal without squishing them. Oakley is no exception! When he finally slows down, I can curl up with him anywhere and take a nap. He has an extraordinary ability to make his humans want to take naps in the middle of the day.
4. There's a lot of walking...a lot.
Oakley can be a pretty hyper dog. That means lots of walking and swimming. I'm pretty sure I could walk my neighborhood blindfolded after trying to wear him out. When people say that you exercise more with a dog, they aren't lying.
5. Everything is put up higher where the puppy can't reach it.
Puppies are notorious for jumping up on things and stealing whatever's on top of it. To avoid this, my family has tried to put as many things as possible on the highest counter in our kitchen. Unfortunately, Oakley is tall and able to at least sniff the things on the counter.
6. You will trip over dog toys.
No matter how many times I put the toys away, I'll always trip over a tennis ball or chew toy. We have a little basket where we put Oakley's toys. He enjoys pulling as many as possible out of the basket when he's hyper. Sometimes, when I've tripped over a third tennis ball, I think he leaves them out on purpose!
7. Slobbery kisses will happen frequently.
This isn't something all dogs do, but Oakley is a licking machine. I get kisses for things ranging from petting to just being in his line of sight. One of his favorite things to do is to wake up the people in my family with really slobbery kisses.
8. Playing tug-of-war becomes a new pastime.
Tug-of-war is like the ultimate game for a crazy puppy. It's hilarious to play with Oakley because he has mixed feelings about it. On one hand, he loves tugging the toy back and forth. On the other hand, it's his toy, and heaven forbid his owner wants to play with it! The competitive air rises, and we shall tug-of-war to the end!
9. You'll always have a welcome home committee.
After a long day of work, nothing is greater than having a happy puppy to welcome you home. Oakley is a very vocal dog, so when he's happy to see you, you'll know. He'll whine, jump and bark as soon as you step through the door.
10. It's so much harder to leave.
This will be the first time I've had to leave a puppy behind when going to college. The idea that I can't see my puppy until weeks later is a hard thing to deal with. Needless to say, I'm already counting down the days until I can see him again!
