I became a mother at a very young age, a mother to the most energetic and fluffiest pup. Being a pet mom to a hyperactive pup was no easy task, but it was fulfilling as well. Taking in my sweet German shepherd pup has brought a positive change in my life, and I’ll forever be grateful for the day I met him. I’ve always wanted a pet, but at that time I did not realize the kind of responsibilities it takes to be a pet mom. It wasn’t until Apollo came into my life that I completely understood and took full responsibility for being a pet mom.
I like spending time with Apollo, and he is always excited to go on adventures together. We go to the local park for our daily walks, and sometimes, as a treat, I take him to nearby dog cafes. Mostly on holidays, we like to go hiking. This is how we spend time together, and through this journey, Apollo has taught me many life lessons that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.
Here are some things that being a pet mom taught me that will remain with me for my whole life.
- Patience: I know that my fur baby cannot express his feelings and needs in words, so I have learned to be more patient with him. Understanding and training him has been a long learning process for both of us. While teaching some tricks to Apollo, I understood that I needed to be patient with him to progress and that things take time to get perfect.
- Unconditional Love: Apollo is always ready for snuggles and kisses, and he is always greeting people with the same enthusiasm. This made me realize that he is full of unconditional love. Dogs are happy animals, and no matter what, they do not judge before giving hugs and kisses to someone, so I learned that giving love should not come with terms and conditions.
- Responsibility: Being a pet mom has made me a responsible person. As someone who would not care much about her diet and exercise, I have been going on walks for the sake of Apollo. This habit educated me about the importance of some physical activity every day. Taking care of a dog is not a walk in the park, pun intended, but it takes discipline and dedication.
- Finding Joy in Small Things: It takes very little to make Apollo happy. If I come home half an hour before my usual time, he’ll be happily wagging his tail; if I give him his favorite treats, he’ll be smiling hard, or even if I just stay and cuddle with him, he’ll be happy. This made me think that, like dogs, we should also find happiness in little things and be content with whatever we have. We should savour and find happiness in all the little things around us as much as we can.
- Living in the Moment: Dogs teach us to live in the moment and enjoy the present. They don’t worry about the past or the future. Though this seemed a bit difficult to achieve, it wasn’t impossible. Through Apollo, I have let myself enjoy the present and worry less about what can’t be changed and whatever has to come. This has made a significant difference in my life.
- Appreciating Personal Space and Time: No matter how much dogs love snuggling into you, they also respect their ‘me time’. Whenever I tried to approach Apollo while he was recharging, he would snap at me, enough to let me know not to bother him anymore. This made me realize that people should be the same; we too should respect other’s personal time and space and have a boundary that allows us to spend a little time with ourselves.
- Life can be Simpler If You Ask for What You Want: The funniest thing that influenced me to do more in life was to ask for what I needed. Apollo would continuously stare at me till I gave him the piece of bread or keep following me around the house with his outdoor leash whenever he wanted to go on a walk. This persistence showed me that I too can ask for what I want from anyone; the most they can say is no; if I don’t ask, there’s a 0% chance that I might get it.
Ending Note
Being a pet mom also helped me be prepared for a child of my own. It taught me responsibility, discipline, nurturing, and persistence. Taking care of Apollo has brought a significant positive change in me, and I can proudly say that I am a pet mom who is also ready to take on the responsibilities of being a mom to a human child. I am grateful to have Apollo in my life and always thank him for teaching me so many things and encouraging me to try something new.