6 things you think about when you suddenly have a dog

Well, suddenly, suddenly. I had been waiting for this for a while. Since April to be precise. I was on a press trip with Coty (you know, from the lovely scents of Gucci, Chloé, Miu Miu, and Hugo Boss just to name a few) with a high concentration of dog-loving friends in tow. During dinner, we discussed the benefits of having a dog and suddenly I found myself at night with my laptop open, filling out the application form from the Labradoodle breeder in Laren. Deposit made and just waiting. First, to see if we qualified. Once that checkbox was ticked, it was waiting again, for mother Lola's menstruation. And then for the pregnancy. Suddenly the message came: Lola was pregnant and if all went well, there would be a puppy for us.

A long story made a bit shorter: on Saturday we could pick her up. Armed with a blanket, a leash, and a few muslin cloths, Monti (more on that later) came home with us. By now it seems like she has always been here. Just like with a baby. But just like with a baby, I also think this all the time.

1. Is she still sleeping now?

But seriously, how long does a dog sleep on average? Is that okay? I looked it up and a puppy sleeps between sixteen and twenty hours a day. So that sleeping part is true.

2. Is she eating enough?

When did she last eat? Was that too much? Too little? Just right? How do I know when it’s just right? I mean: if her bowl is empty, she might still be hungry. And if there’s still some in her bowl, then it was too much. Breathe in, breathe out. It will be fine.

3. Would she enjoy being with us?

That she doesn’t think: where have I ended up…

4. Would it smell in our house?

That you don’t walk into a musty dog house when you come to visit me. Luckily, I received seven scented candles for my birthday. Light them up. And vacuum twice a day. Even though she doesn’t shed, still, still.

5. Is it very strange if I use separate cutlery to cut her meat?

I don’t know if you’ve ever smelled puppy meat food, but that is, well, how shall I put it, a distinct smell. I keep it in a box in my drink fridge (yes, it’s also quite bad that we have a drink fridge, but you can’t say it’s not cozy at our place) and cut it with a separate, recognizable fork. If you come over for dinner: avoid the white fork. Unless you like puppy food.

6. This is our new family

A dog lives on average fifteen years. That means I will have this lovely Monti with us until my, ahem, sixties. And I find that quite cozy.