How We Integrated our “First Born” into our Family Once we had kids
When we brought Casco home when he was a puppy, he was our baby, and for three years, he was our only one. We doted on him. We made him birthday cakes. We gave him weekly baths. He rode shotgun in my VW beetle and I took him everywhere I possibly could. We taught our golden retriever to swim for crying out loud. And then, 6 days after Casco’s third birthday, we brought Thomas home.
I remember everyone telling us that as soon as we had kids, Casco would take a back seat. And I remember saying that would never happen. And honestly? It hasn’t. Because we’re devoted to this pup. Now, that’s not to say our priorities haven’t changed. We no longer think Casco needs a weekly shower, but we’re lucky if Peter gets a weekly bath, so it’s all even stevens around here
There are plenty of stories I could tell about Casco and how much he means to our family. Like how every summer we buy him a plastic baby pool to cool off in on hot days, and how he digs at the fish on the bottom of the pool thinking they’re real. Or how he always sits on the 5th step of our stairs – and it took him less than 6 hours to find the 5th step when we moved into our new house last summer. But our current favorite Casco stories involve how he takes care of our kids. We followed all the advice and sent a blanket home from the hospital for Casco to sleep with when Thomas was born. When we walked through the door with Thomas, we put him down on the floor for Casco to immediately sniff and lick. And, from the moment we brought Thomas home from the hospital, Casco slept outside his door until B and I went to bed, just keeping watch over his baby. And when Nell was born (on Casco’s 5th birthday), he was torn. It was hilarious to watch Casco grapple with where he should sleep. He chose the middle of the hallway – just so he could be near both of them. Then we threw a third baby at him, and though his face gets a bit whiter with each baby we bring home, his love grows, too. Casco’s current arrangement is to sleep in Peter’s room during Peter’s morning nap, outside Nell’s door during afternoon naps, and on Thomas’s bed at night. Whoever said dogs weren’t smart? I can’t even juggle all three kids’ needs that well some days.
I have a hard time even imagining future medical issues with Casco, so I don’t let myself go there. But I know this: B and I are committed to our “first born”. He is our constant companion, our children’s watch dog, and a fixture in every single Christmas Card we’ve mailed out to date. And we do and will do just about anything for him. That starts with yearly well-checks at the vet, just like we schedule for our kids, and medications to keep him healthy and pest free. If you’re a pet parent, too, K9 Advantix® II is a topical application that controls against all flea and tick life stages to help protect your pet. Learn more about K9 Advantix® II and watch the application video for more information.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of K9 Advantix® II. The opinions and text are all mine.
