Growing up, I rarely ever tried asking my parents for a dog. When I did bring it up, my mom would always respond with, “You already have two brothers–that is enough work in itself.” She wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t argue. I was honestly okay with not having a dog, I just always wondered what it would be like to have a furry little companion I could call my own.
Of course, I hung out with dogs occasionally at my friends’ houses, but I never formed a bond with one until I met Bleu, who taught me about the wonderfulness of dogs.
The last thing I expected to see when I walked into my new hairdresser’s studio at age 16 was her adorable little French Bulldog. Bleu instantly brightened my day, and his curious nature became clear as he sniffed at clients’ feet while they sat in the salon chair getting their hair done. He probably always has human hair clippings in his fur, but I think he likes being in the action.
My favorite part about Bleu is how outgoing he is. Bleu follows me around when I walk from the chair to the sink to get my hair washed, never leaving my side the whole appointment. The second time I went to get my hair done, he jumped on my lap and sat between my legs like a human. He tried to be just like me, and he left me with an overwhelming sense of joy. Everyone in the salon laughed along with me, and I realized Bleu’s incredible ability to light up the entire room.
While Bleu is full of energy and affection half the time, you will also often find him lounging around and taking cozy cat naps in his specially designated dog bed. The gentle purrs he makes as he breathes in his sleep sound so peaceful, and it’s clear he’s completely content in his little haven. Though my hair always looked wonderful after each session, it was Bleu that kept me returning to the same hairdresser.
I am reflecting on my journey with dogs thanks to my current internship at Vizion Group PR, where I am lucky enough to spend my time working on promoting the National Dog Show. The National Dog Show holds a special place in my heart because it brings back warm Thanksgiving Day memories of my family all cozied up on the couches, sharing laughter and commentary as we watched the dogs strut their stuff on the beautiful blue carpet. We traditionally decide on our own favorite breeds and place bets on who we think is going to win Best in Show. The National Dog Show fosters a sense of love and joy, much like Bleu and every other dog around the world.
If you love watching the National Dog Show on NBC each Thanksgiving Day, just think about how amazing it would be to see these enchanting canines live at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, on November 16 and 17.
Tickets are only $20 for adults and $12 for kids, wonderfully affordable in line with the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s non-profit mission of educating the public about responsible pet parenting. For more information, visit www.nds.nationaldogshow.com.
If you can’t make it in person, don’t worry. You can still catch all the excitement by tuning in to NBC on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 2 p.m. (in all time zones) for The National Dog Show Presented by Purina. I know I’ll be watching with my family and imagining how excited Bleu would be to play amongst all the other incredible dogs.