Doing Some Soul Searching
- Posted on
- By Cori
- 3
It’s very exciting deciding to open your own business. In the beginning, I had a lot of positive energy creating momentum to move forward on all my ideas. I had trouble sleeping because I was so excited about all the projects I was thinking up. Every day I would look forward to coming into the shop and share my excitement with others.
Years passed and the day to day things became much easier. I began to realize that most days I get asked the same questions and I usually give the same answers. I felt like a broken record at times. I started to feel annoyed with myself and there were days I’d go home feeling exhausted. I wasn’t enjoying my interactions as much as I used to when I was fresh and new to the biz. I still loved coming to work everyday but something had changed. It was time for me to do some soul searching. Where did my passion go?
After much self reflection, I had an epiphany. The people I interact with that are asking these questions are me!! But a younger me, 25 years ago when I was brand new to the dog world and just starting my journey. As a dog owner I have made so many mistakes over the years. So many. When I got my first dog I was absolutely clueless! I learned by trial and error. And oh did I make some errors. It pains me to write this.
When we got our first puppy many moons ago, we went off to work and left our 8 week old puppy loose in our basement.
Gasp!
We got home and were shocked to see messes all over the floor and to find that he ate through our storage boxes. The washing machine hose was chewed up and he ate through the walls! So, the next day we left him loose in the yard.
Double gasp!
Surprise, surprise, he destroyed our back yard. There was dirt and remnants of trees and flowers all over the deck and yard, a complete mess and in the middle- one very dirty puppy. Imagine that, a baby dog doing puppy things when left alone to make his own decisions for hours at a time! Nowadays it would never even occur to me to leave a baby puppy alone unattended and/or loose! It’s hard for me to even admit that I did those things, but that was over 25 years ago.
That’s just one of many examples of the mistakes I’ve made over the years when it comes to raising dogs. Don’t even ask what I fed my poor dog back then! Thankfully, I have come a very long way since then! Until I took the time to reflect back, it didn’t truly occur to me how much I have learned over the years.
Once I remembered what it felt like to be a newbie and to make those mistakes, to feel helpless and not know who I could turn to, I felt really excited to share this knowledge with others that asked. I was no longer frustrated giving the same answers to new dog owners because I remember that feeling of having no idea what to do. Back then I didn’t even know to ask if there was a better way. And there definitely is many other better ways!! Live and learn.
They say the more you learn the less you know- and I am still learning every day, I hope I never stop. If I can help someone else from making the same mistakes I did, I’ll go home at the end of the day and feel like I made a difference and that is a very rewarding feeling.
One last note:
Sending up a heartfelt thank you to my first dog Ben in heaven. You were my greatest teacher. I had no idea when we brought you home how much you would change my life. I tried my best for you buddy, but it was you who taught me. I wish I knew then what I know now and I coulda done better for you.
This reminded me so much of our first pup, our beautiful Black Lab, Guinness! She chewed our kitchen cupboards, ripped up carpet, took out a sofa down to the wood and springs, and killed a big tree by pulling all the bark off it, while we were away at work of course. We had no idea what we were doing back then either. It’s good to know we weren’t the only ones!
Oh, my heart. Reading this post, I reflected on how very, very much my dogs have taught me in life. They are almost solely responsible for me pursuing holistic health for MYSELF. I first did it for my sweet dogs, and it led to, "Why not me?" I have always referred to my fur babies as furry little cardiologists -- because they have healed my broken heart over and over and over again. Thank you for being there for people who are lost and perhaps at their wit's end. You are an earthbound angel to them.
I have owned dogs since I was 21; I’m now 73; you do the math. But my latest dog, a little Frenchton, has almost brought me to my knees, both figuratively and literally. Especially 4 Pets has been a lifesaver: for your support, for your information, for your friendship—you provide it all. You have such a caring staff, the best in the city! ‘Thank you’ doesn’t sound like enough but sometimes it says it all.
Can totally relate to your experience with your first pup. We too learned a lot raising our first golden. Now our 3rd, Mr. Maverick, reaps the benefits of knowledge gained thru the years. Thank you for your store for all it offers and the loving care and attention to the pups!