Happy 10th Birthday Zoe! Those who say money can't buy happiness, never had a puppy.

Zoe asleep in the nursery

Zoe after her parents came home from DL

Zoe ASLEEP with Dad, Smiling!


Okay, I know what you might be thinking...Happy Birthday to her DOG? Where are the Madison 1 year birthday photos?

I will update about Madison's first year tomorrow hopefully after her one year Dr. check up.

Today is about Zoe, my first dog and the longest relationship I have ever had.  As if on cue as I started to write this she scratched at my leg to ask to get in my lap. So I am writing this with a 23lb schnauzer on my lap!

If there are nondog people reading this, I might come off as crazy, but I won't apologize for it because I truly believe that Zoe has saved me from insanity and dark depression more than once in the decade I have been fortunate enough to be her "mom".

Let me sum up Zoe's 10 years:

1. Zoe helped me push the 'snooze' button on my biological clock. Her name was originally going to be "Holly" because I got her at Christmas time but calling out "Holly, come" just didn't sound right and so I was watching tv one night with a nameless dog, and I heard a commercial for a new show called something like "John, Jake and Zoe" and I immediately said "Zoe", yep that's it!

2. We spent the next year in training, taking every class we could get into. We did puppy class all the way up to off leash obedience. We even tried agility ONE class and that was not happening. I think she was too young and I didn't want to push it so we took a tricks class and had a blast.  She can to this day still hold a cookie on her nose and play dead when you "shoot" her.  But, as a new dog owner who was protective of her new 'baby', I neglected to socialize her well.  So if you have ever met Zoe, you might wonder what the fuss is all about, as she can be a bit temperamental at times.  Live and Learn, she loves me so it's all good (update in year 9)

3.  I was finally strong enough to break off a long term unhealthy relationship this year.  Zoe was so sad for a time and it was heartbreaking.   While she was "my" dog, she was attached to him.  We moved to a different town and began our new life together.  She slept with me on my pillow most times and was my reason for coming home at night from work.  She helped me through the loneliness and isolation I was experiencing. 

4. We met Rick, the love of our lives.  I told him, if my dog doesn't like you, it won't work.  Makes me think of the show "It's me or the dog", while not that crazy, I was worried about what Zoe would think.  Rick had allergies and I wanted so badly for them to like each other.  Zoe "approved" of Rick even though he was in uniform when they met, which she HATES (even Boy Scouts) BUT he was smart enough to also have jerky in his pockets! It was official, she had "Daddy".

5.  While I wouldn't trade Zoe for a different dog, I did learn a valuable lesson when it comes to buying a dog. Find a reputable breeder. I got Zoe from an add in the paper and have paid extensively for it in vet bills from literally DAY ONE when I brought her home to find blood in her urine. Technically I could have returned her, but come on, like that was going to happen. She has allergies to almost everything imaginable which took several years to get under control without using steroids.  She had a bladder problem that took several years to find a solution for, which ended up being a 'vulvaplasty' surgery (butt lift) :-).  I learned she was deathly allergic to bees the hard way, scariest day of my life (pre Madison).  I am glad I didn't have many other expenses at the time, being single most of her life with no children and with a good job. I felt at times, I was working to pay the vet bills.  We got through it together, her knowing I would do anything for her and me knowing she would give me unconditional love till her last breath.

6. We enjoyed life in WY one winter and Zoe loved the snow. She loved sleeping in the middle of two warm bodies and enjoyed all the attention.  She was a good traveler and was tolerant of visitors, of which we had few so it was okay.  My Mom thought Zoe might forget her while we were living so far from home and read that dogs remember by smell so she would send us letters with crumpled paper which she had strategically rubbed on her body and the note read "Zoe, smell me, love Grandma".  It was hilarious.  She was afraid we would never get pregnant and thought this would be her only "Grand Dog".  Zoe was my company when Rick was away from home at training or working the night shift, continuing to be my sweet companion.

7.  We spent several years trying to get pregnant and I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen.  Depression and despair was setting in despite how wonderful my life was unfolding.  Time to get a puppy, right?  I went a different route and made contact with a reputable breeder and Roxy came into our lives.  Three days after I brought her home I found out the last procedure had been successful and I was indeed pregnant, one day later, Zoe bit Roxy.  I was a hormonal mess. What did I do, a puppy AND a baby? We decided to keep Roxy and see how it went.  

8. Zoe stood by my side during the 6 months of morning sickness (or what I like to call it, "if you eat ANYTHING you will be sick, sickness). She was there when I brought the trainer home to help me learn how to prepare the dogs for the baby, the first thing being kicking her out of our bed!  She tolerated Roxy and eventually warmed up to her.  She began to come around again and seemed to not be so temperamental.  In the end Roxy was a blessing in disguise, she is Madison's buddy and helped Zoe get tolerant of an irritating little sister. I was worried about her and the baby, seriously, what if something happened?  I had a back up plan for her if I got uncomfortable and she wasn't able to adjust to the baby but I tried to put it out of my mind.  How could I turn my back on my dog after all we had been through together.  People kept telling me, you will have that baby and not give that animal a second thought, she'll be outside before you know it.  Who are these people?  I couldn't imagine.  What I didn't yet realize was the intense love and attachment I would have for Madison. I had heard of it, but experiencing it was totally different.  The trainer also recommended that we have a dog bed in the nursery as to not make it an off limits place so there would be no jealousy. Dogs are pack animals and they don't appreciate being separated from their pack. She adjusted to sleeping in her crate much better than I did, but I understood that the bed is the pack's power position and Zoe needed to learn she wasn't the leader. Better to kick her out now than after Madison came home.

9.  I had Rick bring home a hospital blanket with Madison's smell on it before we came home.  When we got home, I said my hellos and then she sniffed the baby.  She did okay until the baby cried. She got so concerned and started whining and crying herself and pacing around.  She eventually quit doing that and started sleeping in the bed in Madison's room at night as if to protect her.  It was adorable.  She didn't want much to do with her otherwise and stayed clear of us most of the time.  As Madison got more mobile things got trickier.  I am teaching Madison to stay clear of Zoe's crate and it is hard.  Zoe growls and then gets in trouble.  We are working on it, but I am nervous again.  I feel a bit guilty, being so preoccupied with working full time, being a wife full time and now a mother full time.  The dog days are gone.  We have our fun, don't get me wrong, it is just different.  I pray that as Zoe gets older, I am able to still be the loving Mom I always have been to her, taking her health and well being just as seriously as I did before.

10. I am not in denial, dogs don't live forever. When the vet told me Zoe needed to have her 'geriatric' exam two years ago I knew.  We have fun and celebrate joy in our lives. She has taught me so many invaluable lessons that have helped me be a better Mom. I am forever indebted to her for that.

Ever read the book "Everything I learned about parenting I learned from my puppy"? It was one of the first books on Madison's shelf. :-) And no, this does not include crate training Madison or making her hold a cookie on her nose, but come to think of it...no, I guess not.