River boy!

Happy New Year!!! 🥳

I’m dusting off my blog to talk about THE love of my life, my baby dog River!! Jan marks 11 months together now. Next month marks a year of us. I am SO blessed to have him in my life!! I am eternally thankful we found each other.

The last time I wrote about River I hadn’t really seen much of his personality. River took longer than Ry to come out of his shell. He’s a nervous dog. He’s so untrusting of the world. I feel honoured to be his safe space.

River is also obsessed with me. 🤣🤣 And I don’t mean that in a bad way. My son is madly in love with his momma and he wants the whole world to know. I have never been loved the way this baby dog loves me!

From the minute I open my eyes in the morning I am showered with love. I share my bed with River- much to many people’s disapproval. Listen, I DON’T CARE!! 🗣️🗣️ Wherever I am, there shall be River as well. Ok? Please and thank you!

I quit dating early last year. I realised that they don’t make them like my Tshegofatso anymore so all these niggas were just wasting my time. I consciously chose to divest from men and just focus on other things. And my life has been sweeter as a result!

People worry that a romantic partner won’t want to share a bed with a dog. Lol I get that. But that’s also exactly the kind of person I wouldn’t wanna be with. If dating will compromise River’s comfort in any way then it can wait.

My bed linen is covered in dog hair and you know what? I’m fine with it. It gets washed regularly so I’m cool with that. Also River is an indoor dog who goes to the groomers twice a month so I’m good with him. I know he LOVES my bed and he loves sleeping next to me so I will never kick him out of my bed. I would rather stay single forever than kick him out of my bed.

Also there’s a dog ramp on his side of the bed which I’d hate to have to move cos someone is sleeping on that side so it looks like it’s gonna be River and I until until and you know what? That’s excellent!

River lives to show me how much he loves me every single day! I think one can’t fully grasp how much I am loved until you meet us in person. Everyone who’s had the pleasure of meeting us in person also exclaims how attached he is to me. I love that a lot.

In many ways River feels like my guardian angel. Like he was specifically sent to this earth to keep me company. I’m never bored or lonely with him. He’s got such a strong presence. And he’s made it clear that he just wants me and me alone.

I say that cos he won’t eat or pee as usual when we have visitors at home. He also won’t warm up to anyone at daycare. I’ve actually had to pull him out of daycare cos he was just too miserable there. I tried 2 different doggy daycares and gave up. He does not want any happiness that does not involve his mom. 🤣

It can be annoying sometimes like after we’ve had a visitor at home, he won’t eat unless I’m standing right next to him. I don’t know what will be going on in his mind. After maybe two days he’ll go back to his normal routine and eat his food even when I’m not next to him.

I’ve tried every remedy to help his anxiety around visitors and nothing works. River just wants his mommy and his mommy alone. We are in a codependent relationship I’m telling you!

I call him my shadow cos he’s always right next to me. Where I go, he goes. He follows me around the house like he’s attached to my feet. 🤣 It’s hilarious. I accidentally step on his paws often cos he’s always right there even when I can’t see him.

He even follows me around when I make the bed. If I go to the right side of the bed he’s there. And if I go to the left, he’s there. I call him my shadow. My most repeated phrase in this house is, “yoh this dog!” Lol often said when I’ve accidentally stepped on his little paw, again!

If he could crawl under my skin, he would.

I love being loved like this. I wouldn’t tolerate it coming from another human being but coming from River? Triple the dosage!

I love his personality. He’s a chill guy. I’m obsessed with him too. The feeling is mutual thankfully. 😅 I don’t want to imagine a life without him in it.

He makes me sleep like a pretzel on most days but I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is the love of my life!

I feel like we understand each other on a soul level. I get him as a person (shut up your mouth!! 🤭) and he gets me too. I sometimes get asked how I knew he needed to drink water after I’ve successfully led him to his water bowl and told him to drink water to which he responds by drinking water! My answer is always that I hear his thoughts. It sometimes feels like I do.

I am so attuned to him and his needs. Even when he has to pee I just know. I sometimes miss this when I’m busy with work but I’m great at it 95% of the time.

I’m on top of his routine and we are happy.

I was just cracking up today at that ever since I taught him how to sit on command he now randomly sits to impress me. If I’m talking to him and he’s confused he’ll sit. LOL that always gets me cos why of course when in doubt just sit! 🤣 It’s worked for him so far.

I love this little baby so much that sometimes I feel like words fall short. I don’t have the language to describe what I feel for him. Our bond is truly special. He trusts me with his entire being. *I* am his safe space. What an honour. What a privilege!