I never had a dog growing up. I had one cat named Mouse up until I was a teenager and when she passed we didn’t have any more pets. After I moved out my mom got two cats. Yet, there was never a dog in my life. Friends had dogs, but I never did.

When I met Daniel he had Izlee, the Dalmatian. After being together for several years, Izlee became my dog as he would follow me around and basically wouldn’t let me out of his sight. Daniel says he was always on to protect me. If I would stop short, there was always a wet nose on the back of my legs.

Two years into our relationship, Daniel bought me a dog – Caesar. He is my first dog. The first one I raised from a puppy to now. He’s nine now, but no one would ever know from how much spunk he has. He still runs around and plays just like a puppy.

I tell you this, because this weekend I lost my dog, to my daughter. I think I had already lost him but it was solidified this weekend.

Ever since we brought Maisie home he has been her protector. He doesn’t let her out of his sight. If she cries, he whines and finds us. Daniel and I say he judges the way we do things. “Changing that diaper wrong, I wouldn’t feed her like that, that outfit? Ew.” I see his look and know he is thinking these things.

He is her biggest fan. She is currently napping and he is outside her room also taking a nap. I had to start pulling her door shut because any noise she makes he would nose the door and run in. He is so gentle with her and when she was younger did not like getting too close because he knew she was fragile.

So flash forward to Saturday night. Maisie was on the floor on her belly and we heard her laughing. Big belly laughing. And when Daniel and I looked, Caesar was running around in front of her. He kept doing it and she kept belly laughing. I had only heard her laugh like that one or two other times. It was almost as if Caesar knew what was going on because he kept running around to keep her happy.

I looked at Daniel with tears in my eyes and told him about how in love I was that my two favorite things in this world were entertaining each other. I took video of the exchange between them and I think I have watched it 100 times since last night. The laugh is infectious.

My only hope is Caesar stays young and spry enough to help her grow up. I can only hope she loves him and cuddles him with as much love as I have for him.