My 16th Year As a First-Time Dog Owner
I’ve only ever had one dog my entire life. This month marks 16 years of companionship that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the entire world.
I want to start by sharing our journey from the very beginning to today. After that, you can stick around for some advice based on my personal experience and a quick rundown of Shadow’s daily routine to use for comparison. If you leave a comment about your own furry companion, I’ll be sure to read it out loud to him!
You can also just skip to the photo dump at the very end.
My destiny was set in motion when Shadow came home.
It happened on the most unsuspecting day. I was doing what most 17-year-olds would be doing the summer after graduating high school (playing video games, probably). My mom came into the room and said one of her customers from work would be dropping off a puppy in just a short while. I didn’t pick out this dog. Didn’t even know what he looked like until he was suddenly in my living room, cute as can be.
We washed him up and brought him with us on the road to visit someone out in the countryside. Poor thing was surrounded by complete strangers in a foreign vehicle. I had him on my lap, and whether it was because he could sense something in me that early on or because he didn’t have much of a choice, he dug his face between my thighs as a place of refuge.
Later that night, we were trying to figure out where he could sleep. My mother and I were both unprepared to receive a dog that day and were completely inexperienced at owning one. We didn’t have a crate, we didn’t want him wandering the house while we were asleep, and my mom had her reservations about dogs getting on the bed. She landed on keeping him in the bathroom for just one night until we could prepare something better the next day. But I could hear him whining from down the hall, and it filled me with an overwhelming sense of pity. I also didn’t want to get in trouble by letting him on the bed. What else was there to do but sleep on the bathroom floor with him?
He snuggled up next to me, and the rest of the night was quiet.
The following day, my mom decided it wouldn’t be so bad if he slept in my bed after all.
Shadow was not exempt from my social awkwardness.
How do you even talk to a dog, anyway? It’s not like they know what you’re saying. When you’re alone, isn’t that just like talking to yourself? Is it even weirder to not say anything when there’s no one else but a dog in the room just staring at you expectantly?
I was definitely overthinking it, but I’ve never been in this situation before. I haven’t gotten comfortable with the “Who’s a good boy?!” in baby-talk yet. The best I could muster up at the time was a shy, “Uh…hey…what’s up?” Yeah, like that’s any better. Thinking back, that was way worse.
Sixteen years later, I have full-blown conversations with him, baby-talk included. My husband and I will even speak for him in a tone that resembles Courage (the cowardly one).
I will never forget the day I almost lost him.
My mom was at work, and I went out to check the mailbox for her. I was careless. I forgot just how young and inexperienced Shadow was, and he bolted out the front door the second I swung it open. He didn’t just follow me to the porch. Something compelled him to make a full dash across the street. Whether it was a cat, a squirrel, or a bird that he was after, I will never know.
Mind you, we lived downtown. A passing car was as likely as a raindrop falling on a blade of grass when there’s a drizzle.
This was a sentient, living being that was placed under my care. He hadn’t even been with us for a full year yet before things could have played out so horribly wrong. Pure instinct drove my actions. I didn’t think about how I could have sent myself to the hospital as a blood sack of shattered bones. I sprinted across the street, faster than I’ve ever moved before, and snatched him up like the universe would explode if I let him get away.
Fate was kind to us that day. Sometimes I find myself wondering what the next decade would have been like if he weren’t there for it.
But there’s no sense in dwelling over what-ifs. What matters is that we’ve enjoyed an entire life together after that. Now he’s 17 years old and getting into less trouble.
Shadow was an easy puppy to train.
He only knows the basics, like “sit” and “stay”. He also used to know “lie down” and “roll over” after taking the entry-level puppy training class at PetSmart, but I didn’t keep up with those commands. The important thing is that he learned what discipline meant.
Thankfully, he got the hang of potty training mostly on his own. I’m not sure how, but it didn’t take him long to pick up on the fact that he could just hold it until it was time to go outside.
There was this one time when I took Shadow outside for him to do his business during a small storm. The wind blew so hard that his steady stream curved right back onto his face. He didn’t stop and step away. He was as solid as a rock until he was finished, other than his eyes flinching repeatedly from the onslaught of warm yellow. I laughed uncontrollably, then it was straight to the bath.
We saw many adventures in the early years.
Shadow was extremely energetic, as most pups are. Imagine how thrilled he was as we took him everywhere. Not counting the regular visits to the park, he’s been on camping trips, trekked through the snow, played in beach sand, and even hid in a tote bag when we went shopping in LA. He’s seen his fair share of fireworks and discovered the whimsy of dry deck water fountains.
He took a liking to being social despite my being an introvert. He liked seeing other dogs, and he loved getting attention from other humans even more. That made our next transition much easier than I could have hoped for.
Shadow made plenty of new friends after his first move.
I’ve heard of pets getting severe anxiety when moving. I mean, it makes sense. You’re being torn away from your comfy place to be thrown into a foreign land with unfamiliar faces. Shadow didn’t seem to care, though. He actually had a splendid time!
We moved in with my boyfriend (now husband) at his aunt’s house. They already had an entire zoo’s worth of dogs and cats. Being the little socialite that he was, Shadow was eager to meet everyone and become fast friends. He proved to be a little much for some of the animals, but there was one particular cat that he clicked with more than the others.
He was his brother, his best friend, and his boyfriend (yes, all of those, simultaneously). Mac and Shadow were inseparable. As soon as Mac came waltzing into the room, Shadow would drop everything to go and greet him. Mac would plop over and gladly accept the barrage of sniffs and kisses.
We stayed at this house for a good few years. Shadow took up a hobby of soaking up the sun in the backyard. Petting him after he came back inside was like playing with a pre-heated cast iron. He also adopted many cat-like mannerisms after living among three of them for so long. Drooping over like fleshy liquid. Assuming the position of a near-perfect loaf. Sitting or lying on electrical cords…
Shadow is now living it up in doggie retirement.
It was time for another move. This time, it was me, my husband, Shadow, and Mac. We now had an entire two-story apartment to be lazy together. Shadow and Mac got all the undivided attention from us that they could handle (and some they couldn’t). It was like this for a good couple of years before Mac left us. Now he’s resting easy in an urn that bears a striking resemblance to a Yeti soup container.
Now, a couple more years later, Shadow is once again the only pet in the household. But he’s far from lonely. My husband and I treat him with all the love and care of a senior dog. Plus, he still goes on trips to visit both of his grandmas. My mother is always thrilled to see her grandson, and Shadow gets to play with his sisters Juju and Lala. Before that, he had a teeny tiny chihuahua for a sister named Chica (rest in peace). My mother-in-law has her own troupe of dogs, ranging from newer pups to seniors that Shadow is already very familiar with.
There have been countless other dogs in my life. Chica, Frankie, Jojo, Charlie, Chico, Dolce, Champ, Juju, Lala, Zoey, and Pippi. But Shadow is the only dog that I have ever called my very own. I love him like a son, because he is. And although I had no idea what I was doing when we met, I can only hope that I’ve learned how to be a great mother to him over the years, and in the days to come.
Get to Know the Birthday Boy!
Shadow is a chihuahua mixed with who-knows-what. I ran a DNA test on him, but the accuracy is questionable. That’s why I delved into my own bit of research and found that “Border Weenie” is the closest description of him.
He might have slowed down a bit, but some things never change. Since I’ve had him as a one-year-old pup, he likes to “be under”. Under what? Tables, chairs, blankets…pretty much anything he can get under.
Did I name him? No. Shadow was already his government name when he was handed over to me, and I didn’t want to change his identity. His previous owner gave him that name because he liked to follow people around. He still does. It’s not enough to just be in the same room. If you’re walking from the bed to the closet, he has to be right on your feet the whole way. I’ve accidentally stepped on his paws more times than I can remember, but he insists on never learning his lesson.
If doggie autism is a thing, Shadow certainly has it. We’ve set up beds around the house to help him preserve his old bones, and he selects them based on where we’re at and what we’re doing. There are two in the living room, two in the game room, and three in the bedroom. If I’m playing in the game room, he lies in the bed closer to me. If I’m not home, he’ll lie next to his dad under his desk. If I’m working remotely in the living room, he’ll hop into the bed right behind me. He even changes spots in the bedroom for when I’m brushing my teeth and when I’m doing the laundry.
Another thing? He’s always licking. Nearly every second of the day (when he’s not sleeping) is spent licking the blanket, the pillow, the couch, himself…us. His preferred thing to lick is feet. Mine, specifically.
Shadow has never been outright aggressive. He’s never lashed out at anyone or broken skin with a bite. I’ve rarely seen him bare his teeth or get overly grumpy. Of course, that means he’s easy to submit into doing a bunch of ridiculous things. We could hold him any way we want and dress him up in anything we please, and he won’t object. We can tell if he’s not into it, though, because he just endures it with this pathetic look on his face.
He tends to act like a creep sometimes, though, either hunched over or staring at us from a distance.
And he picked up a bad habit of whining very obnoxiously whenever he wants something, but we’ve been letting it slide in his old age.
Shadow's old age has also introduced frequent seizures. We were gravely concerned the first time it happened, but the vet reassured us that it's nothing serious unless it causes him to pass out. In this case, it's just what happens when brain signals leak out and re-enter the nervous system. He'll just bob his head a little and maybe stumble a bit, but he doesn't let that slow him down in the least!
For funsies, here are Shadow’s controversial food opinions:
✅ Likes:
Chicken
French fries
Cheese
Popcorn
Carrots
Blueberries
Steak
Popsicles
Tuna sandwiches
Sauce and condiments
Literal garbage
❌ Dislikes:
Lettuce
I'll tell you how chicken made the top of the list. In his "toddler" years, he lured me away from my KFC so he could snatch it while I wasn't looking. I was having lunch in the living room when he suddenly perked up his ears and looked down the hall like he heard something towards the other side of the house. We were alone, so naturally, I was on edge. I cautiously made my way down the hall to scope things out with him right by my side. Once I made some distance away from my meal, he dashed back into the living room and started scarfing down his prize.
You know what they say. Once you've had a taste of KFC, you can't go back.
Shadow’s Daily Routine
His diet has changed drastically over the years.
When we were still living with my mom, he pretty much ate whatever was affordable and readily accessible. This usually meant the value-sized bag of generic brands, like the kind of kibble that comes in fun shapes and colors. He was never really picky, so he gobbled it up just fine. When we moved into my husband’s aunt’s house, he switched to whatever she was buying in bulk for the other dogs. Again, no problems there. We didn’t really start encountering issues until we moved into the apartment and he started having a sensitive stomach. His body was rejecting much of what we were giving him, and we tried a bunch of different brands.
(This is a screenshot for informational purposes, not a hidden sponsorship, I swear!)
After much trial and error, we finally landed on Purina Pro Plan for Sensitive Skin and Stomach. He’s still eating it now, and we haven’t had any issues since. We still have to be careful with treats, though. At the very most, we’ll give him a quarter of a French fry or the bulbous part of a piece of popcorn. We used to give him lighter, “healthier” dog treats, minus Greenies. He got one stuck to the roof of his mouth one time, and we’re still traumatized.
He’s on routine allergy meds.
Shadow had developed allergies at some point. It took us a while to find a solution, but he had uncontrollable itching and hot spots. These symptoms only got worse during seasonal transitions. His vet finally put him on Apoquel, which he takes every other day with a bit of Kraft single. He would probably swallow the pill plain, but I’m sure he appreciates the cheese.
We took him in for his full vaccinations and got him neutered soon after we first got him. I’ve been keeping up with his shots ever since, which is easy to do with email reminders (shout out to Hanford Veterinary Hospital).
I always kept him updated on his oral health until the vet said to reserve dental care for severe cases. Shadow developed a very, very mild case of heart disease, and the vet didn’t want to risk any complications with anesthesia unless it was absolutely necessary. Now, much of his teeth cleaning is done at the groomers.
He’s a regular at PetSmart grooming.
Shadow gets a bath and haircut around 3-4 times a year. I always take him to our local PetSmart, and it has to be Claudia. She has always done a great job on him for as long as I can remember taking him there. He loves her, and she’s always so thrilled to see him. She’s so kind and gentle, and she’s very enthusiastic about her work. I refuse to let him see anyone else.
His usual is oatmeal shampoo with a short haircut on the body and ears. His tail is trimmed to just an inch or two in length to keep that cutesy Papillon look. I used to keep his ears somewhat long, too, but it started becoming a problem with ear infections.
What Advice Can I Give After 16 Years?
Tip #1: Don’t skip your routine vet visits.
I’ve heard of people never taking their dog to the vet, ever. Sometimes, these would be the same people who feed their dogs entire cheeseburgers or take them out in public unvaccinated. But that’s an entirely different rant. Point is, your dog needs checkups.
It’s one thing to skip your own checkups. You shouldn’t do it, but I do. My argument is that you can usually feel if something is wrong with you. You can’t feel what your dog is feeling, and they have no way of telling you through words. Regular trips to the vet help you pick out the signs for proactive treatment. In other words, it’s how you guarantee a happy and healthy dog.
Mind you, there’s a good chance you’ll still encounter an emergency situation no matter how vigilant you are. Shadow had an urgent trip to the emergency vet one time for mild pancreatitis. But he was treated before it could turn into anything serious.
(I was at work while my husband and mother-in-law took him to the vet and gave an incorrect birth date.)
Tip #2: Take oral health seriously.
Gum disease is how a lot of dogs go out. It doesn’t just become harder for them to eat. It also affects their heart health. Your vet will let you know if your dog’s teeth are at risk during your routine visit, and it’s important that you follow through. Many dog owners dismiss the referral for whatever reason, but this decision could ultimately decide the fate of your furry companion.
Tip #3: Be mindful of diet and feeding schedules.
Another big no-no is to keep your dog’s bowl full and let them eat at their leisure. Dogs need to be taught discipline. They don’t know how to regulate their own schedule or how much they should be eating in a day. It’s up to you to keep them on a healthy diet. Designate specific times of the day for their meals, and give them the appropriate amount to prevent obesity. Personally handing them their food is also a great bonding experience that’ll get them to love you even more!
Tip #4: Don’t get hung up on doing something wrong.
You don’t need the expertise of a blue-ribbon dog breeder to take care of a furry friend. You will make mistakes, but that doesn’t make you a bad owner. I’ve made plenty of mistakes since I’ve had Shadow. What defines a “good” or “bad” dog owner is how you handle the situation. Wanting to learn from your mistakes and do better next time is all that your dog can ask of you.
We’ve had a couple of scares with Shadow. He got into an entire bar of chocolate one time while I was at work, and I had to call emergency services to assess the situation. Luckily, it was one of those cream-filled bars, so the cocoa amount was too minuscule to do heavy damage.
Tip #5: Give all the love you have in you.
Just love them. Don’t treat them like cute accessories, and don’t keep them locked out in the backyard for every hour of the day. These are living creatures that want your attention, and you owe it to them to deliver the affection they deserve. Let them inside at night or when the weather is bad. Look them in the eyes and give them head pats. Take them places. Often we forget that these animals have their own thoughts and feelings. They can get bored and feel neglected just like us. If you love them, then act like it!
Shadow changed my life like I never thought possible. He may be 17 today, but I’m fully aware that one day will be the last. Until then, I’m cherishing every moment and giving him the best life I can offer him.
That was a lot, but we had 16 years to get through! Here’s the collage of other cute photos of Shadow that I didn’t use, as promised (in no particular order):
