Bailey In the Big City

What better way to solidify a budding relationship than by acquiring a dog together, right? My husband and I were in the beginning stages of our relationship becoming more and more serious. We had a small Chicago apartment in the West Loop, above a local bar that was a hot spot for all of the college kids. We liked to ride our bikes down to the lake after class or go to the gym before dinner. We would visit both of our families on alternating weekends. We basically did what we wanted when we wanted. We had tossed around the idea of getting a dog. We both saw multiple posts a day of someone we knew either fostering a young pup or trying to get rid of one for someone else, so our options were pretty open. We liked the same kinds of dogs or didn’t like the same ones I should say. However, we never seriously pursued the idea since pets were not allowed in the building we were in, and we planned to stay for one more year while I finished up my degree.

Fast forward to a family party one Sunday afternoon. A close friends’ mom approaches us saying that she heard we were potentially looking to adopt a dog…. Interesting of her to say…She told us it was a just over one year old, male Border Collie. Border Collie? Neither of us had ever heard of that dog before or knew what it looked like at least. After hearing her out we agreed to meet the pup, just to see if we would even like it or get along with it. That was our first mistake. We came by the house after dinner early in the week to meet this young dog.

Immediately we were a little bit hesitant of the dog. He didn’t run right up to us, like they do in the movies. He sort of shied away for a while. Okay, easy to say no thank you- or so we thought. Once we sat down and stayed a while the dog, who’s named Bailey, started warming up to us. First my husband, then he came around to me. We spent the night playing fetch. He already knew how to fetch! He also knew how to sit and stay, and even walk off leash. We learned that last trick the hard way. Before we left, we wanted to take Bailey for a walk around the neighborhood. We figured we would be able to see how he did as well as talk in private a little bit. A quick lap around the block proved what we were afraid of- the dog was awesome! He wrapped my husband and I up inside the leash and just sat and stared at us with this huge smile on his face, and wagging tail. Irresistible! We walked back to the house and told the family we were going to take the weekend to think about it.

That weekend we had a trip planned to go to Boston. The entire trip our thoughts consisted of this shaggy dog with fur that was jet black and snow white. This dog that we spent mere hours with but knew that we were not going to be able to let him go. We knew that this was the dog we had been hoping for. We weighed the cons (mostly the fact he wouldn’t be allowed in our apartment) and decided it was something we would be able to handle if the issue ever arose.

Picking him up, we wondered if we made a mistake. He had never been in a car before, never been to the city before (he grew up in the suburbs), had never been around many other people or dogs. He had never even experienced stairs before! Phew, it was going to be a long night. We brought him (in the car) to Petco, where he picked out a few new toys, dog tag and bed, after he peed on the ceramic tiles of course. Next, was his biggest challenge yet- stairs. He paused at the bottom, not wanting to ascend. We thought that maybe if I went up first, he would follow- wrong. Now, we lived on the third floor without an elevator, so we had no other options besides these stairs! All while trying to be incognito. My husband ended up picking up the 50-pound ball of fur and carrying him all the way up to our place. Once inside, Bailey was so shy he decided that scurrying along the walls was the best way to move about the apartment. We let him assimilate on his own terms. Before bed, he used the bathroom in the house multiple times (I thought he was house broken?!), as well as stealing space on our bed. Geez, we had our work cut out for us.

Fast forward four years. Bailey has been with us for all of our big moments. We moved to Florida and came back- all with Bailey riding right there in the passenger seat. I graduated and received my bachelor's degree- he was there for all of the long nights of studying. He was there when we got married (of course), all of the Christmas’ and birthdays you can fit in a four-year time frame. He’s grown accustomed to the big city life- being there to support me when I’ve run the Chicago Marathon, playing with other dogs at the dog beach, and finding any area of grassy field to call his backyard. Rather than leaving him at home, we incorporated him into our traditions. He goes to the Christkringle market with us every year, then for a walk by the Chicago River. He’s learned how to swim, go up or down stairs and escalators, elevators, and learned how to communicate with motions rather than words. He’s even spent some nights in a few hotels with us and had sleepovers with the family dog. He’s been to more states and places than some of my friends, I think!

And for us, he has helped me countless times. When I’m sad he gives me licks. When I’m not feeling well, he doesn’t leave my side. When I’m happy he dances with me. He is a running companion, a protector of the house, and playmate when I’m feeling lost. He always seems to know just what we need when we need it. His bright brown eyes, wagging tail, and mouth with a toy is the first thing I see when I open the door after a long day's work. Although he has been able to do so many things since we adopted him, I think he has helped us more. He helps us to stay grounded when things get difficult. Remember why we are doing what we do and to stay the course. It is clear with Bailey that he would do anything for my husband and I to make sure we are okay. His loyalty and love are stronger than what I’ve experienced with any friend I’ve ever made.