Must Love Dogs…
This may surprise some of my regular readers and friends…but…I haven’t always been a “dog person”. Don’t get me wrong…I always thought they were cute and fun to look at, and I would easily pet a new puppy for a few minutes. But, I could never get past the licking…the drooling…the fur everywhere…the barking…oh the barking…and that wretched “dog smell”. So…no thanks…dogs were not for me.
When Josh and I got engaged, getting a dog was the last thing on our minds. But, when one evening, my sister, Josh and I ,ended up at a pet store {my sister’s favorite place}, we entered innocently just going to “look”…
That was until we actually got into the pet store, and saw all of those adorable puppies. When the annoyed girl working that night wouldn’t let me see the ones I desperately wanted to {they had just come in and were too small to hold}…I asked her about a little one in the middle left…”male Cairn terrier #5″ as he was referred to then. She pulled out a tiny…more hedgehog-looking creature than dog…who smelled like he had just rolled around in a bath of his own urine.
I held my breath as I held him…handed him to Josh…and tried to decide. I had no idea what a Cairn terrier was, but thought this guy was pretty cute for sure. And after about 5 minutes or so…the smell wasn’t so bad…in fact…I became so smitten, I hardly noticed it at all.
“What do you think Josh?” His usual answer with a smile…”Sure…why not?”
“No, for real.”
A more definitive “sure” this time. He was smitten with this guy too.
We were sold. And that is how Renoir entered our lives 3 years ago and my life was never the same.
Somehow having him even just a short time completely changed my “non-dog” personality. I began to point out dogs everywhere…pet stranger’s dogs…talk with stranger’s about dogs. It is a connection that only dog-lovers can know. When I hear about someone losing their dog, I cry….hug Renoir…and tell him how much I love him. And all my worries about the barking…the slobber…the fur everywhere…never really mattered as much. And even that “dog smell” became endearing…familiar…{or more aptly…”Renoir’s funk” as it has come to be known}…
Through my blog and website these past couple of years, I have met many dog lovers as well. Those with big dogs…tiny dogs…girl dogs…boy dogs…and even many with dogs similar to Renoir. People write just to tell me about their Cairn…or Westie {which he often gets confused for}…or just how cute he is…or to tell me to give a hug to Renoir from them {and I always do!}. Even in this vast online world, dog-lovers connect and don’t have to feel odd for how much we gush over, baby, and treat our dogs like the children that they are.
Recently, I have had “dogs on the brain” even more than usual, which all started with a commissioned portrait of a Jack Russell terrier named Black Jack. I did this for the sister of my sister’s boyfriend, as a birthday gift. It has been so long since I have done a drawing, but this used to be my main artistic forte…and portraits a favorite subject…
I have done other pet’s in the past but have never found the time to do one of Renoir as of yet. So, I was delighted when the same week, I was given some very lovely gifts from friends in this internet community.
Linda McCraven asked if she could do a “digital painting” of Renoir…and I of course said “Yes! I would love that!” This only took her a few days to get back to me and look how beautiful it turned out. I can’t wait to get it framed and hanging on the wall…
{Linda offers custom digital paintings of pets in her Etsy shop, so be sure to check her out if you want to have one done.}
Then just a couple of days later, I got a message from Fifi of Fifi Flowers Design, who told me she had a surprise on her blog…and this is what I found…
{Fifi also offers custom paintings…not only of pets…and they are oh so charming! Click here to read further}
What lovely works of art to have of my little man. They will certainly be cherished forever.
And if having these lovely paintings of Renoir wasn’t enough, I received a package in the mail a few weeks ago from Andrea of Faded Plains who wanted to send me something just because…
Imagine my delight when I opened to find these…
This came right at a time when I needed a lift, and my heart leaped for joy when I saw these little guys. And now I have a little bit of a “growing” dog collection around the house…
including this old silver pencil with a Scottie figurine…
and this sweet guy that I found for $1.00 at the flea market last summer…
but nothing beats the real deal. This guy…
So if you are a dog lover like me…you know exactly what I am talking about. And if you are not…you might just become one yet…I know I never thought I would…and now when I kiss Renoir’s face and don’t even notice the slobber…there is no denying it! I am definitely a “must love dogs” kind of girl…
Till next time…
29 Comments
Marian/Dutchy
AAWW, too sweet! I am officially a DOG person but have fallen in love with my sweetest kitten on this earth Elvis, lol. SO now I am a cat lover ♥
I never ever had pets growing up and since living alone i decided I needed some company and Elvis entered when he was just 2 months old. He will be 1 years old on May 15 ♥
I absolutely adore my oldest brother’s BIG dog Max. Brother passed away 2 years ago and Max is my buddy, my protector, my link to my brother. Max had a very sad and abused childhood, and my brother rescued him.
Hugs from Marian and Elvis, lol
Kerryanne English
Dogs are my favorite kind of people!!
Lovely post Alice. Your love for Renoir and all our 4 legged friends is clear.
Hugs to you both from Kerryanne and ‘Gypsy’
My Shabby Roses
Renoir is pretty cute! I love your growing collection of dog items.
And, WOW, you did such a nice job sketching the Jack Russell. What a wonderful gift you have.
Margaret Bouwmeester
I love animals but I have never had a dog, my children have, but I haven’t….. if I did, I have always pictured myself with a yellow lab. Her name would be Sadie….. I already love her. Your little Renoir is so sweet!!
Hugs,
Margaret B
karla nathan
He is truly a beautiful dog, I just love that white fur. No wonder he inspires artists!
Polly
Alice! You’re an amazing artist!! Wow. And I know what you mean about coming into loving dogs. We have a shih tzu & a maltese (Latte & Sugar). Whenever we’re out and see another dog like ours, one of us always shouts, “Look, it’s a Latte dog”… I grew up with lots and lots of animals and swore that I’d never have dogs or cats (horses, maybe but not dogs or cats). But it all stared with a “aw… look at the puppies” while at the hardware store. Geesshh… I’m such a sucker sometimes! And now, they sit at my feet all day, whine when I’m out of their site and somehow it all makes me feel better about the fact that my oldest boy is moving out soon. I mean, afterall, how WILL I get through my day without whinning little ones? 🙂
Blessings… Polly
milli wagoner
Oh Alice, what a great post today!!! I love the story of how Renoir came to be your little guy!!! Our beagle, Sasha, was a surprise also, or I should say I was guilted into getting her by my husband and my daughter. I have always loved dogs, as long as they were outside, haha! But our Sasha has brought so much joy and love to us all, she is truely one of the kids. I cannot imagine how boring my life was 8 years ago before she came and I definately cannot imagine life without her!!! I love your sweet doggie gifts! Yep, you are one of us now, haha!!! Be sure to hug Renoir for me!
denise
How cute he is! I love that postcard and that digital painting is just wonderful!
stephenie
I love your pictures of Renoir..It seems like those dogs really do touch are lifes in so many ways..I love your little dog collection, they’re all so adorable…
STephenie
Lesley
Alice what a lovely story about your finding Renoir! I don’t know what I would do without our furry family (3 dogs and 3 cats)! Now that I see your budding collection I will have to keep my eyes open for you while on some of my travels!
Miss you!
Lesley
Judy
Wow Alice, that gives me hope because I too, am “not a dog person”. BUT I have two adorable little boys who are just itching to get a dog. So, I suppose I will have to become a dog person. Knowing that it doesn’t have to have always been that way gives me courage. Cause you’re definitely a dog person now. 🙂 Maybe there’s hope for me, too!
Judy
Leah C
Without a doubt, Renoir has one of the sweetest faces:) How could you not love that lil’ guy? Please give him a hug from me…
Sheila R
How could you not have falling in love with Renoir? I too am a dog person and can not imagine myself without one. When our beloved first dog, Sherman, that we had for 14 years, died 2-1/2 years ago I was totally lost for months. Always looking around for my little guy. A few months later we finally decided it was time and 2 more Pomeranians (Tinky & Snickers) came into our home to love… and boy do we love them!
Andrea
Your sketch is gorgeous…the digital painting of Renoir is stunning. It seems that Renoir {like the artist} inspires art in many.
Liz
We’ve recently become dog people too, Betty our labrador is just lovely even if she is huge 🙂 Btw tagged you with a Meme if you feel like doing it? Happy Monday! x
Claudia
I love all the artwork – your sketch is beautiful. The portraits of Renoir are fabulous. As a longtime dog person who can’t get enough of photos of her dogs I totally get it. Renoir is beautiful. Slobber is wonderful!
June
Love this post! I was raised with dogs, so it was always natual to have them around. I love them. Your portrait of the Jack is beautiful. What a wonderful talent to have and share with others.
Thank you for the sweet messages you leave me.
Hugs, June
Jan Thomason
I loved reading your post. It was wonderful.
I am not only a dog lover, but a rescue dog lover – i guess that’s what you’d call me.
we have three rescue dogs and they’re all wonderful – one sheds horribly, one shakes all the time, one is, well, not quite right.
we love, we adore, them all.
it was so good to read your post. thank you.
Heather ~ Pretty Petals
Wow Alice, your gifts are SO gorgeous!! Your little Renoir is just the sweetest little guy. Dogs have so much love to give! hehe
xoxo Heather
cielo
Renoir is too cute… love that last photograph of him… 😉
Have a lovely rest of day, sweet Alice….
cielo
Cindy
Wow, such a sweet story about becoming a dog lover. I have a growing collection of vintage Scottie planters, although I don’t have a Scottie (partial to Westies and Cairns of course). That digital painting is incredible…I’ll have to visit Linda’s Etsy shop. And that last photo of Renoir is so endearing.
Lori
Alice ~ what a precious post !! I am so much like you ~ My girls had wanted a dog for about 13 years and I kept saying no because of the same things that you mentioned ~ well we finally gave in and got Katie who is a Shih tzu ~ I just adore her and am now a dog person too ~ oh my goodness how they just grow into our hearts ! SMILE 🙂
You are an amazing artist !
WOW !!
hugs,
Lori
Lori
I love dogs…and cats! Wow, Alice! That portrait you did of Black Jack is amazing! Great job! ~Lori
Stephani Gorman
Really sweet Alice, I have two little dogs that are so precious to me and a part of our family! What a cute little Renoir! Hugs, Stephani Gorman
Tracie~My Petite Maison
Now this touched my heart (and Zeke’s too – boof!).
Loved every photo, every word you dog person 😉
xo~Tracie and Zeke
hanako66
wonderful post…they are darling!
Lara Harris
Renoir is just adorable and what a perfect model!:o)
God bless!
~Lara
Sue
What a love. My Pokey looks just like your baby. I had to put him down after 17yrs. I still hurt for him. Truley the love of my life.
Annie
Wow so I am not the only one…I remember the first time I was dating my husband…he didn’t tell me he has dogs until it was too late. I remember the first time I met his 2 dogs. All my family and friends know I have a deep fear of dogs of any kind…big or small…a phobia i had for a long long time…anyway one day he bring me to his house and i say do you have dogs…he say yes…a pit-bull and a carin terrier. I say what….i was paralyze waist down when I heard about it…it took almost 3 weeks for the pitbull to get used to me..but the terrier was sooooo friendly he bark at the pit-bull….before I know it I also fell in love with dogs. I love dogs more than cats. Reading this blog bring alot of memory for me and thank you for sharing. One had past away which hurts me and the other one is getting quite old…he is 14 years old and hopefully he will last for many more years…we had to put the pit-bull to sleep because she was bleeding internally and she was quite old…may your Renoir bring you and your husband lots of beautiful memories together and you will love him more and more as the years goes by.