match.dog
"HOW I MET MY TRUE LOVE" love stories about real dogs + their humans
By Janice Kanteres – Hampton, NH
We have had dogs most of our married life, from Siberian Huskies while living in Massachusetts to Shih Tzus in St. Louis. We both considered eventually bringing another one into our lives after moving back to New Hampshire three years ago. Should we get one now or wait until retirement? My husband has yet to retire, so like many others in COVID hibernation, we began open discussions once again. Though Greg was quite reluctant to entertain the idea, in early Spring 2020 I began my own silent search. Realizing that having the commitment of a puppy might change our travels and lifestyle a bit, my yearning for dog companionship took over, and he finally gave in! Our sweet boy arrived in late April at 13-weeks-old… into an empty Bradley International Airport in Connecticut from a breeder in Florida. Initially, the transition from warm Florida temps to a cold New England spring was rough for our little guy, but he was a trooper. He quickly decided that he absolutely loved playing in the snow! We had tossed names around, but when Greg blurted out "Sherlock" (for his favorite detective), it seemed to fit his inquisitive nature; and my husband was immediately more in love than ever. He had his own special little Sherlock!
All our dogs were puppies, so we knew what to expect in the days ahead; but we were unprepared for the sleepless months to follow! Let's just say, Sherlock was not an easy pup to train. Sleepless nights, constant barking due to separation anxiety, messes in the pen and numerous nightly potty-training trips outside in the cold reminded us of our days with infants. I often thought, “What have I gotten us into!" Sherlock was not a fan of being enclosed in a crated environment. We shared "night duty" sleeping in separate bedrooms with his pen by our side for at least two months. With advice and training classes from My Dog’s Mind, our consistency paid off and sleep was finally a welcome relief.
Sherlock is such an energetic Shih Tzu (unlike our others); walking or hiking with endless zeal. He brings smiles and makes many friends along the way with his happy trot on our long daily walks! He loves children, gives kisses on demand, brings us many laughs and really keeps us on our toes with the boundless energy of a 1 ½-year-old. Sherlock is a very verbal dog, with various barks for different needs. Surprisingly, we have readily included him into our daily lifestyle; much more than we ever did with our other dogs. He is a great car traveler, adjusts well with others and loves to go shopping! He takes after his mom! And he was our biggest gift during a challenging year…thank you so much Sherlock!
10 seacoastbarkmagazine.com
