Adopting a New Dog is Hard

Adopting a dog is an incredibly rewarding experience. One day, I hope to adopt a lot more dogs, specifically senior ones who have been abandoned by their owners just because they’ve gotten old.

But adopting a dog is also difficult. I’ve read a lot of articles about dog adoption and most of them encourage the process and describe all the benefits of bringing a new dog into your life. A lot of them also mention all the adjustments that will need to be made and how over time you’ll bond with your pooch and he or she will bond with you.

No one really mentions the emotional roller coaster of adopting a dog, though. Five months before I brought home Socks, our family dog, Misty, died at the age of 15. I adored Misty and losing her was one of the worst things I’ve ever had to go through. Then, a month later, our family’s other dog, Patch, passed away as well. We were all devastated.

I missed walking them. Feeding them. Filling their water bowls. Throwing toys. Gingerly passing them by on the stairs. Listening to their contented snoring.

So I was more than ready to get another dog.

I thought.

Then I brought Socks home.

And it was bizarre.

I’d gotten used to seeing Misty and Patch everyone. Then I got used to not seeing them. Then, all of a sudden, a new dog was sitting where they used to sit. Drinking water where they used to drink. Eating where they used to eat. Sniffing the grass in the backyard they used to sniff.

I was wary of Socks for the first few days. I didn’t know him. He didn’t know me. I had no idea what he was going to do. He had no idea what I was going to do.

I worried he’d get into the trash or counter-surf. Pee or poop in the house. Search out socks and panties to chew up. Sit on the couches and beds (the first day I brought him home, I went to take a nap and he actually did jump into bed with me, but I said, “down” and gently shoved him off and he never tried again).

But he didn’t do any of those things.

He was just happy to have a new home.

I resisted lowering my guard with him at first. I almost felt like it would be a betrayal to Misty and Patch.

I had to remind myself that Socks was not Misty or Patch. He was his own dog with his own experiences and his own likes and dislikes. I had to let go of Misty and Patch. I had to get past the mental block in my mind that didn’t want to let a new dog in.

A week later, I knew I loved Socks. Now, I can’t imagine my life without him. All because I gave the process time.

That’s all you can do, really.