As a seven-year-old girl, breakfast was never something I could simply sit down and enjoy due to my dog, Dasha. She was a German Shepherd, just a couple of years older than I, and as an only child, she was my absolute best friend. She was so big, weighing at least 70 pounds, I would try to ride poor Dasha like a horse! We would follow each other around the house, and Dasha never left my side. One of my earliest memories with Dasha was when I would make a little plate of waffles every morning and bring it to the couch to eat. Every time, without fail, the second I would get up or turn around, I would find Dasha licking the crumbs off a mysteriously empty plate.
Unfortunately, when she got older, Dasha experienced many hip problems and passed away at 14 years of age. She forever holds a special place in mine and my family’s hearts, and German Shepherds will, of course, always be my favorite dogs. So, just a few years ago, we added Milo and Charlie to our family, two more German Shepherds!
My family and I have watched many dog shows, including the National Dog Show on NBC every Thanksgiving, for years. It is something that we always look forward to watching together. However, Milo, Charlie, and my four-year-old Golden Doodle, Cooper, love it more than anyone. Their favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, and not just because of all the leftover turkey they somehow sneakily steal. They love watching the other dogs on the TV and barking at them, hoping for a response, and they get super riled up and run in circles around the living room.
I used to ask my parents why our dogs can’t be on the dog show too, but they always reminded me our dogs don’t exactly have the right “look.” Charlie, now six, has one tooth that is completely crooked. Along with the fact that he is a terrible listener and thinks he is the boss of the house, his snaggle tooth–as funny and cute as my family and I think it is–would perhaps not make him the best candidate next to these beautifully-groomed and well-behaved canines seen on the television. He is lucky he’s so cute because he gets away with everything!
Cooper, now nine, has cataracts, so he is unfortunately not really able to watch the show with us anymore, but he still has no problem sitting with us and sprawling across the couch while we all marvel at the different breeds. One of his favorite activities is to pretend to be asleep laying on the couch, and the second someone gets up and leaves any food behind, he wastes no time jumping up and scarfing down the whole meal in record time. It reminds me of how Dasha would eat my waffles every morning. Dasha and Cooper both share the same sneaky grin right after wolfing down the food while my parents would scold them, and all I could do was laugh.
Milo is now eight, and is always quick to sit front and center before the TV. He loves to bark the loudest when all of the dogs first walk out. I think he is confused why they are so small and why they are not paying attention to him. He also enjoys being super active, and when we take him to the dog park, he makes sure to let all the other dogs know that not only is he the biggest dog there, but also the fastest.
Although my dogs may be a little goofy, they really are such great companions. I am so grateful for them because I know I can always count on them to make me smile no matter what. Over the years, watching them grow older and get so big is honestly something I’ll never get used to. Every time I come home from college and see them, I am taken aback by their cuteness and how big they’ve gotten!
This year, I have the opportunity through my internship with Vizion Group PR to actually work on Media Relations at the National Dog Show in November at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA (nds.nationaldogshow.com). I am so excited about this unique experience, and I know that while I’m there, I can look forward to rewatching the event at home on Thanksgiving Day on NBC, cuddled up with my dogs.
Well written and an interesting read. Good job Norah!