10 years with a dog named Dorothy taught me so much about life and love. Today, I want to share a deeply personal story about our “Captain” who led our 6-dog family here in Paju, Korea.
1. 2015: A Gift Like a White Cotton Ball
In the autumn of 2015, Dorothy came into our lives like a miracle. She was a tiny white Pomeranian, looking just like a soft cotton ball. I still remember the warmth and the soft texture when I first held her. She was small, but she definitely had a ‘spicy’ and sassy personality from the very start!
2. The Famous “Strawberry Incident”
Back in 2015, strawberries were quite expensive in Korea. I remember my wife jokingly saying, “You wouldn’t even buy me strawberries because they were too pricey, but you bought them for Dorothy?” Looking back, that was the moment it was decided—Dorothy was the real boss of our house. Watching her tiny mouth munching on a strawberry, I felt like I could give her the whole world.
3. The “Snowy” Living Room Disaster: Dorothy’s Sassy Days
Every dog has their ‘rebellious’ phase, and Dorothy was no exception. One day, I came home to find my living room transformed into a field of white snow—but it wasn’t snow. It was shredded toilet paper everywhere!
And there she was, sitting right in the middle of the mess, looking at me with a sly smirk as if to say, “Oh, you’re home early? So what?” She wasn’t sorry at all, which made it even funnier. That was our Dorothy—charming, sassy, and always the center of attention.
4.Leadership Lessons from My 10 Years with a Dog
As time passed, our little “cotton ball” naturally became the “Captain” of the entire pack. It was fascinating to watch such a small dog command respect from brothers much larger than herself.
- Mentoring Loki: When Loki (Golden Retriever) first joined us, Dorothy was like his shadow, making sure he felt at home.
- The Teacher of Leo: When Leo (Sheltie) arrived, Dorothy became a real teacher! She taught him where the “bathroom” was and would even block him if he was about to make a mistake. Honestly, she was a better dog trainer than I was!
- Welcoming Deok-gu: With every new member like Deok-gu, Dorothy’s leadership only grew stronger.
5.Moving to Paju: A New Chapter in Our 10 Years with a Dog
As our family grew to six dogs, we made a life-changing decision: Moving to a house with a large backyard in Paju. We wanted them to feel the real earth under their paws and soak up the natural sunlight. Seeing Dorothy run freely in our Paju backyard proved that it was the best choice we ever made.
6. The Golden Days: Laughter and Charisma
Our time in Paju was filled with pure joy. Dorothy was the undisputed Queen.
The Typhoon: She was small, but her spirit was unbreakable. Even in a typhoon, she stood her ground. (Turn up the volume for the wind!)
Fearless Dorothy braving the typhoon-like winds in our paju backyard. Nothing could phase her spirit!
Halloween: One of our favorite memories was dressing them up for Halloween. Seeing the “Captain” in her costume brought so much laughter to our home.
Our adorable dog family having a fun Halloween parade in their spooky Chucky costumes. Spot the tiny leader among her giant brothers!
No matter how large the boys grew, they never dared to challenge their “Noona” (big sister). It wasn’t about size; it was about her unmatched charisma.
The Captain showing her sassy side in her Halloween outfit. She was definitely not amused!
7. The Final Chapter: Goodbye to My First Love
Looking back on my 10 years with a dog as special as Dorothy, I realize how much she taught me about life and love. We thought these days would last forever. But Dorothy slowly started to age, spending more time basking in the sun than running.
Eventually, we had to face the hardest part: the final goodbye. Dorothy was the eldest sister and, to me, she was like a “first love.” We sat by her side, whispering, “Please wake up and play with us.” We cried more than words can describe. Dorothy left us just as she had lived—surrounded by immense love.
“Dorothy, thank you for choosing us as your family. Through you, we learned what true love is. Run free in the green fields above, without any pain. We will find you again someday.”
A heart-wrenching final goodbye. One of Dorothy’s brothers stays by her side, whining and refusing to let his ‘Captain’ go.
Resting in peace and dignity. Dorothy, surrounded by love and beautiful flowers on her final journey. Goodbye, our precious Captain.
[Author’s Note] Reflecting on my 10 years with a dog as special as Dorothy has been a healing journey for me. Have you ever had a “Captain” in your life who felt like a first love? I would love to hear your stories in the comments below. Let’s remember our furry friends together.