Every day is the same, yet each day my mood feels different.
One constant is my dogs. They provide so much—routine, humor, work, love, comfort, exercise, socialization. They force me to get out of bed early each day, whether I want to or not, and I’m always glad I did.
I have long been grateful for our lovely neighborhood, and my dogs allow me to slow down on my walks. I can admire someone’s garden or cute house, or yell “hello!” to a neighbor from across the street while the dogs sniff and pee.
They make us laugh as we teach them new tricks and take pictures of them in absurd sleeping poses.
It’s not all fun and games all the time. They get on our nerves when they bark at every passerby. They occasionally don’t want to wait for those lovely walks and poop in the house. They are underfoot when we are cooking. We trip over them.
Nonetheless, we know our quarantine would be boring without them.
I know I’m not the only pet-lover to wonder how this quarantine is affecting dogs. Are they happier now that everyone is home all the time? Are they more anxious now that everyone is home all the time?
Are they exhausted because they used to spend their days napping, and now are more often awake and stimulated by people?
Will they need grief therapy after we all go back to work? Will they suffer from separation anxiety? Or will they be relieved and ready to settle back down into their sleepy, relaxed ways?
All of our futures are uncertain. But for now it sure is nice to have this little brown circle of soft, warm fur snuggled up next to me.
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