Schatze, My Life Long Hangout Buddy

Being an only child, I always had a desire to know what it was like to have a sibling. That changed at eight years old when my family purchased our Brittany, Schatze. She instantly became my best friend as we grew up together.

Schatze was, and still is, an energetic, happy pooch. She loves to run around our yard, go on walks and she can never not be around someone. Any time we are in the house, she will lay right in the middle of the hallway, between my parents’ room and my room, and any time we leave for a while, she is always super excited to greet us when we get home.

Schatze loves coming with us everywhere we go, too. Anytime someone goes to the car, even if she can’t come, she will immediately hop right in the backseat and lay down with a “where are we going” expression on her face. She loves coming on vacation with us and experiencing the new places we go each year, especially because she can play with my cousins’ golden retriever that they bring along as well.

Now 13, Schatze has slowed down a little, but she still shows glimpses of her spry puppy years. Recently, she has gotten some pretty serious arthritis in one of her front legs, but that doesn’t stop her from jumping on the bed with you and begging for you to take her on a walk.

Speaking of begging, that’s another thing Schatze still loves to do. My dad has a soft spot for her, so anytime we eat at the table, she will sit right next to him and wait for him to inevitably throw her a bite. She particularly loves chicken and turkey.

Along with people food, Schatze loves ice cream. Whenever we stop for some, we always make sure we grab her a small dish of vanilla, which she gobbles up in about 30 seconds.

Now being a busy college student, living away from home, I don’t see my best friend as much as I used to. My parents make sure to send the occasional picture of Schatze laying on the couch, though, something she has recently grown a love for as she has gotten older.

One of the things I get most excited for when coming home from break is hanging out with her, and with my current internship with Vizion PR, I am now even more excited to share the couch with Schatze and watch the National Dog Show Presented by Purina on Thanksgiving Day. Growing up watching the competition, I never envisioned myself being in a role where I could contribute to the event. Not only that, but I also get to take part in helping with the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show weekend at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks! 

National Dog Show weekend is open to the public on Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19 with tickets priced reasonably at $16 for adults and $7 for kids 4-11. Children under three are admitted free, so consider joining the festivities at www.nds.nationaldogshow.com. 

And then on Thanksgiving Day, be sure to tune into the National Dog Show Presented by Purina and join 20 million viewers who each year watch the two-hour special and celebrate the wonderfulness of man’s and woman’s best friend. I know Schatze and I will be tuning in, enjoying some vanilla ice cream while we watch.