Dogmum life

I am an animal lover all day, every day. I work with both humans 25 hours a week and occasionally work at a dog day care, I wish it was the other way round as I am less stressed with the dogs. Anyway after working I return home to my number one best friend. 9 years of friendship and still going strong. He’s been with me through my worst and through my best. Seen my battles, mistakes, regrets and the rest; but you know the best thing about dogs, they love you in spite of all that. This little guy is Alfie and he does all of the above and more. How? you might ask. He’s just a dog? No, he’s not just a dog. He’s my best friend in the whole world, no in fact he is my whole world and my rock on my toughest days. Just seeing him makes my day 100% better and I even hate myself at times for when I am not in the mood to interact with him. If I get home late from work and I’m tired, he’s there wagging his tail expecting a cuddle to which I tell him to go away. I hate myself for it, it happens occasionally and he doesn’t deserve it. I am his whole life and he doesn’t understand. I do what I can to provide him with all the love and food in the world, because you know food is very important. In fact dogs might be loyal but they’re much more loyal to that cheeseburger you have in your hand, let me tell you. Anyway, in the midst of working a lot, I am also in university which is 3 days a week and sometimes clashes with work. This has only become recently to which Alfie doesn’t understand why I don’t have the time to take him on his several walks like he used to. Once again I am ashamed of being a dog mum. He’s been at the peak of his life burning off lots of energy and exploring letting his nose get into all kinds of smells, best time ever for hun right? But I struggle to get him out at least four times a day. My family used to help out, but now my sister has a young child to take care of who needs her attention and my mum on hand to give her that extra bit of help. Once again he is feeling the changes of not having so many walks, but also the huge change of new smells, sounds and items in the house. He doesn’t understand where this tiny human has came from only that he has to cope with it and deal with it. I am guilty that hes feeling all of these changes and I know he will be confused. He’s getting on a bit now and I don’t want him to feel any less appreciated. I need to think before I do. I may be tired when I finish work, but I should realise the love and loyalty he gives me and appreciate him back. I should realise that I can listen to my lecture if it’s recorded at any time and take him out on more walks and not put university or my hob before him. I know they are important but he’s more important and for such a small time on earth he should feel every moment and it should be a happy moment. He makes me laugh, he makes me mad, he makes me smile, he makes me cry. All of these things make me a proud dog mum. He’s annoying at times yes, but I’m sure to him I’m just as annoying - and you know what? He loves me anyway. But... I love him more and I wouldn’t change him for anything else in the world. If you have a dog, take a minute to think about all of the times you’ve got frustrated over small things, materialistic things or just things that are not relevant enough to be pissed off enough to take it out on your dog. At the end of the day you are his/her whole life, he/she is just a part of yours. His life is always changing but his love and loyalty to you will not. Cherish him/her always.