My Dog
I always had dogs growing up. I had one childhood dog who lived to the ripe old age of 17, and another who lived to 15. Dogs were always part of my life, but the first puppy I ever bought as an adult was different.
I was 19 years old when I bought her. She cost $350. I had just moved out of my parents’ house to go to college with my then-boyfriend, now husband. We lived in a small apartment with one bedroom and a balcony. My dad felt that I needed a dog, so he gave me the money. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that decision would become one of the most important purchases of my life.
I took it seriously. I researched dog training videos. I researched breeds. I spent days obsessing over everything I could learn. Eventually, I found a lady online who was selling puppies on a farm. It was an accidental litter of the breed I wanted, and the price was $450. To me, it felt perfect.
Despite all my research, I chose what was probably one of the most difficult breeds I could have started with.
I chose a breed known for barely listening, for its sheer size and strength, and for its ability to kill wolves and fight off bears in its native land of Turkey. The first dog I ever bought and trained on my own was a Kangal.
And she is still with me today.
She is now 6 years old. She is my soul dog. She loves my kids, walks beautifully, and can be taken almost anywhere. She weighs 120 pounds, which is more than I do, yet she listens to me.
Was life difficult at first with this breed? Absolutely. I did not make things easy for myself. We had a farm dog living in an apartment. I took her hiking every day, or to the park, or anywhere I could get her energy out. I worked hard to make sure she was properly socialized. I paid for puppy classes. I was so afraid she would become uncontrollable as an adult that I trained her every single day, sometimes for hours. Training her became my new job.
At first, I would even sneak her into our apartment when she was a puppy. I was so infatuated with the breed and so happy with my decision. My boyfriend, however, was not as thrilled in the beginning. He was worried about the choice we had made. He was worried that this dog would become too much to handle later on.
And in some ways, she was difficult. She challenged me. She forced me to learn, to stay consistent, and to become better. But now, she is a stellar dog.
Was it worth it? One hundred percent.
I would not change her for the world. She is an ambassador for her breed and everything positive the breed can be. She is impressive, graceful, bold, goofy with us, and incredibly smart. She treats children with such gentleness. She carefully walks around them, kisses them, and lies down when they want to pet her.
She is the best dog I could have ever asked for.
Buying a farm dog while living in an apartment was not the easy choice, but it became one of the best choices I ever made. She taught me patience, responsibility, consistency, and love in a way no other dog could have. She was never just a dog I bought at 19 years old.
She became my heart dog, my once-in-a-lifetime dog, and a reminder that sometimes the hardest choices bring us the greatest rewards.