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.
![vizsla_thumb[3]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/vizsla_thumb3.jpg "vizsla_thumb[3]")
A crazy, wiggly, scrawny, cuddly, needy, excitable vizsla we called Sadie.
![puppy vizsla_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/puppy-vizsla_thumb1.jpg "puppy vizsla_thumb[1]")
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.
![dog with ball_thumb[2]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dog-with-ball_thumb2.jpg "dog with ball_thumb[2]")
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.
![Julie and Sadie_thumb[2]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Julie-and-Sadie_thumb2.jpg "Julie and Sadie_thumb[2]")
![dog with ball_thumb[6]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dog-with-ball_thumb6.jpg "dog with ball_thumb[6]")
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.
![Christmas 2012 098_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Christmas-2012-098_thumb1.jpg "Christmas 2012 098_thumb[1]")
We gained a “heating pad” that keeps us warm under the covers during the cold winter nights.
We gained the most enthusiastic hiking and outdoor adventure buddy in the world.
![vizsla ocean_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/vizsla-ocean_thumb1.jpg "vizsla ocean_thumb[1]")
We gained a sous-chef for life.
![IMG_1623_thumb[3]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1623_thumb3.jpg "IMG_1623_thumb[3]")
We gained a family member who has absolutely no concept of personal space.
![Sadie and Leslie_thumb[4]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Sadie-and-Leslie_thumb4.jpg "Sadie and Leslie_thumb[4]")
![IMG_1143_thumb[3]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1143_thumb3.jpg "IMG_1143_thumb[3]")
We gained the most adorable walking buddy who reminds us to appreciate the little things in life every day.
![dog with stick_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dog-with-stick_thumb1.jpg "dog with stick_thumb[1]")
Because sticks are amazing, after all.
We gained a 38-pound comedian who makes us laugh until our stomachs hurt.
![IMG_3196_thumb[2]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_3196_thumb2.jpg "IMG_3196_thumb[2]")
![IMG_1923_thumb[3]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1923_thumb3.jpg "IMG_1923_thumb[3]")
We gained a crazy ball of sunshine who brings more joy into our lives than we ever could have imagined.
![happy dog_thumb[2]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/happy-dog_thumb2.jpg "happy dog_thumb[2]")
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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I think this is my favorite PBF post ever. Probably because I am absolutely nuts about my own pups and can relate to every single thing you said. Also, my oldest furry baby will turn 7 next week too 🙂 I am totally making her a birthday cake!
Happy birthday Sadie!
haha! dog crazies FOREVER!! 😀 hapy almost b-day to your pup!!
OH my goodness this is so sweet! I agree with everything you wrote. I don’t know what I would do without our crazy vizsla! Happy Birthday Sadie!
they are the best! <3
Happy Birthday Saddie!!!!!!!!!
I love this!! I can absolutely relate to your childhood desire to have a dog. My story is very similar, except my parents were afraid of dogs so they wouldn’t let me have one. I finally got a dog last year, Margo (her first birthday was yesterday), and she has absolutely changed my life! She’s everything I could have wanted in a dog and more. I was not prepared to become so attached to (and obsessed with) her. Oh, and she’s turned my parents’ lives around as well–they are now totally in love with her. : ) Happy Birthday, Sadie!
My parents are the same way! My whole family is Sadie-crazy!! 🙂
Happy Birthday Sadie! My yellow lab, Gracie, turned 6 today! They are such a joy to have in our lives!
Happy birthday to Gracie!!! <3 <3
So sweet! Love this post, Julie. Happy Birthday to Sadie! She’s adorable.
YAY! Happy Birthday Sadie!!! May you get lots of treats and walks today 🙂
Very sweet! I feel like I know Sadie from these posts and instagram! Happy Birthday, pretty girl!!!
And I love that you mentioned the puppy phase, and the losses. My step daughter (Kaylyn) adopted a pit bull/lab pup and doesn’t like that it chews everything. Every other month we are asked to take Mya, because Kaylyn’s mom doesn’t want her “destroying” the house. I am leery to adopt a pup, but your posts show that you take the bad with the good and the good can outweigh a few furniture pieces and comforters 🙂 If Mya comes to live with us, I will mellow out and refer to Sadie’s joy! HAHA!
Have a FUN day of birthday adventures!
Oh yes, the puppy stage can be a beast! But it is so, so worth it. I’d give up a million couches for Sadie. 🙂
Sadie!! Cutest dig with the most human-like personality ever! Or so it seems from all of her adorable picture! Happy B-day!
Happy Birthday Sadie! I have been lucky enough to have a dog since I was 5 years old – she lived to be 17 years old!
Now my husband and I have one beautiful little skinny girl who is a complete only child! There is some kind of love you get from a dog you just can’t get anywhere else – I love all your posts that include Sadie – she is adorable 🙂
She is so cute!! Happy birthday!! My boyfriend and I just decided to get a dog together and I am thrilled 🙂
Happy birthday, Sadie!
This is the sweetest post ever! Sadie cracks me up. Especially love the photo when she’s in your sweatshirt LOL
when she did that, we could not stop laughing! she’s so ridiculous. 🙂
Such an adorable post! Happiest of birthdays to you, Sadie!! xo
This post makes me so happy…and miss my own crazy pups so much! My pug henry will be 7 in March…they grow up too fast! Haha. Happy Birthday Sadie!
Aww! Happy Birthday pretty girl! My boy says hello to his fellow white faced “puppy”!
Happy Birthday, Sadie! My vizsla turns 3 on Thursday! They grow up so fast 🙂
I can’t believe she is 7 already!! Wow! Happy Birthday, Sadie!
Happy Birthday Sadie. You are so lucky to have great parents that love you so much… many more birthdays for you.
This is so sweet! Beautifully written, and it sums up exactly how I feel about my dog (except she was a rescue, so we didn’t deal with the puppy phase 😉 ). Those little four-legged creatures sure can wiggle their way into your heart. Happy Birthday, Sadie!
Happy birthday, Sadie!! My pup just turned 7 this month too 🙂
7 years young! 🙂
Happy Birthday Sadie!!! Great photos of her!! My husband and I have an Aussie mix and a Golden Retriever who rule our roost…we couldn’t love them more!
I adore this post! It is so sweet.
Sadie is so photogenic & funny!
Happy Birthday, Sadie!!!
Love this❤️ Dogs soulmates are the best!
Happy birthday Sadie! Love her!! Will she choose between two “people” foods today??
Oops just saw yesterday’s post that I missed 🙂
yes!! we’re thinking rotisserie chicken vs. fried chicken this year. any guesses!?? i’m voting for rotisserie chicken…
️Haha so funny! If it’s Publix rotisserie/fried chicken from the deli, I’d have a hard time choosing !! Can’t wait to see
Publix = The best!!
This is the sweetest thing ever. It’s so amazing how much joy having a dog can bring to a home. I want to go home and snuggle my little old lady, Bella, now. Happy birthday Sadie!
Happy Birthday, Sadie! My life would not be the same without my crazy, obnoxious, goofy and lovable little fur ball too!
Happy Birthday Sadie! She is too cute!
Happy Birthday Sadie! I have had my Pom, Dixie, for 12 years now! She was my Christmas present when I was in the 8th grade. Now I am 27 and love her to pieces! She is our child, friend, cuddle buddy, kitchen floor cleaner, little guard dog! Dogs really are a human’s best friend!
With that, you just WON favorite of the year!!! Congratulations! I seriously teared up because I feel the same way about my dogs! Happy Birthday Sadie!!
LOL! If only she could read… 🙂
Happy Birthday Sadie! I’m sure you are the best parents Sadie could ever ask for! I share the same love for my border collie 🙂
Such a great post. Dogs are THE BEST!! Have a great day celebrating!!
So sweet!!! Dogs are one of Gods greatest gifts!!
agree 100%!
This post seriously made me tear up! This is so sweet. I had a family dog for 17 years and when she passed away it was the WORST. Now my fiancé and I have a one year old pup who is so sweet too and we love him SO much. Dogs really are the best friends to their owners! Happy birthday to Sadie 🙂
Kim
http://trendkeeper.me .. I’m talking blogging success!
Happy birthday Sweet Sadie!!! This post almost made me tear up. My puppies are my whole life, too! So happy she has you! 🙂
Happy birthday, Sadie!! Are y’all going to do the famous food competition with her again this year?
Aww, love Sadie! We tried a bunny, fish, gerbil, etc. growing up when my parents didn’t want a dog… but nothing compared to getting my Pomeranian puppy, Gracie!
Aw, so sweet! Dogs truly do bring so much joy into life. It’s so evident how much you guys love and adore Sadie – she’s one lucky pup! Happy Birthday Sadie!
What a beautiful post! It made me cry. LOL I always look forward to the posts about Sadie and love when she is randomly in the background of your pictures. I’ve always wanted a dog too but always had cats and birds growing up. My current apartment complex does not allow pets. One day I will own a dog. I love them.
Such a sweet post!!! It makes me feel so much better to hear you lost so many things during the puppy stage (sorry 😉 !) because we are going through that now with our 4 month old Vizsla. She’s such a wild woman but I would not change a thing! Happy Birthday Sadie!!!
it can definitely take some patience to get through the puppy stage!! but vizslas really are the sweetest, craziest dogs! 🙂
<3 Happy birthday Sadie!
I want a dog so bad, but we just had a baby, so now's probably not the best time 😛
That was the sweetest post ever! Happy Birthday, Sadie!
Oh I love this post! Dogs really are the best. They add so much to our lives! Happy birthday Sadie!
Happy Birthday sweet Sadie!!! I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating an amazing little lady!! One day Julie, I hope to make my puppy dream come true too!! Soon!
<3 hope it happens soon!!!
LOVE this post and LOVE every single picture! You haven’t lived until you’ve lived with a four legged family member!
I LOVE THIS POST! Absolutely adorable. My pups are worth every single last pair of steve maddens and uggs they chew up. Of course, they have expensive taste cause they always go for the good stuff. Happy Birthday Sadie!
Happy Birthday Sadie!! We’re looking into getting a dog too! What route did you take researching what kind of dog and where to get her—pound, breeder, etc?
we actually got sadie from a breeder because i have allergies and knew i could only have a certain kind of dog (vizslas don’t have an undercoat which makes them a great fit for people with light allergies — they’re still not hypoallergenic though)! if/when we get another dog in the future, we will definitely rescue. when we got sadie, i didn’t realize there are TONS of rescue groups out there dedicated to specific breeds. if there’s a certain breed you’re interested in, definitely look to see if there’s a rescue near you!
Happy birthday to Sadie! Seriously though, this post does NOT help my crazy dog fever. I want one so bad …….
Aww! Your post made me tear up! I feel the exact same way about my dog. I never would have imagined when I first got him much joy he would bring to our lives. I love that you’ve always included Sadie on your blog, I hope she has a great birthday! Will she be participating in the chicken/beef sandwich tradition this year? 🙂
yes!! we’re having her pick between rotisserie chicken and fried chicken this year. i think she’ll go for the rotisserie chicken, but we’ll see!!
Great post! Dogs are the best. My dogs definitely brighten my day, everyday. Happy Birthday Sadie <3