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Happy 7th Birthday, Sadie!

by 177 Comments

Growing up, I always wanted a dog. Every year around Christmastime, without fail, a puppy would be at the very top of my Christmas list. My family traveled a lot when I was young, so my parents explained that boarding a dog all the time wouldn’t be fair to the dog and told me time and time again a dog just wasn’t the right pet for our family. We had hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, a bunny and even a cat, but a dog wasn’t in the cards.

In 2008 I got the dog I had been dreaming about since I was a little girl.

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A crazy, wiggly, scrawny, cuddly, needy, excitable vizsla we called Sadie.

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Ryan and I talked about getting a dog for months before Sadie came into our lives. For as much as I wanted a dog, a big, big part of me was worried about being a good owner. I wanted to be a great dog owner and give a puppy the attention, exercise and affection every dog deserves.

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Eventually we decided to go for it and our world flipped upside down… in the very, very best way possible. We both fell head over heels in love with our clumsy puppy and couldn’t get enough of our sweet Sadie.

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During the puppy stage, we lost a coffee table while Sadie was teething. I lost my favorite pair of nude pumps. We lost a couch (thankfully a cheap one from craigslist) when Sadie decided she was part-hamster and wanted to burry herself inside the couch cushions when we were away. We lost a comforter (or two), again to Sadie’s burrowing tendencies.

But we gained so much more.

We gained a furry companion who greets us with joy and unconditional love every single day.

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We gained a “heating pad” that keeps us warm under the covers during the cold winter nights.

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We gained the most enthusiastic hiking and outdoor adventure buddy in the world.

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We gained a sous-chef for life.

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We gained a family member who has absolutely no concept of personal space.

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We gained the most adorable walking buddy who reminds us to appreciate the little things in life every day.

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Because sticks are amazing, after all.

We gained a 38-pound comedian who makes us laugh until our stomachs hurt.

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We gained a crazy ball of sunshine who brings more joy into our lives than we ever could have imagined.

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We gained a best friend and the perfect third member of our little family. She’s simply the best.

Happy, happy 7th birthday Sadie!

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About Julie

My name is Julie and I am a full-time blogger, new mama, fitness enthusiast (certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor) and food fanatic (mostly healthy... but also not-so-healthy) living in North Carolina with my husband, dog and baby boy. Thank you for visiting Peanut Butter Fingers! I hope you enjoy little glimpses into my life and have fun trying the sweaty workouts I frequently share and making some of my favorite recipes along the way!

Comments

  5. Melanie says

    Love this post! Dogs are the best. Happy Birthday Sadie!!!

    p.s. Will you still be doing Sadie’s Birthday challenge?? 🙂

    Reply

  7. Allison says

    I was in the same situation you were growing up. Asked my parents for a dog twice a year (for my birthday and another time for X-Mas) and never did I get that dog until this year. My boyfriend and I bought an Alaskan Malamute puppy in May and my life has turned upside down for the better. I never imagined how much love I would have for a dog. I think I know what new Moms mean when a child comes into their world and how much love they have for their newborn, same way I feel about my dog…corny I know 🙂 Happy B-day to Sadie!

    Reply

  9. Veronica says

    My brother’s dog just turned 2 last Thursday … and it has been a fabulous 2 years! The dog basically lives at my parents, and since I’m always home, I love spending time with little Midas … who actually isn’t little at all, but love him!

    Reply

  10. tara says

    Aw, love this! I feel the same about my 2 dogs!
    Q about her chewing …we have 1 dog that does that so we have to crate her when we are not home : (
    Do you have to crate Sadie or did she just grow out of it?
    Its been 3 years and ours is still not grown out of the separation anxiety and chews every pillow-couch-blanket-anything soft in sight!!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY SADIE!

    Reply

  11. katieKatie says

    Love this post. Dogs are the absolute best. I current live in a small apartment in the city, where pets aren’t allowed and a big dog wouldn’t be happy anyway, but I earnestly hope that someday soon I can have my very own dog. It’s one of my biggest wishes. It’s so wonderful to see how much your dog means to you. I am 100% certain you are a wonderful owner to her!

    Reply

  18. Trina Shockey says

    Happy 7th Birthday, Sadie!!! My almost 4 yr old Vizsla sends lots of love and licks your way!!
    Julie – I cried reading this post!!! Every bit of it is so true and how I feel about my Vinni!!! Thanks so much for sharing and allowing us to feel your joy of having a dog as a child!!!

    Reply

  20. Kristin Shotter says

    Happy Birthday, Sadie! I have two V’s and just love the breed to pieces. Our girls, Dani & Roxi, are 2 and 7 and keep me very busy but in the best way imaginable. I can relate to the total disregard for personal space. It’s a concept they just can’t understand! Can’t get enough of their smiling happy faces every time I come home.

    Reply

  25. Sally says

    I loved this post!! It’s been so long since we’ve seen pictures of baby Sadie:) As a fellow pet owner, I know exactly how you feel. Pets are the best:) Happy Birthday Sadie!! xo

    Reply

  27. Amanda B @ Cupcakes and Miles says

    Aw, happy birthday Sadie!!! This is so precious it almost brought tears to my eyes. We got our first family dog when I was 15- he’ll be thirteen in May- and he has been my best friend ever since. The love that I have for my puppies and their unconditional love they have for me (and my family) cannot be measured.

    Reply

  29. Caitlin says

    You had me tearing up! Sadie reminds me so much of my sweet Briar (2 year viszla)! My favorite part was them having no concept of personal space! Briar is the same way! Happy Birthday Sadie!

    Reply

  34. Nikki says

    Happy Birthday Sadie! Love your posts about her. You guys are great parents to her and I’m sure Sadie feels as lucky to have you both as you do to have her:)

    Reply

  35. Lisa G says

    1st time commenter, but long time reader. This post was just too cute! Happy birthday, Sadie! We also refer to our pup as my sous chef, because whenever i’m cooking in the kitchen, she is right there beside me!

    Reply

  36. Michelle L says

    Dude you made me cry with this post! My girl Chloe is all of these things and she’s my favourite thing in the whole world! Amazing post and happy birthday Sadie!

    Reply

  38. Jen says

    I absolutely love this post and I have to admit – it did make me shed a tear. I LOVE dogs, so this warms my heart. Happy Birthday Sadie! 🙂

    Reply

  40. Ashleigh P. says

    I always love it when you post about Sadie!! Happy Birthday Sadie!! 🙂
    ps- love the picture of her licking the beater!! Classic!

    Reply

  43. Sarah says

    My eyes are welling with tears of absolute joy because I have three dogs and I can say a lot of the same things for each of them (they each have their own little quirks as well). I grew up with cats, never intending on ever having a dog (let alone 3!), and I can’t imagine life without all of them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SADIE!!!

    Reply

  44. Jessica @ Fit Talker says

    Like you, I always wanted a dog but my parents just weren’t having it.

    Three years ago I finally got a dog and like your experience, it has totally changed my life. I didn’t think I was capable of loving a dog as much as I love her.

    They truly are absolutely wonderful and we are lucky to have them in our lives.

    Happy birthday Sadie!!

    Reply

  47. Ashleigh says

    Happy Birthday Sadie! Dogs enhance life to the fullest, so happy that you can enjoy the love and crazy of being a dog mom! That unconditional love is the best!
    Ashleigh

    Reply

  48. Julie says

    Happy Birthday Sadie!!!

    This was such a cute and sweet post! 🙂

    My husband and I got a dog together in 2008 too and it was (and still is) the best decision! She is now big sister to our 2.5 year old son and it is so awesome!

    Reply

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I am not a registered dietitian. My blog is simply a documentation of my life. The views I express are mine alone, based on my own experiences, and should not be taken as medical advice. I DO NOT post everything I eat. Though I am a certified personal trainer, the workouts I post may not be right for you. Please speak with a medical professional before making any changes to your current routine.

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