I am an over-zealous dog mom. Perhaps that is just my fancy way of saying I’m a crazy dog lady. But infertility robbed me of my chance to have a biological two-legged kiddo. My hubby and I decided that adoption was not our path. And while we adore our exchange daughter, she lives in Brazil and is not our daily responsibility. So, that leaves my fur baby. And since I have this overwhelming desire to care for, to love, to nurture, Maddie gets the benefits of an involved fur mama.
An Involved Fur Mama
That means, I know what is going on with my kid. So, when she started biting at her paws, it became my mission to alleviate this issue. First, I introduced coconut oil into her diet with homemade grain-free peanut butter coconut oil dog treats. Then, I talked with our veterinarian (but didn’t want to resort to meds), so I continued searching for a natural remedy. This led to making her food at home with organic meats and veggies and cleaning Maddie’s little feet every evening with homemade paw wipes made with essential oils.
And you know what? It worked! The coconut oil, the homemade organic foods, the paw wipes with essential oils… My research, my effort… It worked! Maddie isn’t chewing and biting at her cute, little paws anymore!
No complaints from my fur kid…
As I thought about this, I realized something else—another bright side to being an infertile, childless, dog mom. Maddie did not once complain about the change in food or cleaning the paws or the over-zealous mama that she has…
Over the past weeks, as I offered Maddie peas, green beans, asparagus, and even spinach, she has happily gobbled it all up. There are no tantrums. No tears about being forced to eat vegetables. No questions about what I put in her bowl. Nope. My baby just eats up her dinner, always saving her carrots for last!
When I offer her a piece of banana, apple, pear, or watermelon for a snack, she is ecstatic! There is no negotiation for a cookie or candy bar instead.
And before bed, when I clean her tootsies with the paw wipes I’ve made, she just sits there calmly and lets me. No, it’s not her favorite thing. But she doesn’t throw her head back and wail that she doesn’t want me to do it. In fact, she even gives me a few kisses every now and then.
Crazy, Over-zealous, Awesome
As I thought about all of this, I smiled, realizing that my fur baby doesn’t think I’m a crazy dog lady. No, she appreciates the efforts of her over-zealous dog mom. And my hubby? Well, he thinks it’s pretty awesome that I’ve started doing all of this for our girl. (Thank goodness, he embraces my zeal!)
Live Life Happy
I suppose I tell you all of this to encourage you to live your life in a way that makes you joyful, and even better, happy…
I love taking care of Maddie. I love cooking her food and making her paw wipes and taking her to doggie day camp. I love buying her gifts and dressing her up and taking her on car rides with us. I love getting ice-cream with her on a hot summer’s day and making sure the car is warmed up for her on a cold winter’s one. I love traveling with her and taking pictures with her and watching her smile. I love every single thing about my relationship with Maddie. I love that she is my fur baby.
And while not everyone understands my over-zealous nature (perhaps even some of you think it’s a bit over the top), it works for me. It makes me happy. Since I am not hurting anyone… In fact, I am improving Maddie’s life and my own… I’ll continue to be an over-zealous dog mom.
I encourage you to find what works for you… Live life happy!
Photo Credit: Marion Michele on StockSnap.io
12 comments
I love this! My husband has actually gotten this way with our dogs. He recently just started making their own food. Sometimes we even fight over who gets to feed them!
LOL! My hubby and I take turns with who gives Maddie her plate so that no one becomes the fave! Haha!
I teared up while reading this post you so beautifully wrote! I joke that I’m a “helicopter dog mom” to our 3 pups! I actually work in the veterinary & dog grooming fields and all of our clients know that I am the proudest dog mom and dog lover. Our pups are in the medium-large size and our Dalmatian mix, who is 47lbs, loves to lay in my arms like a baby. I’m so grateful that my husband loves our pups as our kids also!
Awww! Thank you for making me smile and sharing such a beautiful story about your fur baby! Being a Dog Mom ROCKS!
Just 3 blog posts in and I can’t believe I found your blog! Your posts are so relatable. I have a lil fur baby myself and he’s literally been my biggest support throughout my whole infertility journey. I also resort to home cooked meals and home remedies. I feel much better knowing exactly what I’m giving him and it’s healthy!
Always nice to connect with another over-zealous fur mama! 🙂
I love that you are an over-zealous dog mom. I am too! It’s a fairly new role for me and I love it. I’ve always loved dogs and this is our first one. I kind of chuckled when I read how you know what’s going on with your kid because my vet recently said that I notice things and address them right away. It may be “just a dog” to some people but she is so much more to me. We even went so far as having a first birthday party for her, complete with “pupcakes” made to look like her. She makes us laugh every day with her silly personality and I’m so glad we have her. You’re right – live life happy!
I love, love, love the “pupcakes!” We will be celebrating Maddie’s 5th birthday next week. Her Mammo already sent her a gift in the mail! 🙂 It ROCKS to be a Dog Mom!
My Cowboy – was my fur baby. I was thinking about my bouts with depression, and my Christian walk…. and how finally, an answered prayer, I was able to get Cowboy. Sometimes, I think it helps (at least it did for me), to have something else to focus on. Someone else. And through that I was able to enjoy my life! To me – those fur babies, are heaven sent and angels!!
I don’t think you are over-zealous at all. I think you are a wonderful fur mama!??? And that is pretty important since you are caring for my granddog!
Your support is so awesome! I love you! 🙂
I understand your ‘over-zealous’ behavior! I am dying to get a dog but just can’t at the moment due to working hours, where we live, all the foreign travel we do etc. But I had a dog for fifteen years as a kid/young adult and adored her to the extent that I still think about her all the time 25 years later. I don’t think people who’ve never had a dog will ever understand…