Do I have words enough to express how thankful I am for my puppy?
Ginger was a Christmas present from Husband last year–a Craigslist-puppy that was a bundle of energy and cuteness when she came to us at 5 months old. That was nearly a year ago.
After months of house-training, crate-training, and all kinds of other training, Ginger is more adolescent than puppy. Her legs are lanky and she doesn’t always seem to know where they will land. She is awkward and clumsy at times, but also very agile and athletic. She’s a lovely little (55 lbs) hound mix and her nose gets her into trouble sometimes (like when she tries to smell our dinner plates and the aroma begs her to take a lick too).
When we first brought Ginger home, we lived in a beach house in Sandbridge. The house is on stilts and she had no idea how to climbs stairs, so we had to carry her up and down the steps the first few days! Ginger and I walked on the beach almost every morning, in spite of the cold and wind. She loves the beach, although she won’t get anywhere near the water.
Now we live in the country and Ginger has started coming to the barn with me. She’s both interested in and intimidated by the “big puppies” in the stalls. She likes to romp in the fields and chase our neighbors chickens (a habit we are desperately trying to break her of!).
Over the past year, she has been companion and friend to me as Husband has worked several demanding jobs in our year of marriage.
I know a lot of people who like dogs but wonder if it is really worth the effort. I cannot imagine anything SO worth it! Animals bring so much joy to my life, why would I not sacrifice the time and work it requires to keep them? Husband thinks I’m starting my own private zoo, and he may be right. I just can’t imagine my life without these lovely creatures.
I love waking up to a gentle little lick on the tip of my nose. Or to a snuggly Ginger making sleepy noises when she wants to sleep in on Sunday mornings. I even love that Ginger thinks she still fits on the papasan with me like she did when she was 35 lbs. And I don’t even mind that she steals our socks any chance she gets. We call her “the Little Sock Thief” and “Ramona the Pest” and “In the Way Puppy.”
And we love her for every moment of happiness she brings us.
