To Get The Puppy, Or To Not Get The Puppy
Since the day @BrooklynBoog stopped me dead in my tracks outside my neighborhood fave Wilfie & Nell one Summer Saturday, I knew I would one day become the mother of an English cream longhair miniature Dachshund (or as I call them, Silky Hotdogs, because that’s a mouthful). Growing up, my family had an iconic Golden Retriever, Max, and I had always planned on getting one of my own when I became a mature adult. Unfortunately, my high hopes for a Golden Retriever were pushed aside by my obsession with New York City and my inability to actually become a mature adult. Cue: Silky Hotdogs. Silky Hotdogs are the perfect combination of spunky and cute, wrapped in a 6 inch-by-3 feet package.
As hard as you can try to wait for the perfect circumstance, I’m going to be straight up right now: there is no such thing as the “best” time to get an eight-week-old puppy (if you value your sleep, sanity, and relationships, that is). Personally, I thought I had cracked the code. I was just coming off a rough film job—one that strained practically every relationship I had in the blur of a year. I was miserable, exhausted, and I had completely forfeited my sense of self. I planned to take a few months off to regroup when the show wrapped. Perfect time to get a puppy, right? A lovable ball of joy and energy that brings happiness to everyone in its path?
As much as I wanted to rescue, I was dead set on getting an English cream longhair miniature Dachshund. I really should be their spokeswoman. After weeks of Googling breeders in the northeast, I found Donna: a breeder not located in the northeast, but a mere 45 minute drive from where my boyfriend is stationed in North Carolina. I thought, “How hard could it be to fly home alone with a 3-pound puppy who just met me and is absolutely terrified of literally everything?” and mailed Donna a thicc deposit for Franklin.
We wrapped filming the show Wednesday and I booked it to my boyfriend’s place in NC that Friday. After a relaxing weekend, we woke up Sunday morning and ventured to Donna’s. During those 45 minutes, I had a serious case of the anxiets. In fact, I was panicking. Could I actually handle this on my own? The answer, I would soon come to realize, was no. I couldn’t handle having a puppy on my own.
No matter how much you read about what it’s like to get a puppy—prepare by getting pee pads, beds, leashes and harnesses, scour Pinterest for puppy guides (OK, I realize that one might just be me)—every puppy is different. But, I can almost guarantee, every puppy is a pain in the ass.
Some Hard Facts About Getting an 8-Week-Old Puppy:
If your puppy likes his or her crate: you essentially won the lottery, but better. Most puppies, like Franklin, will hate their crates and cry, bark, and bite at the crate every night for hours on end, making you want to pull your hair out. It will sound like they are being attacked by a monster. They are not. They are just big babies.
Bye, bye blissful eight hours of shut-eye. The crying is so loud and you’ll probably feel guilty and sad making your puppy stay in his or her crate when he or she clearly despises it.
Your neighbors will give you dirty looks and may even leave you nasty messages. Been there. Multiple times. While this is probably more of a city livin’ concern, it really broke me. I began to feel anxiety about leaving the house for fear that I would disrupt and anger the people in my building.
Puppies nip, and they nip hard. Their baby teeth feel like what I imagine piranha teeth to feel like. I have various scars on my body and I cried many times from Franklin wounds. I don’t recommend wearing clothing you love around your puppy until he or she is past that fun stage. R.I.P. my midi skirts.
Every single person you pass on the sidewalk is going to ask to pet your dog. And, truthfully, many don’t even ask. It gets old after the first day.
DOG WALKERS ARE BAE! But only the good ones. Socialization for a puppy is extremely important, especially if you live in a city. Franklin has been going out with the same dog walkers since he was 4 months old and nothing brings him more joy than going out with his posse. Plus, now Franklin isn’t very stubborn and walks like a champ at only 9 months. Having a dog walker costs $$$ but, in the beginning, it was the only thing that helped me achieve somewhat of a puppy/life balance. My opinion? Totally worth it.
Arguably most important: You will need to lean on at least two people in your life for support, walks, or puppy sitting if you travel. There really is no exception to this rule. And I do not suggest getting a puppy if you don’t have this.
Woof (Franklin’s words, not mine). I had to give it to you guys straight. The first three months were hard, and sometimes even felt impossible. Franklin is now nine months old, we are obsessed with each other and have a really good thing going. Neither of us is anywhere near perfect and we’re still adjusting to life together, but those awful first three months were beyond worth it. I cannot imagine my life without Franklin.
As much as I wanted to get a puppy because I felt it was inevitable and the timing was right, I also hoped his companionship would help me manage my depression that developed from the strain of my previous job, and balance the pressure of my long distance relationship with my boyfriend who is a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. I realize it isn’t normal to worry daily about your boyfriend’s safety, especially when he’s got the body of Chris Hemsworth and the personality of Liam. But when you love someone in the military, it’s unavoidable.
As I sit now, with my family, but 600 miles from the one I love, we’re all thankful to have Franklin to snuggle, bring a smile to our faces and ensure that it’s never too quiet.
Franklin, The Silkiest of Hotdogs
