I’m here to make a confession. I was never a dog person.
In fact, I had an acute disdain for canines. To me, dogs were an infinite chore. They were smelly, messy, and didn’t belong in the house. I swore I’d never own a dog.
Before you label me a monster, let me assure you that I’ve converted. Dogs are truly amazing and wonderful companions.
I could never fully appreciate just how great dogs are until I had to share my house, and my life, with one. Let me tell you, the impact one little ball of fur can have on a family is indescribable.
For years, I resisted the constant and formidable pressure from my wife and son to add a dog to the family. The last thing I wanted was a stinky, flea-ridden mutt running around the house. I also understood that dogs came with a myriad of responsibilities, most of which I knew would inevitably fall under my umbrella of authority.
Eventually, my resistance became futile.
The wife and the kid wanted a dog. I didn’t want a dog. So we compromised and got a dog.
Enter Devo.
As soon as the pupper arrived, my hardened heart turned to complete mush. I fell in love.
Devo proceeded to make himself right at home. What I thought would be an unwanted responsibility quickly turned into an irreplaceable companion. Devo is my dude.
An intelligent pup of dubious pedigree, this dog is treated like royalty. Trust me when I say he’s the most spoiled animal in existence. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Whippet Good
I’m often asked how we came up with Devo’s name. I mean, its obvious. He’s a whippet, so we almost had to name him Devo (those of us over 35 will get the reference).
Have you heard about whippets? Prior to getting Devo, I had never heard of this breed.
After sharing the last four years of my life with a whippet, I’ve come to the realization that whippets might just be the best kept secret in the dog world. I know, it’s a totally unbiased opinion.
But, these dogs are amazing. They are so loving and gentle. They thrive with families and want to be with their humans 24/7.
For me, the best thing about whippets is that they are extremely clean. Honestly, they have no smell and they’re low maintenance. Their coat is soft and shedding is minimal. Devo is actually cleaner than my 9 year-old.
Whippets are incredibly smart and easily house trained. If you want the perfect dog to share your living quarters with, look no further.
At first glance, you’d think a whippet was a greyhound. Looking all sleek and regal. Basically, they’re just a smaller, more compact version of greyhound. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard “Hey look at that greyhound!” from uneducated onlookers at PetSmart…I’d have like seven or eight bucks by now.
Occasionally we’ll meet a well-informed lover of dogs who correctly identifies the breed. You don’t see many whippets out there, but those who are in the know will not hesitate to tell you how great whippets are.
Since these dogs are synonymous with running, most people think they need to run constantly. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, they’re more couch potatoes than anything.
Like most dogs, they need some exercise, but whippets are sprinters and not marathoners. In Devo’s case, 10-minute sessions of fetch and wind-sprints in the backyard keep him slim and satisfied.
While he loves to join me on my daily runs, he’s not crazy about distance running. After a mile or so, he’s ready to get back home and curl up on the couch with his mom.
He’s the perfect blend of active and lazy.
Devo has a mischievous side, so we always have to keep an eye on him. If he’s been out of sight for more than a minute, he’s probably in to something. We’ve come across decapitated stuffed animals and wastelands of shredded cardboard on more than one occasion.
As Devo (the band) said, “When a problem comes along, you must whip it”. In our case, when a problem comes along, the most likely cause is the whippet.
We Don’t Deserve Dogs
I can’t help but look back on my pre-Devo self with a sense of irony. I really didn’t know what I was missing.
Honestly, what would my life be like without a dog? Well, probably way less chaotic, but it’s totally worth it.
Although I didn’t realize it at the time, Devo was a missing piece to our family. This crazy dog has added so much joy to our lives, and he’s taught me a few valuable life lessons along the way. Now, I can’t imagine life without our pupper.
I’ve come to realize that dogs are known as man’s best friend for a reason. There are very few things in this world that are as comforting and reassuring as the silent companionship of a dog.
Dogs are loyal and totally obliging. Dogs are ride or die and live purely in the moment. All humans should aspire to be just like dogs.
If you’re on the fence about dog ownership, just take the plunge. A dog will make your life 100 times more awesome. Guaranteed.
