The dog who’s been there for it all

After graduating college and moving into a home of their own, it seems most people have the same agenda — time to get a pet.

I’m a firm believer that this pet, this first pet of adulthood, changes a person. This pet watches you navigate the waters of becoming an independent person. They watch as you get a full-time job, call your parents for help signing up for insurance and a 401K.

This pet knows all your friends. No one really has kids yet, so everyone hangs out at all hours of the day and night. If you’re the oldest, like me, this pet becomes the first grandchild, or “grandpuppy” as my parents call them.

Last week, my first pet of adulthood, Kai, turned 9. I got him on March 18, 2017, at just over four months old. He is a white toy poodle, but he’s a big boy for his breed — 14 pounds!

My husband Patrick was still in college when I got Kai. He was my dog; Patrick wasn’t ready to have a puppy, but I didn’t need his permission! Two friends of mine went with me to Chicago where we met to pick up the puppy.

I did buy Kai. I know this is a sensitive topic as there is a big push to adopt, not shop. Before purchasing Kai, I looked through animal shelters in five states to find a small, hypoallergenic dog. I found just one. When I reached out to the shelter, they would not allow me to adopt him because he would be my first dog.

My priority for getting a dog was finding one who we would never have to re-home. Patrick was in the Marine Corps, and we didn’t know if he would want to go active duty. If so, I wanted a dog small enough that we could bring it with no matter where we lived. Patrick is also allergic to dogs, so it was important to find one hypoallergenic.

I didn’t care that Kai is a purebred. I never got his AKC paperwork; I asked for his dew claws to be left on and his tail not to be docked. I never wanted a “designer” dog, I just wanted one who would fit into our lives.

At the time, we lived in Platteville, Wisconsin, in a house with two other people. Kai grew up around chaos and college kids. I was the only one already graduated and working a full-time job.

The shelter thought me being a first-time dog owner made me unqualified, but I’d say Kai would disagree. He does his own egg hunts on Easter, each egg filled with a little treat. For Christmas and his birthday, his presents are wrapped, and he loves to open them. He’ll help open any gift.

Every month, Kai gets a Bark Box. He’s had this subscription for almost his entire life. He knows exactly what that package is when it arrives on the porch.

Kai loves to play fetch with his orange ball or whatever small toy Bark Box sent that month. He especially loves to play fetch when I’m wrapping presents, when Patrick is washing dishes or when a guest is over. He feels it’s his personal job to entertain them. He even plays what we call “shower ball,” which is where he uses his paw to move the shower curtain and drops it in the tub while you are taking a shower. He then watches the top of the shower to wait for you to throw it.

In 2020, Kai got a little sister — a brown toy poodle from a wonderful family in Kansas. We were all a little shocked when her baby fur grew out and revealed a cream-colored puppy. She fully changed colors on us!

At 4 years old, Kai wasn’t sure what to think of this little fluff ball. He’s not a very affectionate dog, especially when it comes to other dogs. But over time, she has wore him down. They don’t really cuddle, but they like each other. He even begrudgingly allows her to lick his face.

I know toy poodles live longer than most dogs, averaging 12 to 16 years, but 9 feels so old for my little puppy. Though he still has lots of energy to play stick in the yard and run around the dog park (his favorite place in the whole world), his eyes are getting foggy. Every time I look into them, I’m reminded of his age.

Someday, he isn’t going to want to run around the house. He’s going to stop dropping the ball in the tub while I’m in the shower.

I learned who I am with Kai by my side. I bought a house, got married, had a baby all with Kai there to see it. He’s also not sure about baby Eliza, but he has finally given her a little kiss on the cheek.

I will likely have several more dogs in my lifetime. Maybe I’ll like some of them better than Kai. He certainly has his habits that drive me nuts. But none of them will be my first dog. None will be the dog who’s been there for it all.