Isn't He a Dog?

              Ever have one of these conversations?

            “My baby will be turning a year old in March, he has beautiful black hair and is such a good boy.” “Isn’t he a dog?”

            I will be the first to admit that I am obsessed with my dog. Like, not even in a joking matter, he is my baby. All my pictures on my phone of are him or stained glass pieces I made of him. His name is Romeo Jude Paul, he will be a year old on March 24^th, he hates noises like sighing, loves his bffl Carlie who is not too fond of him and he is starting obedience lessons soon. However, as an avid dog lover, I feel there is a fine line between loving your dog and loving your dog too much. Here is a little list I pieced together:

1. Clothing—I am not taking about sweaters that people sometimes have to whip out when the temperature is in the negatives and they don’t want their dog to freeze to death. I’m talking about full on frilly outfits that they always have on clearance at Petco because not everyone is crazy enough to buy them. Chances are your dog doesn’t want to wear clothes and will try to take them off by rubbing against things. Sometimes he or she succeeds. This should be a sign. Don’t dress your dog!
2. Letting the Dog Drive—There have been many instances that I have seen someone drive by and there, sitting in the driver’s seat, in the driver’s hand is a dog. This is not necessary. Your dog will be just as if not more comfortable in the back or passenger’s seat. For those of you saying your dog likes to sit in the driver’s seat, so did Romeo when I first got him but my mom and I trained him to sit in the back when we are driving.
3. Professional Photographs of Your Dog— This is something parents do with children, not dogs and that is the way it should be. Your photographs of your dog are enough. Trust me. They were taken with love, which is truthfully, more than a photographer can capture. Please do not take your dog to Sear’s every year for his or her annual photograph.
4. Throwing Your Dog a Birthday Party—I will be the first to admit, I make a big deal of my dog’s birthday. By big deal I have my mom say happy birthday to Carlie or Romeo, because I am not home, and may post it on Facebook. I bet there are people out there who have big blowouts for their dogs complete with cake, invitations and party hats. Though I have never witnessed one, I bet they are out there. Your dog does not know what is going on. He or she is not a child and won’t remember ten years from now that you forgot his or her birthday.

I do crazy things for my dogs because I love both Romeo and Carlie. However, there are people who have a little too much love for their dogs. It is okay to tone down the love. I promise, you won’t turn into Michael Vick if you do.