One less thing to worry about

As I write this, G and I have hit our six-week mark together, and the time has just flown by. The things that I worried obsessively about in the beginning now seem like such a distant memory. But like all other overly anxious people out there, I’ve managed to find plenty of other things to take their place. 

Initially, I was concerned over whether or not we would establish a bond (we have) or if G would even like me (it’s obvious he does.) Now, instead, I dwell on issues like how bored he must be living here and worry if he’s truly happy here. We are hardly the most exciting, adventurous people you’ll ever meet. In fact, COVID has only reaffirmed the fact that we are—at our core—homebodies. Don’t get me wrong. I love getting together with friends and seeing sites other than the walls of my home and my fenced-in backyard. I have really missed my favorite pastimes, like attending concerts, musicals, and plays, and going to museums. But I don’t ever feel compelled to fill up every minute of my day with some sort of activity. I’m just not wired—nor do I have the physical stamina—to always be on the go. So, what does that mean for G dog? A whole lot of nothing, which is the point of my current angst.

My job is the classic desk job requiring me to spend all my working time at a computer. Other than the occasional chin scratches and belly rubs during this time period and the intermittent bathroom and food breaks for me where G dog faithfully follows along after me, there’s not a whole lot that he’s doing during the weekday other than snoozing. I’ve tried to give him things like chew toys to keep him busy, but this activity lasts for two minutes tops if he even bothers to engage at all. 

Connie has had to remind me that most dogs sleep 12-14 hours per day, while some large breed dogs can sleep even more. She tells me G seems to be very well-adjusted and that she’s not the least bit concerned about this placement. It feels good to get affirmation from an expert. And when I really start thinking about it, I realize that other dog owners also have jobs and are not spending every waking moment trying to entertain their pets (at least the sane ones, anyway.) Some may put their pets in doggy daycare for some extra fun and exercise, but it’s not the only way to ensure your dog’s joy.

That’s the beauty of this gig. Apparently, it doesn’t take a whole lot to make a dog happy. Just some fresh air, food, a little room to run, some activities to mentally stimulate them, plenty of love and belly scratches—and they’re all good. And if I ever need further validation, I don’t have to look any further than G’s extremely animated tail wags when he’s with us to know just how content he is.