What does any sane family do when their kids both go off to college? Obviously, they add a third dog to their pack…right?
That’s what we did three years ago when we added Kelsey to our pair of labradoodles. Had we forgotten what it’s like to train a puppy? Absolutely! But she was the sweetest devil we had ever seen, so we persevered.
In addition to Kelsey, my husband and I have Bodhi, our oldest at thirteen and Skyler, our seven-year-old. They take turns keeping me company while I write, cuddling into my legs as I type on my computer resting on a lap desk. And accompanying me on walks when I need to clear my head. I know what you’re thinking—how selfless of them.
I’ve always been struck by the fact that each dog I meet has a unique personality. Ours are no exception, boasting their own quirky traits. Bodhi, a white labradoodle of 38 pounds, has a bit of a foot fetish, stealing my shoes before they are even off my feet. While he prances around with a smelly sneaker in his mouth, he doesn’t chew them. He just seems to covet them. Odd? Sure. But to us it’s also kind of precious. He’s also our most empathetic—able to sense if we’re down and making sure to provide an extra lick or cuddle.
Skyler, our middle dog, a brown 24-pounder, would be an Olympic star if she were a person. I mean, as an author of sports thrillers, I obviously needed one superstar. Her chosen event…catch and retrieve. I don’t just mean your random game of fetch. I mean the OCD version. Everywhere. Anywhere. Anytime. All the time. Non-stop. Never seeming to tire. She especially loves to leap into the pool after a ball and then shake the water off onto the person nice enough to play with her!
Then, back to Kelsey. She’s very enthusiastic. If she were a person, she’d be the one who got excited over a piece of gum. Or a potato chip. The glass would always be overflowing in her eyes. She leaps to greet us, often pushing her bigger sibs out of the way. She paws at us to continue petting her. Over and over again. Especially above her eyes. She spins to show her excitement. And I swear, she’s always smiling.
Which makes me smile. Sure, three dogs are a lot. But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Because whatever we give to them, they return in love tenfold.
Elise Hart Kipness is a television sports reporter turned crime fiction writer. The first book in her Kate Green mystery series, LIGHTS OUT, is available now. The next, DANGEROUS PLAY, will be released in September, 2024.
