I am obsessed. I have become one of those people I used to make fun of and couldn’t begin to understand. I am completely in love with my puppy and miss her dearly when I’m at work, out with friends or doing stuff outside of the house with the kids. I think about her all day and can’t wait to get home to her.
When I am home, I spend a lot of time with her. We go for walks, go to the park, play fetch, work on tricks and snuggle on the couch together. We attend puppy play dates and puppy training. I truly try to plan my schedule around her. Part of that is because I’m obsessed but also because I feel so bad that she is locked in a crate when we are gone.
I ask all potential “dates” how they feel about dogs because I figure if they don’t like them, there is no sense in even going out once. I did discover that this is not that abnormal. According to http://www.livescience.com/18519-women-dogs-happy-relationships.html a woman is more satisfied in her relationship when her partner feels the same about her pet as she does. If she’s close to her dog, he’d better be, too. If she’s more aloof, it’s better if he doesn’t get too snuggly with Fido. For men, on the other hand, a woman’s closeness to his pet doesn’t affect his relationship satisfaction at all, according to study researcher Kristen Capuozzo, a doctoral candidate at the University of Houston.
But my kids are even jealous of my relationship with our cute little puppy. They realize Scout will come to me before them, that she listens better to me and that I love to cuddle with her. It’s not that I love the puppy more by any means or even that I want to spend more time with her than them. But you know, the puppy is not a 10-year-old boy who lives in his own world and ignores me until he wants something or an almost 13-year-old girl who thinks I’m stupid and never know what’s going on. The puppy doesn’t talk back, she will still kiss me in public and cuddle on the couch, she doesn’t complain about what I’m watching on TV, she doesn’t kick me if I let her nap with me, doesn’t bicker with her siblings (A &J) and doesn’t expect me to make her a special meal because she decided that day she doesn’t like dog food (or grilled cheese in the case of the kids).
My puppy loves and likes me unconditionally. I can even get mad at her and she doesn’t care. It’s actually a pretty great relationship. My friends make fun of me and have told me jokingly that they are a little concerned (or maybe they aren’t joking) but I think Scout has truly been good for me.
I grew up with lots of animals (dogs, a monkey, a goat, birds, hamsters, ducks – yes, I said a monkey) but I haven’t had a pet in 12 years. My children have never had a pet so this is their first experience and they love her too but aren’t nearly as obsessed as I am.
Do you think there is something wrong with me? Be honest! LOL Do you think a pet owner can be too obsessed with their animal? Or do you think it’s healthy? Share your thoughts and your pet stories!
Write across the river 
I’m not an animal lover, but I do love our dog Tony! I get it a little, but just to warn you…is that a boxer?
If so, get ready! Looks just like Tony did when we first got him. Now he is huge and very, very active! Barks like he would kill a prowler!
Tony is a lot of extra work for a single working mom, but I do love him and he makes me feel safe!
He is apart of this crazy family now!lol
Laura, her mom is a Puggle. We don’t know anything about her dad since she came from a shelter but I suspect he was a Boxer. She already howls like a Beagle and wants to run like crazy. I don’t mind… I just lover her. 🙂
There is nothing wrong with you. I am similar to you in that I never really even liked animals, but then we got a cat and everything changed. I’m not as attached as you are, but I think dogs create more of an attachment since they are not as self sufficient and relate differently to humans. There is also something to be said of the “new relationship” energy, that inevitably fades to a less intense passion over time. It applies to men, why not dogs?
I, too, have always had animals- dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, fish, and even a chinchilla once! I now have the same insanity in my home. We have 5 cats (2 adult females, 3 female kittens- 2 of which are from the same litter), 11 fish, 3 dogs (2 female puppies only 3 months old recently adopted and an approx. 11-yr-old male who sadly will not be with us much longer). I have never been a dog person or even a puppy person. They’re cute but I don’t bond with them like I do my cats. Not so in the case of my 3 dogs. I love the puppies and my older dog is the best-behaved dog I’ve ever met. He lived in a kennel until we adopted him 4 yrs ago. He’d never been near other animals or children- ever. Yet he’s loving with every member of this household- human or furry. And all my furbabies are rescues- strays we’ve taken in and given a home to. Maybe I’m crazy but I’m right there with you!