This was the breeders picture posted of my Boomer (the breeder called him Stewart). He was 1 of 6 in the litter. When I finally got the “yes you can get the dog” from my then husband, it was Boomer and the girl Molly left. The breeder had a family coming that afternoon to take my Boomer.  Heartbroken I said I’d take the girl Molly and wired my $200 deposit. To my wonderful delight I got a call that the family choose Molly, Boomer was mine. The next day we piled in the car for the three hour trip to somewhere in Pennsylvania. I remember walking into this house, this little runt running around a corner, bending down scooping him up and walking out saying “pay the man”.  Who knew that day was going to be the beginning of the most special relationship I would ever have.

When I got divorced and sold my house, Boomer was just shy of a year old. When we moved I started letting him sleep outside of his crate. He would come into my room and sleep in my bed. My whole world was different and there was this lump of love. Laying next to me each night, keeping me company, helping me not feel so afraid. This English Bulldog, who scared himself when he barked for the first time, that he ran and hid in my closet was helping ME feel safe. Boomer made me feel safe.

An English Bulldog is not the most affectionate dog.  I’d come home from work and he wouldn’t jump up to greet me at the door. I’d get that look, kind of like the one in the picture above. Sometimes he’d pick up his head first just to check it was indeed just me before laying back down. Then we’d start the boomer up, up to get him out to go for a walk.  This is the laziest guy. This ritual happens every morning too.  He gets breakfast in bed, prince Boomer I dub thee. Then the up, up ritual. Dog hasn’t peed for 10-12 hours and it’s like trying to get a kid to eat vegetables. EVERYDAY!!!! Finally he lazily gets up like how can we disturb his slumber. As soon as it’s over, he assumes his daily position.

Once in a while something stirs in him. He decides he needs some love. This usually is at 4am when he decides to sit on me, when I have a king size bed.  All 70lbs of him, suffocating me until I move or get up to use the bathroom, which is when he curls up on my side of the bed to go back to sleep. He’s a little scammer but for him, I’ll move. For Boomer I’d do anything. He isn’t the most affectionate but he lets me hug and kiss me all I want to. He’s the most easy going dog. I have to always wipe his folds, check his ears, put drops in his eyes daily and even clean the fold in his tush, and he lets me. He just sits and let’s me. Then he lets me kiss him on his soft head and wrap my arms around his body and hug him.  He might not sit next to me on the couch but when I leave the living room to go to my bedroom he gets up and comes to the bedroom. He doesn’t lick my face and shower me with love when I use to come home from work. Now maybe because I’m home more or because he’s getting older, he sometimes gets off the couch and greets me if I’ve been out all day.

Boomer is turning 11 in February. The average life span of a bulldog is 8-10 years. I’ve always known Boomer would be above the average his head is smaller then the normal bulldog but he’s still almost 11. When I think about the day I might have to say goodbye to him I start to cry just at the thought of it.  He was MY first dog. My father had dogs but never me. Boomer was my first and he will always hold the most special place in my heart. I wrote this post today to celebrate the wonderful love a dog could bring.  How much a dog can bring joy and love to a life a truly a precious gift. I love my Boomer ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️