For my husband and I, the Fourth of July is not about family BBQ’s, patriotic sentiments, or viewing pyrotechnics. Don’t get me wrong; I adore getting together with my young adult kids, I love my country, and I think fireworks are spectacular. But if you are a dog owner, chances are the Fourth of July is not your favorite holiday.
We adopted our rescue dog, Boomer, last January, so we weren’t sure how he’d feel about loud noises. We knew what the day would involve for Bailey, our canine family member who joined us five years ago, and it was not going to be good.
We took the dogs out for their usual dinnertime walk on July 4th. At least we tried to. Bailey heard a distant blast as she left the house, and she went into lockdown mode. There was no way she was going to risk life and limb with the possibility that a 10-year-old kid might light a sparkler down the street. Boomer, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to any noise, obsessed as he was with the prospect of seeing a squirrel or a rabbit during his walk.
We tried several times to walk Bailey before bedtime, but she was having none of it. We had a big problem; you just can’t go to bed with a dog that hasn’t had a bathroom break in eight hours. We finally decided to drive her to a quiet location to see if we could convince her that peeing outdoors did not put her life in peril. My husband had to carry the 65-pound lovable mutt into the car, as she refused to leave the house on a leash.
We found a peaceful spot, and it was every dog-owners dream: Bailey did her business (and I mean both kinds!) in 60 seconds flat, and then bolted back into the car. When we got home, we closed all the windows and turned on the fan to muffle the sounds of fireworks. Mission accomplished! (At least until next 4th of July.)
I don’t want to offend my husband by comparing him to a dog, but he’s a lot like Boomer: calm, relaxed, and mostly content with whatever the day brings. I’m Bailey on steroids: anxious, hyper, and always waiting for the next shoe to drop.
My husband and I approach exercise differently, as well. He enjoys working out three or four days a week at the gym, and he thoughtfully mixes strength, flexibility, and aerobic components. I lose my mind if I spend any time in a gym, and if I don’t run or walk outdoors every day, I can’t face the personal and business stress in my life. Our workouts reflect our personalities.
At day’s end, Boomer likes to sleep on the floor next to my husband’s side of the bed, while Bailey is vigilant about protecting me near my side. The dogs are as different as night and day, and my husband and I similarly agree that they’re perfect. That is, until we need to cajole a reluctant Bailey to go outside come next Independence Day.