Dear Pup,
Thank you for being my very best friend. I know you didn't have complete control over the whole situation because I picked you out of the liter, but thank you for never questioning it. Thank you for sticking by my side from the very beginning.
I know things were rough at first. You peed in almost every room of my house...but you learned quickly the backyard is the proper place for those bodily fluids. I'm sorry for all the screaming during that process, but thank you for not holding it against me.
I'm sorry for the days when I come home from a long, hard day and take my frustration out on you. I know you don't always understand why I scream at you for something little one day and not the next. Thank you for the constant forgiveness when I least deserve it.
Thank you for always listening to me. I don't think you know what I'm talking about most of the time...Whether it's rambling about a rude lady cutting me off on the highway, me practicing my speech, or casual conversation about my day...thank you for sitting next to me with perked ears and curious eyes.
You are the best at cuddling! Coming from a human who doesn't like physical touch, I love that you sleep at my feet. I know some nights I get cranky because you jump off and on the bed because you can't get comfortable...but thank you (when you finally settle down) for sleeping next to my side.
Thank you for comforting me when I need it. Thank you for letting me pet you and hug you when I'm sad. I read somewhere that dogs feel threatened when you hug them...but thank you for letting me hold on to you until I feel better. You are the best for being there for me when I feel like nobody else is. You are the greatest at just letting me be sad and not trying to cheer me up with meaningless words (despite the fact you can not speak my language).
Thank you for being more eager than me to eat food. Sometimes I feel bad about myself because all I can think about is what's to eat next. But then I watch you barely chew your food, but engulf it in a couple of minutes and don't feel so bad. Thank you for also eating without a worry. I worry about every bite I'm eating in concern that I might become "fat", but you don't. Thank you for being an example of how I should view my body weight - I should eat without worry of where those calories might end up.
I know my busy schedule doesn't allow for me to take you on many walks these days, but thank you for understanding that. When the schedule allows, thank you for getting just as excited as me to go hiking. Thank you for not jumping out the window when I put them down to let you stick your head out, for protecting me from wild animals in the woods, and for sniffing us back to the parking lot when I can't figure out how to read the trail signs. You make every car trip an adventure. You make every hike fun (even if it's the 23rd time we've walked at this reserve).
Last but not least, thank you for being so loyal to me all these years. Thank you for allowing me to put my trust in you and for trusting me back. Thank you for accommodating my lifestyle and never letting me down. Thank you for thinking I'm the greatest human in the world. Thank you for loving me back twice as much as I love you.
