“Your feelings about the dog will change…”

Our first born is 5, has four legs, and likely wonders why the fluff the new kid is still here.

Murph is a massive yellow lab (110+ lbs) and he’s perfect. Don’t get me wrong, he is infuriating, opinionated and has his quirks— but his dopey little face makes even the darkest days brighter. Some days he snores louder than C, as if he worked a double shift doing manual labor.

Someone warned me when I was pregnant that my feelings about Murph would change when the baby came. They were right, but not in how they thought they would be. He became my rock, always at my side in the dark moments of postpartum. Its almost as if he knew my sanity was hanging on by a thread, and opted to help me out a bit. My postpartum uniform of black leggings always covered in his yellow confetti. I couldn’t imagine resenting him, and yes my feelings about “the dog” changed, but in the best way. I couldn’t imagine our life without this creature.

When Chaos was a potato, and couldn’t move much on his own — Murph would lay next to him on the floor happily. Now? Chaos can be trusted only when he is restrained in a high chair & eating or if he is doing something quiet. Chaos is very interested in “Moo” and is always trying to play with him. He has decided that one of his daily chores is putting Murph’s food bowl into the sink and giving him his dental treat each morning — its precious. He even claps for himself at the end and says “Idid-iiiih”, for those not fluent in toddler, thats “I did it!”

Every morning Murph is the first one in Chaos’ room to say good morning. We went away last weekend and Murph still tried to go see his brother, even though he wasn’t there. When get home in the afternoon after work/daycare there is a blur of yellow fluff getting in sniffs and face licks after a long day, Chaos giggles as he says “Hiiii Mooooo!” before Chaos body checks him out of the way to find his toys. Every night before bed Chaos watches a show or some of a movie, and his trusted canine is right next to him enjoying the calm moments of the night — hes even starting to pet him subconsciously.

The biggest thing we are teaching both Chaos and Murph, is boundaries for both of their safety. Chaos is learning to give Murph space and not sneak up on him while he’s sleeping — he can say hi from a distance. I say “gentle touch to Murph” at least 15 times a day. Murph is constantly being reminded to NOT steal half a P-Jelly directly from Chaos’ hand — back to basics during meal time in this house. Murph is also learning that he cannot be both in the middle of the action, and have space at the same time — who knew this was a concept I’d have to explain to a dog.

Our blood, sweat and tears went into teaching Murph good manners, even as a puppy. We knew he would be a family dog, and we wanted him to have structure. He still sleeps in his crate, and barks if we don’t close it.

At first we were protecting Chaos from Murph, because he doesn’t realize how big he is. Now we protect Murph from Chaos, constantly. In two years I know C and I will look at eachother and wonder what we got ourselves into with this pair. No matter what, “the dog” will always be my firstborn.