Ball is Life

Of course, I wanted another dog. Dogs are one of my passions. I already had the best one, Journey, but she needed a buddy. My roommates have a dog—a Pomeranian named Angus. Now, let’s take a moment to laugh at the fact that this tiny, occasionally sassy Pomeranian is named after a rock god like Angus Young from AC/DC. It’s as if someone named a pipsqueak dog “Thor.” Naturally, Journey and Angus became friends of sorts, though Angus only humored her with play in their early years. Lately, he’s had a “seen it all, done it all” attitude, keeping his distance.

I wanted another puppy to cuddle, to give belly rubs, and to share in all the little joys. But with so many adorable breeds out there, I had no idea how to choose! Any dog in front of me instantly becomes my new favorite.

PhedX in the baby bjorn

Then came August of 2022, and with it, Hannah, my new personal assistant. Hannah brought her own two dogs to work most days. One’s a little Shih Tzu named PhedX (yeah, I know—makes you wonder what that’s about). Inspired by a scene in the live-action Chipmunks movie, which Hannah liked in her younger years, the Chipettes burst out of a FedX box.  The other is a Cocker-Poo named Harley, who quickly stole my heart. Harley would leap into my lap every time she saw me and proceed to cover my face in kisses—mouth, eyes, forehead, ears, the works. Now, this would be weird from any human, but from a dog? I’ll make the exception… unless it’s Angus. Harley and Journey bonded quickly, tearing around the yard like their fur was on fire.

Harley & Journey

Spring of 2023 rolled around, and there I was, deep into researching dog breeds, when Hannah mentioned she wanted to breed Harley and offered me one of the puppies. Naturally, my excitement skyrocketed! I did, however, specify that I’d prefer a girl dog for one very important reason: I have an irrational fear of accidentally touching a boy dog’s, well… weiner, during belly rubs. You get it, right? This is a safe space; we don’t judge here.

Hannah found Harley a stud, a Mini Australian Shepherd who did his part and promptly ghosted. Deadbeat dog dad behavior, if you ask me. By May, Harley was pregnant! As I waited, I kept thinking about names for my new fur baby. I wanted to keep up the music theme since Journey was named after the band. Stevie (for Stevie Nicks) kept coming to mind. I flirted with “Jersey,” but let’s be real: Stevie just rocked.

Finally, just days before my annual 2023 pool party, I got the news: the puppies were here! Four boys and—luckily—one girl. Stevie was officially joining the family.

Stevie came with all the fire and sass of a true rock star. She was a tiny ball of punky energy. I admit, I was nervous about Journey’s reaction since she was my loyal shadow, but Journey fell in love with her little sister instantly. It was like she knew it was her job to show Stevie the ropes.

Those first few months were a wild mix of puppy cuddles, shoe-saving missions, and frantic calls to hide everything that might end up in Stevie’s mouth. My PAs helped with Stevie’s training, especially since my disability made some parts of the training more difficult. I wanted to be involved from the start, so we enrolled her in a basic manners course. Naturally, I had to do some back-to-school shopping. My specialty. I acquired a treat pouch, clicker, and training treats, Stevie was all set and ready for school. I even wanted a little backpack for her, which would’ve been adorable. At puppy school, Stevie was the smallest in a sea of big dogs, but she did pretty well. Tora, one of my PAs, says Stevie listens to her about 80% of the time now. High praise!

Now, Stevie is fully in her “ball is life” phase. I’ve given her two sturdy balls—one orange, one blue—and they’re the only toys she hasn’t yet destroyed (knock on wood!). Every time I throw them both, she’s hilariously torn on which to chase first. I check every pet store I pass for backup balls because this girl would lose her mind if they ever disappeared. I would love to take her to a McDonald’s ball pit, she would surely lose her shit.

It’s been about a month since Journey passed. Maybe I should write a quickie post about her passing…because who doesn't like a quickie?  It’s been hard, but I’m grateful Stevie came into our lives when she did. Journey loved her, and Stevie filled her last year with fun. Now, Stevie curls up and fills the spot on my bed that used to be Journey’s, and somehow, that feels just right.