Coming home to dogs is quite the ordeal, no matter how long you have been away. Almost everyday while I am at school, I find myself missing my three wonderful pups. They have been part of my family since I was in elementary school and so the change from three dogs to no dogs is hard. Not to mention, they are getting old and I am thankful for every moment I get with them. Those of us with dogs knwo that they always make coming home that much better, but reuniting comes in phases.
First, they just look at you. You’ve just walked in the door and they haven’t quite realized who it is. But this confused phase lasts only a couple of seconds.
Next, they realize it’s you and you are definitely the best thing they have seen all day. My dogs sleep in our sunroom during the day so in my experience, they run to the door and bark until I let them out.
For the next step I almost always like to be wearing long pants, because they are going to attack (in a nice way of course). The big dogs, Max and Spunky, don’t jump up because they are tall enought to feel noticed. However, the wiener dog named Ruby has to to make sure she’s seen, this is where the long pants come in.
Following the initial contact, it’s time to sit down on the floor to try and pet three dogs with only 2 hands. It’s definitely not easy but I manage to get it done. This will go on as long as I am sitting on the floor unless something (like food) comes up to draw them away. I even sometimes bring presents for them which makes the reunion even more exciting.
Finally, they calm down and go back to their normal selves. For my dogs that means lounging around.
Now that everything is as it should be, it’s time to unpack, with three shadows of course. No matter how long I’ve been gone, my dogs always welcome me home with the most love any living thing can give.