Meet Obi, our Golden Retriever
"Welcome to the heartwarming story of Obi, the Golden Retriever who has stolen the hearts of not just my family, but also our 2-year-old daughter, Zion. From the moment Obi arrived at our home, he has brought an abundance of love, laughter, and some chaos too. But most surprisingly, he has brought a special bond between Zion and himself that we never expected. Join us as we share our journey of wanting, preparing, and finally welcoming a furry addition to our family, and see how Obi and Zion's bond has grown into something truly special. Keep reading to find out more!"
The Want for a Dog
Growing up with 8 dogs from age 6 to my late teens, I had always been surrounded by furry friends. My childhood was filled with memories of playing fetch, push and shoves and snuggling up with my beloved pets and all the silly things each one did according to their character. It was a never-ending adventure filled with wagging tails and wet noses.
The 2 retrievers, Jake the Golden Retriever and Jesse the pink nose Labrador Retriever, who were a part of our family for over 15 years, had left a lasting impression on me. They were loyal companions who brought so much joy and love into our lives. Jake was my first dog of my own and we shared a special bond. He loved to chase the water from the garden hose as we watered the yard, and would hang his head out of the window during car rides, turning heads everywhere we went. Jesse was equally lovable, and after Jake's passing, I promised myself to lavish more love on him, knowing that our time together might be short.
As my family grew, with the arrival of my two sons and third child, the desire for a dog of their own also grew. My boys had heard stories of our past retrievers and longed for a golden retriever of their own. They kept asking and I kept them waiting for the right time, but the longing for a new furry companion never wavered.
Zion on the other hand, just loves to sit on my lap on the PC and ask to see cute dogs which I show her on Instagram. She loves her animal stuff toys, especially the cat she calls kitty cat! Of course at 2 years old, she has a world of her own and desires more the things she sees around here within her reach, so she really said nothing about wanting a dog.
The thought of adding a new member to our pack sent excitement coursing through my veins, and I knew that it was only a matter of time before we welcomed a new four-legged friend into our home.
The right Time for a Dog: The business opportunity that begs for us to own and raise a dog once again.
It wasn't until a business opportunity presented itself that we realized that the time was finally right for us to own and raise a dog once again. The opportunity was to launch an ecommerce snuffle mat brand. I had a lot of dog caring and raising experience from the past, but it had been 8 years since Jesse left us and I just felt strongly that I need to be raising a dog again to effectively relate to our customers needs and wants.
3 months old
The golden retriever our boys were dying to have was finally a reality!
So after years of begging and pleading, we finally gave in to our boys' wishes and embarked on the journey to bring a fluffy bundle of joy into our lives. Excitement filled the air as we scoured breeders and searched for the perfect pup. The anticipation was palpable as we awaited the arrival of our new furry family member. The moment finally came when we laid eyes on the cutest little golden retriever puppy and knew that he was the one. Our hearts swelled with joy and we knew that this was the beginning of an incredible journey with our new best friend. It was a dream come true for our boys and for our entire family, and we couldn't wait to see all the adventures that lay ahead with our beloved golden retriever.
The Prep for Obi
But before I brought him home, the tedious process of preparing began. Too many options, too many reviews to read! We did our research and tried to make sure that we had everything we needed for him, from a comfortable bed to food and toys. There was a lot of overthinking! Not everything we bought was good, and just shows that there needs to be a pet brand that is transparent, fair priced but reliable.
The cute fur ball, the stressful chaos and the fun chaos
When I brought Obi home, it was love at first sight for all of us! The kids and my wife were so super excited! He was a ball of fluff and energy, so super cute! This was the start to our journey together.
But as with any new addition to the family, there were bound to be some challenges. The first few days were a blur of puppy-proofing the house, relearning the ins and outs of puppy care, house breaking and pee mat training. Oh my! It was always alarm bells every few hours. Sometimes I could time it right, bringing him to the yard to do his business. Sometimes, I take him out and he does #1, and I bring him in and he decides to do #2 inside! And Not on the pee mat! And 2 trips to the yard in the middle of the night!
On top of that, since Obviously Obi slept in our room where Zion also sleeps, I have to anticipate his barks and preempt it so that he does not wake her up because if she gets awaken, it's a monumental task for my wife to make her sleep again. And that's an understatement.
So potty training was a struggle. It came in Phases: First of all learn to pee on the mat, then transition to doing it all in the yard. I found myself constantly reminding him to "pee on the mat". Whenever he gets it right, we reinforce positively right? Good boy Obi, good boy! So yeah, when he pees on the mat, that's what it was! He was a fast learner and I was always super happy right? Wrong!
3 months old
4 months old
So many times he'd pee on the mat but like right on the edge so half goes to the mat and half to the floor!! And I did not want to confuse him so yeah what the heck, good boy Obi! Other times, he pees right in the center of the mat, great! Good boy Obi but deep inside I am so stressed out! In my mind it's like why?????????? why do you have to step on the pee in the middle of the mat after you're done???????? Then I have to mop the floor because there is a trail of pee footprints all over! Then wash his paws before he decides to go up the bed. Try that twice every night when all the world is sleeping, and several times during the day! Thankfully that was over 3 months later when Obi started to pee at the yard regularly. In fairness too, about a week or so into our homing Obi, it was just 10pm and then 5am. No more midnight calls.
Yet as the days turned into weeks, I found myself falling deeper and deeper in love with this newest member of the family. Obi is smart, loyal, and full of personality. He is always eager to please and loves to learn new things. It's just a matter of always trying to remember the positive reinforcements.
Boundaries
Yes, we wanted boundaries, but the adorable kids call Obi up the bed and the little girl Zion loves it so it's not that straightforward anymore! But the dog is so adorable. Even in most cases when he breaks the boundaries, he is just too cute!
Chewing is another issue that partly remains until today as he is approaching 11 months age. Thankfully, we are no longer buying slippers monthly, but the rocking chair is his favorite. Soon I will have it repaired.
Despite the challenges, I wouldn't trade my time with Obi for anything. He brought so much joy and laughter into our lives, and I knew that I had made the right decision in bringing him home.
Zion, Obi and the boys.
As soon as Obi arrived, Zion was on his case! She is always watching his every move, getting giddy with excitement over whatever he does. From hugs and kisses to wiping her face when she has a cold- Obi never fails to put a smile on Zion's face. He loves licking away the snot from under her nose while she laughs in delight, transforming an uncomfortable experience into one that brings joy.
Zion is the most forgiving of us all when it comes to Obi—even if she has her temperamental moments and sometimes gets pushed, bumped or scratched by a rambunctious 11-month old. How does she tolerate this? I suppose that's why dogs are considered man's best friend; they just have an ability to charm us! Zion never stays mad at Obi for more than six seconds—a testament to her affections for her Obi.
Whenever the boys are feeling down, they always turn to Obi as their first port of call. And with his mischievous antics and cheerful demeanor, he can never fail to bring smiles back on to their faces!
Grace is the perfect mom. Her kindness, her patience, her warm and affectionate nature is why she is the perfect wife for me and mother to the kids, including Obi! He often gets his way with her, too!
As I sit here writing this, Obi is curled up at my feet, sound asleep. He's no longer the fluffy ball of energy he once was, and though his energy is still high, we are learning more and more how to give him the activities that he needs.
In conclusion, getting a dog is a big decision and it comes with its own set of challenges but it is worth it. I was waiting for the right time, but I guess you never know. I would have imagined a time in the future when the baby girl is bigger. Sometimes you just have to commit and go for it!
