Dori Week 15- Meet Alex, the Pandemic Puggle!

         Hi everyone! I’m revealing some fun news in this blog post: I’m officially a dog owner! I never thought those words would escape my mouth, to be honest; I’ve always been a cat lover, but here we are. Then again, with what’s been going on in 2020 and 2021, who knows what to expect anymore? Anyways, meet Alex! She’s a 16 week old Puggle (mix of a pug and a beagle) and is absolutely precious. The first time I saw her just walking around my house, I was in so much shock. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to have a puppy living with my family and me from then on! I was worried at first because it requires serious responsibility to take care of a puppy, and I barely knew anything! My cat, Winnie, who unfortunately passed away a few months ago, was a super independent, smart outdoor cat who only really came by for food, water, and a “hello.” To have a puppy now who is young, learning, and very dependent on you at all times is such a big change (and challenge)! I’m so happy I have her, though. I was pretty devastated when my cat died because she was so adorable and friendly, and I considered her to be like my best friend. Alex has really helped me to get through the loss of Winnie and any stress I’ve been feeling, so I’m very grateful! 

        Taking care of her hasn’t been necessarily easy, because my parents have never owned a dog before either, but it has been a fun learning process (when she’s not pooping in places she shouldn’t, of course). Alex has two very distinct moods: super sweet, quiet cuddle-bug, or a mischievous, loud ball of energy. Maybe this is how all dogs are, but I thought it was interesting because it played on the half pug, half beagle breed (i.e., pugs are known for being sleep-loving couch potatoes, while beagles are known for being pretty active and energetic). Having a dog has definitely made life more exciting, and I think it’s actually helped my family and me become healthier too! We’re constantly walking, moving around, and playing with the puppy, which has helped us all stay fit and make the puppy happy: a win-win! There is a lot of research out there about all the benefits of having pets if anyone’s interested, but that was a positive aspect that I wanted to mention in particular. Let me know if you have any pets and how your experience has been with them! If you don’t have a pet, which animal would you want to take care of if you could?  

(one of the many cute pictures I have of her)