GRATEFUL MAMA: K-9 Companions

K-9 COMPANIONS:

OUR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY

MEMBERS

Before Ben was part of the picture, we considered our dogs, Chopper and Hoshi, our children! Now that Ben is here, chasing them around, pulling their tails and playing fetch with them, they seem even more special to our family than I ever imagined possible! As aggressive as Hoshi, our female Akita, can be with other dogs and animals in general, she puts up with whatever Ben throws at her (sometimes literally). If she is completely annoyed, she picks up her old bones and moves to another room, sometimes only to come back out asking for more just a few minutes later! Chopper, our male German Shepherd, is more playful, but he will let Ben know if he's had enough tail-pulling or bear-hugging by letting out a little grunt. Then, he will try to escape to the front door and beg to be let outside.

We have one of those invincible fences around about an acre or so of our yard and the dogs spend the majority of their days outside, by choice. If it is extremely cold out, Hoshi will just give you this look and not even lift her head when you ask if she wants to go outside. Not Chopper, though. Any time, day or night, he is always ready to go outside! He could be in a deep sleep and if he hears you even putting your shoes on, he is up and at the door! He lives for playing fetch and he will absolutely drive you insane wanting you to throw his ball over and over and over again!!!! Now that Ben is able to throw the ball futher than just three feet, Chopper is his new best friend!

It's been so amazing watching their love (and tolerance ;) for Ben grow since the day we brought him home. In turn, it's made me love them even more, seeing how gentle and kind they are with him. If dad's tickling him or chasing him and Ben is screaming, the dogs want to make sure that everything is alright and there is no foul play! They are very protective of him and I think it's sweet.

Anyone who has dogs knows about the love and the bond that continually grows between you. Before I had my son, I had reservations about how my large dogs would behave around my precious baby because they had never really been around kids before. I thought they might be jealous or resent him because he would take some of our attention away from them, but that was not the case at all. In fact, they have loved him from day one and fully accept him into our pack!