The Story of Hondo
If you're new here, Hondo is the name of our Bernese Mountain Dog. He is a feisty one-year-old boy who brings constant joy (and lovable...
If you're new here, Hondo is the name of our Bernese Mountain Dog. He is a feisty one-year-old boy who brings constant joy (and lovable annoyance) to our lives. He was truly our dream dog, but we never thought we'd have him so soon in our life! This is the story of why we have Hondo now, and what he means to us. After the last two years, I feel like I have a lot to come clean about, and this is one of those things. Hondo has never been "just a dog" to us or "just the next step" for us. He has great meaning to our lives and he is loved more than words can say. Let me tell you his story...
Four years ago, Tom and I were newly married and happily living in the Milwaukee area. We'd go on lots of dates and fill our weekends with activities and adventures. One weekend, we happened upon the Air and Water Show on the shore of Lake Michigan in the downtown area. While we walked, I was (of course) pointing out any and all dogs because... well, you guys, they're dogs and I love them. If you know me, you know how annoying I am about my love for animals.
Anyways, there was one dog in particular that stopped us both in our tracks. Well, maybe just Tom because I marched over to it without missing a beat. I'm like a moth to the flame - haha! This dog was beautiful. Unlike any dog I'd ever seen in my life! It was huge and its features and build were incredibly striking. It was being "handled" by a grown man who was being pulled by the dog's massive weight and curious nature as it darted among people and smells. I approached the man, open-jawed, and asked what kind of dog this beautiful creature was and he replied, "A Bernese Mountain Dog" before being whisked away again.
From that day on, we knew we needed to know more about these dogs. We spent the next year reading everything about them and educating ourselves on owning one of these bears. The greatest con for me was the thought of their shedding, but I knew someday I'd be ready to tackle it for the sake of their gentle-giant nature and sweet temperaments. I am far too much of a dog-person to let shedding keep me from snuggles, but not everyone is this way.
At this time, however, we were still living in apartments, moving each year to a new place. So we vowed to get our Berner after a couple of children so they would be able to remember him (Berners have a heartbreaking seven year life expectancy).
However, as you may have read in my last post, our plan for having children did not go as we expected.
After a year of disappointment and heartbreak, and aching for a child of our own to love and hold, we started looking for Hondo. Well, first I got desperate and nearly came home with a guinea pig one day, but finally, Tom too decided it might be good for our hurting hearts to get our Berner.
For weeks I contacted all the most reputable breeders I could find in our radius. No puppies, failed breeding, etc... until one breeder responded that she had a litter due later in the week! After a few days of hoping, everything aligned and our contract was signed. We'd be getting the boy we always hoped for! (Shout out to our wonderful breeder, Trisha - now you'll REALLY know what Hondo means to us!)
Hondo is our infertility puppy.
He fell into our lap at the exact right time and we have been so blessed to call him ours. He is loved immensely, and filled a big part of the aching in our chests. He is the perfect companion and keeps me company all day long. He is always a step behind me, with his floofy tail going at full speed. I know he's "just a dog" to anyone else, but to us, he is a truly a gift. Think whatever you'd like, but I know God meant for this sweet boy to help carry us through the last year. He's brought unending laughter and hope to our every day life, and I am forever grateful for the happiness he brought to our home during such a sad time. His presence helped lift the fog of infertility.
At 92lbs, he doesn't seem so much like a baby anymore, but I'll never forget the joy we felt bringing that 12lb ball of fluff home with us. It was a tiny fulfillment of the desire to love another little being within the walls of the home we hoped would be filled with itty-bitty human feet. Instead, we had big, furry puppy paws that pattered around. It wasn't a baby, and we knew that of course, but my goodness did he (and continues to) bring us such great love and wonder at watching him grow.
Maybe this post seems silly to you, but to me, it was time to tell you the truth. Hondo is our bear-sized, heart-healing, boy. He has quite literally soaked up my tears after the announcements of more and more pregnancies that were not us. He got me out of the house on days when I felt like curling up and never leaving the safety of my bed. His silly antics, and never ending pursuit of our happiness, has brought such light to our home on even the crummiest of days. He'll never be "just a dog" to me, because he'll always be the little love that helped mend my broken heart.
And that is the story of Hondo. Our infertility therapy puppy, and love of our life.
How A Dog Has Improved My Life
Almost three months ago, we welcomed a twelve pound ball of fluff into our home. Since then, he's tipped the scales at around forty or so pounds, and continues to steadily grow. Eventually he'll be somewhere around a hundred pounds. He's a little bear of attention-seeking neediness, and his weird antics are constantly cracking us up. These are all things we had foreseen. We knew he'd be big, and sweet, and funny. We'd met many berners before. But it was the things we didn't foresee that have been the greatest blessing and improved our well-being in so many areas of our life. Here's how he's done it...
1. Got us moving
Seems obvious (dogs need exercise) but when everyone in your house has a desk job, and you're mentally exhausted at the end of a day, going on a lousy walk is the last thing you really feel like doing. Especially if it's super cold/hot/buggy/rainy. But rain or shine, we have been up and about significantly more than before playing fetch or walking the trails by our house. Maybe it's only 15-30 minutes here and there, but it's definitely added up. I've found that it's cleared my mind a lot more than zoning out on my phone ever does.
2. Forced us to 'look up'
To continue what I mentioned about not zoning out on our phones as much, he physically stops our tech habits. I'm not kidding. It may just be a puppyism, but EVERY time I'm working on the computer on the couch, or sitting in bed zoning out on my phone, he wiggles his nose all up into my business and makes himself so irritating, I have to set it all aside and rub his belly. Maybe he's needy, or spoiled, but it certainly helps me check my habits. He physically climbs ONTO my computer, so what else am I supposed to do? He's too big to ignore!
3. Made us morning people
Well, mostly Tom. But I am up sometime in the 7 or 8 o'clock hour these days which is about as 'morning person' as I can get. Tom lets him out and feeds him around 7 or 7:30, and when he feels like it, he'll make his way upstairs and sniff me right in the face and wag his tail so hard the tail-wind (no pun intended) gets me up in a jiffy. I'm groggy for a far shorter time than I used to be, and I'll even go outside and play a few rounds of chase in the yard... BEFORE 9AM.
4. Made us better people persons
Tom and I were the social butterflies of our friend groups in college, but when we moved to Georgia, we didn't know anyone and making friends outside of college proved to be difficult and we've become extremely introverted. We're okay with this and recognize that different seasons of life bring out different facets of your personality, but it has definitely been a joy to strike up conversation with anyone and everyone who asks about Hondo.
5. Reignited our adventurous spirits
Tom and I have always had restless natures, but somewhere in the last couple years of home projects and routine, we've forgotten to get out and explore our own territory a little. Now we seek out parks, dog friendly restaurants, trails, dog friendly stores, and more. We even recently bought a tent twice the size of our last one to bring our big guy camping before it gets too hot!
6. Made us happier
I think I've made mention before that this past year has brought with it a season of heartbreak and hardship. Our marriage is strong and nothing compromised there, but it's been a tough time nonetheless. It had begun to feel like more days left us feeling defeated rather than uplifted or content. But at just the right time, everything aligned, and this little puppy came home with us. He has brought outstanding joy to our home and filled even just a little of our hearts that had been feeling empty before. We laugh more, dwell on heartaches less, and cherish this present season with contentedness. Say what you will about dogs just being dogs, but I'll thank God for him anyway because he sure has brought a ray of light to our life.
I know there are so many other improvements he has added to our life, and will continue to add, but this is what I have for now. As I write this, I can hear him licking up crumbs from the kitchen floor that I'd normally have to sweep. So maybe you could add that? He's replaced my need for a broom and cleans my floors. He's very utilitarian.
Hondo is just the best. If I talk about him too much on Joy Lynn or my social media outlets, it's simply because I love him so much.