In my house, the chances of getting a dog were always slim to none. I grew up with a wide variety of allergies ranging between milk, peanuts, grass and animals. Being around a dog meant sneezing, itchy skin and bloodshot eyes, nothing a quick Benadryl couldn’t fix. With such a strong allergy to dogs, my parents denied any hope for as puppy in the future.
With such limited interaction with dogs at a young age, I developed a fear. Bigger dogs scared me to the point where I would hop on a chair to avoid them jumping on me. I would ask my friends to lock their dogs away so that I could feel more comfortable. However, even without the physical dog in the room, the lingering dog hair would send my allergies into full panic mode.
I began to steer clear of dogs in every way possible. I would come up with excuses not to hang out with my friends who had dogs or move to the opposite side of the sidewalk to get away from a dog. I had been under the impression that dogs weren’t friendly simply due to my lack of exposure.
Cooper was a fun puppy. He was always looking for someone to throw him a tennis ball or run around with him in the backyard. He was so well-behaved. He wouldn’t jump, he would listen when his name was called, and he didn’t bite. He taught me what it was like to love and cherish animals.
It wasn’t until middle school when my resentment toward dogs began to let up. My best friends had welcomed a Golden Retriever-Lab mix into their family. Cooper was just a couple of months old, and he was the fluffiest and cutest puppy. He was so eager and inquisitive. He is the reason I began to love the company of dogs.
I was so caught up in the brand-new puppy bliss, I hardly noticed my itchy arms or the occasional sneeze. To solve this problem, my mom suggested taking allergy medicine prior to going to a friend’s house with a dog. This opened a new door where I was able to enjoy the company of a dog without sneezing every five seconds or rubbing my eyes religiously.
I was able to be right beside Cooper as he got older and developed into such a strong and loving dog. I would wait patiently to arrive at my friend’s house just for the adorable greeting Cooper would provide as I walked in the door.
Fortunately, I have been able to develop a tolerance to dogs, but here and there I suffer from the occasional allergies. Since finding a loophole to my allergy, I have been able to connect with more dogs other than Cooper. Each year, I advocate for a dog in my household, but my idea falls short each time.
While I might not be able to have my own dog, I have been so fortunate to surround myself with loving dogs of my friends and relatives. My social media has become engrossed with dog content. My continued love for dogs is even more prominent around Thanksgiving when I arrive home from college and see my beloved friends and their families. Part of me looks forward to seeing their puppies first.
Not only is Thanksgiving a good time to reunite with friends and family, but it also provides a time to sit down with loved ones to watch The National Dog Show Presented by Purina. Taking place directly after the renowned Thanksgiving Day Parade, The National Dog Show offers viewers a chance to see dogs in all shapes and sizes competing for that number one spot, known as Best In Show.
If you are in the Philadelphia area on November 15-16, make sure to visit the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks to see all the adorable dogs in action. Tickets are available for purchase starting in early June on the National Dog Show’s website. For those who can’t make it in person, no worries! The National Dog Show will air on NBC on Thanksgiving Day from noon –2 p.m. in all time zones!