AUTHOR LINDSAY DETWILER
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact
  • READ FREE!
  • The Dark Side
Contemporary Romance Author

I'm Absolutely Not Sorry For Being Obsessed With My Mastiff

5/18/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

I'm obsessed with my mastiff and don't care who knows it

In truth, my obsession with Henry, my five-year-old American mastiff, didn't start as an obsession.

It started with a whole lot of anger, frustration, and maybe even a dash of self-proclaimed hate.

Rewind to 2013. My husband and I had just bought a brand new house, and I had started my first permanent teaching job at a junior high school. Things were crazy hectic. So what did my loving husband of almost two years decide to do?

Buy a dog. And not just any dog. A mastiff.

I'm a huge animal lover, and it's true, Mudge from the Henry and Mudge series had always been my dream dog. But just not at that point in life. Not with moving boxes still fresh and lesson plans needing done and a whole ball of stress to deal with.

Still, after some divorce-level fights and tears, two weeks after moving into our new house, Henry, our twenty-four pound, eight-week-old mastiff moved in.

And I hated him. 

I hated the way he pulled on my sweatpants when I was trying to do work. I hated his constant chewing of my shoes, his wild behaviors, and his out-of-control playing every day when I got home from school.

I didn't love him. I would never love him, I vowed, especially on the day he peed all over me when I decided to be nice and give holding him a try.

However, as dogs often do, Henry wormed his way into my heart. He thawed the protective ice I had layered around my heart and became what so many dogs do: everything.

My Fur Mama Status

At 30, I've been married for seven years this fall... but my husband and I don't have any children, at least of the human variety. 

Still, in many ways, we do have a four-legged child.

It's true. Once Henry wormed his way in, he didn't just steal my heart... he owned it.

I've read several articles about how many millennials treat their pets like children, and I can't say I disagree.In fact, an article by Adweek claims that 44% of millennials  see their pets as starter children. I'm definitely in that percentage.

I've been known to turn town trips because I don't trust anyone to keep Henry while I'm out of town, and I feel guilty for leaving him. I rush home every day to spend time with him. He's got more toys than a super spoiled child, and he has a carefully constructed social schedule to keep him happy. 

My time, my money, and my energy is devoted to putting his happiness first. And yes, I'll admit, I'm absolutely obsessed with the 170-pound dog who has overtaken my couch and my life.

Here's the thing: Some people may think it's crazy to put so much energy and love into a dog, but I don't care. I'm not ashamed to admit that my mastiff has my whole heart or that my love runs deep for him.

If you're a dog lover yourself, you get it. There's just something about the love between a person and a dog that is inexplicable. 

It's the kind of unconditional love so many of us spend our lives searching for. It's the love that shows me what really matters in life.  

Henry reminds me to put down my phone, to turn off the television, and to stop obsessing over things that don't matter like my hair, my weight, my bank account, and my social status. His joy at the simple moments like eating an ice cream cone or snuggling on the couch on a rainy day remind me of what life is really about--the connections we make, the love we feel, and the simple moments of joy we experience together.

So I will not apologize for being obsessed with my dog. I won't apologize for rushing home to spend time with my best friend or for turning down plans with you because I need to spend time with Henry.

I'm not sorry for putting Henry first in my life, right up there with the rest of my human family.

I'm not sorry for giving my whole heart to a four-legged creature who has shown me the real definition of friendship, of joy, and of living really is.


Lindsay Detwiler is a high school English teacher and a contemporary romance author. Her eleven sweet romance novels are available wherever books are sold (and Henry appears in every single one of them).
0 Comments

Henry's Birthday Bash Giveaway

6/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Dog Lovers

Dog Lovers Prizepack Up For Grabs!

It's Henry's birthday at the end of the month...and we're giving you the chance to win!

All this month, check out the pinned post on my Facebook page. All you have to do is:
1. Like and share Henry's birthday bash post
2. Comment with a happy birthday wish for Henry or a pic of your furry friend
3. Tag a friend for an additional entry

On June 29th, we'll pick a random winner and announce them live on our Facebook Live Chat Birthday Bash. We'll have a special appearance by Henry and other prizes, so be sure to join us at 7pm on my author Facebook page.

The prizepack includes:
1. A copy of A Dog's Purpose
2. A $10 Petco Card
3. A dog lovers cup and notepad
4. A dog lovers sign

Happy birthday to Henry!
0 Comments

A Dog's Purpose Book Review

12/30/2016

0 Comments

 
A Dog's Purpose (A Dog's Purpose, #1)A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Some dogs just want to be free to wander, because they don't have a boy who loves them."

Told in first-person point of view from a dog's perspective, this book is an emotional journey. It follows a dog through several lives as he tries to find his purpose. This book also chronicles the humans he lives with through a dog's perspective.

This book is such a powerful read. It makes you think about the priorities in your own life and your own relationship with your dog. I loved seeing the journey and growth of the people and the dog in this book. I finished it within a few days because I was so absorbed in the story.

While many dog books make me sad, this one was beautiful in the way it portrayed the unending connection between a boy and his dog. I loved this unique perspective and read. I will definitely be looking for the sequel.

This book is perfect for any animal lover who wants a new perspective on life, on dogs, and on the relationship we have with our pets.

View all my reviews
0 Comments

Henry's First Barkbox

6/6/2016

1 Comment

 
Henry loves his first Barkbox! Check out his unboxing below. 
1 Comment

    Banners for Best Romance Book Blogs
    Author Lindsay Detwiler
    Picture
    *As an Amazon Affiliate, I get a small fee for any books purchased through the links below.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Then Comes Love
    Who We Were Romantic Comedy
    Where Love Went
    Where Love Went Free Read Holiday
    To Say Goodbye
    Picture
    Remember When Lindsay Detwiler

    Archives

    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Aging
    Am Reading
    Animal
    Animals
    Animal Testing
    Author
    Author Chat
    Authors
    Bark Box
    Beach
    Beauty
    Beauty Blog
    Beauty Box
    Beauty Review
    Body Image
    Book
    Book Blog
    Book Review
    Books
    Book Sale
    Bookworm
    Box
    Caregiving
    Cat
    Chick Books
    Chick Lit
    Childfree
    Childless
    Children
    Classics
    Clothes
    Contemporary Romance
    Contest
    Cook
    Cosmetics
    Creative
    Creative Writing
    Cruelty Free
    Dad
    Dating
    Divorce
    Dog
    Dogs
    Dream
    Dreams
    Empowerment
    Facebook Live
    Family
    Fashion
    Father's Day
    Fear
    Female Writers
    Fiction
    Free
    Free Book
    Free Reads
    Friendship
    Fulfillment
    Funny
    Gaming
    Giveaway
    Good Books
    Graduation
    Growing Up
    Hair
    Holocaust
    Inspire
    Keith Urban
    Kindness
    Life
    Literary
    Literature
    Live Show
    Love
    Lularoe
    Makeup
    Maplewood
    Marriage
    Mastiff
    Modern Love
    Mom
    Mood Boosters
    Mother
    Mothering
    Mother's Day
    Movie
    Movie Review
    Must Read
    Netflix
    New Author
    New Release
    Organization
    Parents
    Pets
    Phobia
    Pieces Of My Heart
    Poet
    Poetry
    Prize
    Prizes
    Reading
    Refresh
    Relationships
    Review
    Reviews
    Romance
    Romantic Comedy
    Sale
    Self Care
    September 11th
    Show
    Simple Living
    Simply Love
    Stitch Fix
    Story
    Style
    Summer
    Sweet
    Sweet Romance
    Tattoo
    Teacher
    Teaching
    Tech
    Teenagers
    Television
    Thankful
    Thirty
    Tidying
    Valentine's Day
    Vegan
    Wedding
    Win
    Winter Blahs
    Woman
    Women
    Women's Fiction
    Writer
    Writing
    Young Adult

    RSS Feed

Lindsay Detwiler

  About
Contact
Hot Tree Publishing

Disclosure: 
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

This site is also a part of the Intellinfluence Program, where we receive free products and payment for posting about certain products.

We are also a participant in the Stitch Fix Influencer program, in which we receive fees when you click on the Stitch Fix advertisement. I am also a part of the Jane.com Affiliate program through ShareASale and earn fees when you purchase using the affiliate links.



​**This website uses Google Analytics to improve user experiences. We also use Adsense to create revenue and Amazon Affiliates.

Privacy Policy
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact
  • READ FREE!
  • The Dark Side