I am often asked by non-dog people: Isn't it limiting to have so many dogs? I usually answer: I don't think about it that much, I have organized my everyday life accordingly and I love spending time with the dogs and other dog owners.
And like all other dog owners, I really enjoy experiences with dogs and other dog people. It's uncomplicated and we have the same prerequisites for the criteria for a good afternoon or evening.
Of course, the dogs can't be with you everywhere and they shouldn't be - but just like when you had small children, the days, weekends and weeks are planned around the dogs. If they have to be home alone for a long time, I have to get up earlier in the morning so they can have a long walk and some time together.
And on rare occasions I opt out of events because it's not compatible with the dogs. But that's not a limitation, it's a choice and a priority.
In all the years I've had a dog, my parents have also had a dog, we've been each other's dog sitters and I've always been comfortable with this arrangement. That was when I only had one dog. When I suddenly had two dogs, my parents started to get a little worked up about it.
It just so happened that I was bitten by the dog world and therefore spent my holidays at dog camps, and no longer needed dog sitters. I still looked after my parents' dog when they went on adventures.
Almost 2 years went by like this, then another dog came into my life and my parents exclaimed: Are we going to set up a dog boarding house in the backyard or what are you thinking?! Yes, I hadn't thought that through. I had made the decision about dog no. 3 with my heart and not with my mind.
Now, 2 years after dog no. 3 arrived in the pack, I have once again gained a taste for experiences without a dog! My one daughter has taken the plunge a few times where I couldn't take dogs with me – a trip to Morocco with her friend and two colonies with work.
My daughters and I have long talked about an extended trip to London, and the dog-sitting issue came up again. Fortunately, one of the dog friends stepped in, and we started a process of getting the dogs used to each other on her home turf. This meant many afternoons and weekend appointments with fun, training, and dog-training.
I was so grateful, and only a little nervous, as I left for London with my daughters. We had only been on the road for a few hours when I was sent pictures of dogs playfully running around the seaside, chasing each other.
Throughout the days, pictures of her sons having fun with my dogs kept coming in. It warmed my heart and I was able to enjoy my trip with my girls to the fullest. Good dog sitters are worth their weight in gold <3
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
Ea has 3 female dogs, Honey, 11 years old, Luna, 2 years old and Maggie, 9 weeks old. Her oldest dog is a dachshund mix that she brought home from her time in Greenland. The other two are cocker mixes with duracell batteries. Ea trains Nose Work with all her dogs, it is a fantastic activity/sport. Luna is environmentally trained and socially trained from an early age, as she will hopefully one day be used as a pedagogical "tool".
If you want to have experiences outside the home, what do you do with the dogs?!
I am often asked by non-dog people: Isn't it limiting to have so many dogs? I usually answer: I don't think about it that much, I have organized my everyday life accordingly and I love spending time with the dogs and other dog owners.
And like all other dog owners, I really enjoy experiences with dogs and other dog people. It's uncomplicated and we have the same prerequisites for the criteria for a good afternoon or evening.
Of course, the dogs can't be with you everywhere and they shouldn't be - but just like when you had small children, the days, weekends and weeks are planned around the dogs. If they have to be home alone for a long time, I have to get up earlier in the morning so they can have a long walk and some time together.
And on rare occasions I opt out of events because it's not compatible with the dogs. But that's not a limitation, it's a choice and a priority.
In all the years I've had a dog, my parents have also had a dog, we've been each other's dog sitters and I've always been comfortable with this arrangement. That was when I only had one dog. When I suddenly had two dogs, my parents started to get a little worked up about it.
It just so happened that I was bitten by the dog world and therefore spent my holidays at dog camps, and no longer needed dog sitters. I still looked after my parents' dog when they went on adventures.
Almost 2 years went by like this, then another dog came into my life and my parents exclaimed: Are we going to set up a dog boarding house in the backyard or what are you thinking?! Yes, I hadn't thought that through. I had made the decision about dog no. 3 with my heart and not with my mind.
Now, 2 years after dog no. 3 arrived in the pack, I have once again gained a taste for experiences without a dog! My one daughter has taken the plunge a few times where I couldn't take dogs with me – a trip to Morocco with her friend and two colonies with work.
My daughters and I have long talked about an extended trip to London, and the dog-sitting issue came up again. Fortunately, one of the dog friends stepped in, and we started a process of getting the dogs used to each other on her home turf. This meant many afternoons and weekend appointments with fun, training, and dog-training.
I was so grateful, and only a little nervous, as I left for London with my daughters. We had only been on the road for a few hours when I was sent pictures of dogs playfully running around the seaside, chasing each other.
Throughout the days, pictures of her sons having fun with my dogs kept coming in. It warmed my heart and I was able to enjoy my trip with my girls to the fullest. Good dog sitters are worth their weight in gold <3
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
Ea has 3 female dogs, Honey, 11 years old, Luna, 2 years old and Maggie, 9 weeks old. Her oldest dog is a dachshund mix that she brought home from her time in Greenland. The other two are cocker mixes with duracell batteries. Ea trains Nose Work with all her dogs, it is a fantastic activity/sport. Luna is environmentally trained and socially trained from an early age, as she will hopefully one day be used as a pedagogical "tool".