Life is difficult enough having a husband.  Add children into the mix and it’s well… sometimes over-rated.  I haven’t had a facial in 7 years.  Talk about a luxury.  I haven’t seen the gym in 2 years.  I haven’t slept in for 7 years.  I haven’t gone to the bathroom with the door closed in 7 years.  I have aged at least 10 years.  And, I have been cleaning up poopie diapers for 6 years.  Although, I must say as I was just helping my three-year old in the loo just one moment ago, at least children learn how to wipe their own backsides… eventually.  With dogs, you’re continually cleaning up after them.  It is an endless battle of using the pooper scooper (or using recycled Waitrose bags), vacuuming dog hair, wiping eyes and ears and the constant deodorising.  Let’s face it.  It’s what my children are going to be doing for me once I am a geriatric.  Hey- what goes around comes around!

But, even though parents are broke half of the time when they have children it is still worth it;  tired eyes and all.  I wouldn’t change it for the world.  It is what I wanted out of life and I always knew that.  As for Buddy the Beagle- he came as quite the surprise.  I knew I wanted a dog for our family.  I wanted my children to grow up with a pet as I always did.  My husband never grew up with a dog so he didn’t know what to expect.  To his dismay, Buddy has grown on him completely.  Plus, he does make a lovely companion when he wants to ‘go walk the dog’ down to the local watering hole.

I chose the Beagle because when I googled what sort of dog would fit into our lifestyle ‘Beagle’ came up in the search engine.  I liked the fact that he was a medium-sized dog and that he shed very little.  He has almost no dander which is good because I suffer from allergies.  I like to go running and when he was old enough he could go running with me which sounded perfect.

What I didn’t know was that his nose ruled over everything and of course food followed next.  When the park is very busy he needs to be on the lead because all of those wonderful smells throws out everything he’s been taught not to do at home.  When I recall ‘Come’ I have to also shout ‘and watch your food!’  My husband gets so embarrassed (as I make HIM walk over to strangers to apologize)!

But, I don’t mind that Buddy is this way.  We as a family have learned that this is how HE is.  He is part of our family.  We as individuals are NOT perfect in any way (I am most of the time, joke) and we accept each other as individuals within our family.  Buddy doesn’t differentiate.  The girls love him so much.  And, he has many, many furry friends who come over to play with him.  He is happy.  After his long walk today to the park, pub for a drink and back he is sleeping sound on his little ottoman.  And, yes… he has a smile on his face.

He is my only little boy and he is quite the lad.  He likes to dance to a different beat as do I, my husband and each one of my kids.  We are a unique family who is in love with a unique breed.  He is not hyper or crazy in any way.  He knows what he ‘should’ be doing, but he likes to press the boundaries.  (I wonder where he gets that from?)

Buddy the Beagle makes us happy and being happy is the most important possession to have in life.  When my girls are tired and they need that special hug they chill with Buddy on the couch.  When my husband wants to get away from the thick of it all he ‘walks the dog’. When I am sitting here alone on the couch when my husband works late, Buddy is laying on my lap keeping me company.  He is a top dog and we wouldn’t change him for the world.