Before I was Parker’s mom, I was a dog mom. Not just any dog, but the two-time champion of Austin’s Fastest Dog competition dog. A published dog. A highly photographed dog. An Instagram famous dog.
Around the Christmas of 2008, I was home in Plano and found an ad in the Dallas Morning News for $150 yellow lab puppy. As any new(ish) college graduate, real-world living young adult, I was confident that I needed and could handle this full-time responsibility furry bundle of joy. Despite parental guidance that I focus on things like my career, financial planning, my packed social calendar and other adult-like things, I was off to Canton to pick-up my new puppy, Riley.
For the first six years of Riley’s life I was not only her mom, but her coach, her publicist and her #1 cheerleader. We entered her into the Fastest Dog in Austin competition and she won, two years in a row! (OK, so this was actually a “race” during a casual, friendly, neighborhood Fall Festival in Brentwood Park, but let’s not let the details get in the way of a good story). After the back-to-back trophies, the publicist role really kicked into high gear. Riley was selected as one of Austin Fit Magazine’s Fittest Dogs. There was even a photo-shoot involved (proof below). And I knew it was then time to go mainstream and I created an Instagram account for her (@shesjustbeingriley).
Then Parker came along. The dog became second place. The clever Instagram account rarely got updated and her competition training and tour waned. The phones stopped ringing off the hook with cover stories and press features. Sweet neighbors came by and reminded us she was sitting on the front porch or would just go ahead and put her back in the yard. (True story this still happens 2 1/2 years later, just last week actually).
And even though sometimes I can’t remember if I’ve fed her or forget to find someone to watch her until the night before a trip, she doesn’t hold it against me. She still loves me. So, friend, try and say no to dog mom guilt. Our OG, four-legged, fur babies still love us!
Riley is pure Joy! I’ve never met a dog so well trained. She will sit on your porch and not wander anywhere in the neighborhood if she gets out. She is so friendly, you can tell that she is very much loved by her family. Parker is so lucky to have her. Great post!