5 Things Average Jane Has Noticed About Dog Ownership

1. People are rather ridiculously happy for you. I always used to joke that we never had kids because we couldn't even get to the dog stage. Well apparently that wasn't a joke after all. Ever since I said I was getting a dog, my friends have evinced the kind of excitement usually reserved for pregnancy announcements. It's as if I really have reached some kind of milestone. Nevermind that I've spent more than twenty years raising long-lived cats. (I'm still not going to have human kids, though. The dog stage is not literally penultimate.)
2. You meet a lot more people. I've been walking the same route around my neighborhood for a couple of years, but until I had a dog I had probably only spoken to about three people. Now I speak to several people every time I go out. Strangers want to pet Toby and ask about him. He's a living, breathing conversation starter.
3. You become aware of the neighborhood dogs. Most dogs won't bark at a person walking, but they are very interested when a dog walks by their territory. I had no idea there were so many dogs on my block, much less along my 3.4 mile route. I even know some of their names now. Heck, I've learned that the dog next door is named Dolly and yet I still don't know her owners' names after living next to them for sixteen years.
4. It makes you get exercise. I was already walking a lot when we got the dog, but my husband was not. Since he's the one home during the day, he ends up walking Toby at least up the block once or twice a day. He told me that he was initially sucking wind by the time he got to the top of our hill, but he was already finding it easier after the first couple of weeks.
5. You become more in tune with the seasons. This fall has been fascinating for me. One of my neighbors has a tree that sheds a carpet of beautiful golden needles that covers the street for half a block, but only for a day. Some of our neighbors have trees that drop dark brown, twisty pods full of seeds. Being outside every day gives you a front-row seat for all of the seasonal changes. I don't know how I'll feel about that when it starts snowing regularly, but I'm sure I'll learn to cope.

Comments

[Savvy Working Gal]

So true. We didn't know any of our neighbors before we got our two retrievors. Now we are known as the dog people.

[Barb Holter]

I loved your column, and loved the fact that you know the proper meaning of "penultimate". Travis is really looking forward to tonight. Have fun! (The jam is delicious) Also I am deeply into "The Magicians". I liked the other book, too.