A childhood dream fulfilled

For so many years, I was longing for a canine companion, but never fulfilled. I am feeling joyed having my first pet dog after long years waiting. For a dyspraxic person like myself, it is a great feeling. Special need individuals show an excellent connection to dogs. I experienced a difficult school and college life. My work life was not the best, as I got bullied and misunderstood. I never settled in a workplace .

Now I work for a wonderful charity running two support groups for adults, parents and children with dyspraxia. I have set up my own quiz book business. I gave up on 9 to 5 job in 2011 due to my negative experiences Sometimes, I am affected by anxiety. Having a dog brings joy in my life.

I want to share the story of how it happened.

Puppy sales are skyrocketing during these torrid times of COVID-19 the world is facing. We cannot enjoy the life way we want to like go on holidays, meeting friends and visit places we enjoy. Life is short. The days go by fast. The current situation led my wife and me to buy a dog.

We are both deeply passionate about dogs. Initially, we decided to buy a rabbit. Our hearts began to change towards a dog due to excellent companionship they can provide. We scrapped the plan of buying a rabbit. On the internet, we browsed through a variety breeds, but most were way over our budget on pet online sites.

Some breeds met our budget. We analyze the breeds in details. The lurcher breed appeared to be the most affordable for us. The house needed to accommodate for our first dog. Furniture was arranged in the house to provide space bearing the mind how fast the breed grows and the personality of the breed. We brought a bowl and enough supplies of dog food.

On a windy day, we drove to pick up our first dog. It was eight-week years old lurcher puppy. The journey took us over bumpy country roads. The narrow streets made it hard to drive. There were so many cars parked on both side of the roads. Both of us were feeling excited. We arrived at the breeder home and were overwhelmed by an overload of cuteness seeing a litter of lurcher puppies in an assortment of colours . The adorable puppies looked at us and were so playful. The two full grown lurcher dogs greeted us amicably.

The breeder passed on a male puppy that I carried on my lap. He felt nervous, knowing he would be separated from parents and siblings. For a puppy, it would be a lot to take in. He would have to adapt to a new environment. Since we are understanding people, we were sure that he would adapt to us quickly.

He is a black coloured puppy with a few white markings. The face is a typically puppy looking. In the car whilst driving home, he was whining a lot. He would not ever mingle with his siblings ever again. That is sad for a puppy. In the early days, he depended on his parents for feeding and guidance. We do not know what he was thinking. I felt those thoughts were spiralling in his mind.

In three days, he started to accept us in his life. A chemistry started to develop. We decided to name the puppy Otis. A 90s children tv show inspired the chosen name.

Otis is proving to be a clingy, as he demands attention. If any one of us are not one of them, he whines and starts to bark typically like a puppy. In our seats, we have to be beside sitting next him. He starts to relax once seeing someone next to him.

Music is the right therapy to calm him own and he sleeps peacefully. He loves playing with his toys. There is a feeling of joy transmitted on his face. Sometimes, he gets very excited. He moves showing huge burst of energy and at incredible speeds, almost narrowing and breaking some elements. Otis is wide wake for long hours in the night. On average, he sleeps 6 to 10 hours during the day.

As he gets older, he will stop having certain habits Otis feels insecure being on his own for long periods. Separation anxiety affects Otis. Otis is a very friendly dog, who loves people . He jumps on people and wants to enthusiastically mix with other dogs, who walk with their owners. Most dogs do not mind . Some dogs have growled at Otis for being disturbing. Many passers-by admired our puppy due to his adorable face. They comment how beautiful our dog is.

During mealtimes, Otis stared at us begging for food in a distinctive stance as pictured. How can we say no? In the morning, he wakes us up . His eyes show an expression of cuteness and innocent. We fan it. Otis likes us very much. He now feels comfortable at our home. He sits on our couch and his favourite spot is going underneath our bed. His teeth are growing. His biting habits are noticeable.

We try to divert his attention from him to other dogs by giving them treats and it works well. On reflection, we choose the right breed. Lurcher are very loyal to their owners and are family orientated. We are cherishing the moments with our first dog. He brings us so much happiness. I do not face any mental health problems that I am prone to. Otis has been the best thing in our lives. Our lives have transformed since Otis was introduced into our family.

Good training is vital. It will help to discipline my dog. He will learn to be calm and independent. We have bought a door as suggested by dog trainers we got advice from. It is important to set boundaries for a dog. Otis is rewarded for good behaviour. For potty and peeing, we train Otis to use this area. We do not want to lock the gate in the night-time given that he is only a puppy.

In emergency situations, like if I have an organized meeting or we are busy cleaning and cooking in kitchen, we will close the gate so that Otis is not moving around and only for short periods. At times, he can be restless. Puppy tantrums become problematic. He whines so much. We ignore them and he starts to calm down.

I am understanding how a dog behaves. What does he eat? How does he play? What are his sleeping patterns? What does he like? What is the psychology of the dog? How to train? How to discipline him? and allocating a budget on how much to spend for a dog. Dog is a commitment. You need to give it care and show love. In return, dog will show affection.

Being a dog owner has opened up new opportunities for me. I have written a trivia quiz book about dogs and I aim to set my own dog business in the future. Me and my wife are devoting our lives to dogs, aiming to buy a companion for Otis in the future. We loving having Otis in our lives.