Growing up with a lovable mutt named Max, I always envisioned bringing a dog into my family’s life—even though I married a man who was decidedly more of a cat person and had a strong aversion to dogs due to allergies. Max was a fantastic companion, a mix of husky and retriever who loved dressing up and could even ring the doorbell when he wanted to come inside. I wanted my children to experience that same joy.
While my husband Derek appreciated dogs from a distance, prolonged contact would leave him with itchy, red eyes. I don’t mind cats, but let’s face it—pets can be quite an expense, and I wasn’t keen on spending money on an animal that would likely ignore me. Derek’s childhood stories from England sounded like something out of a classic novel, which is probably why he grew up with cats.
Interestingly, my twins’ first word was “cat,” despite us never owning one. By first grade, they began their campaign for a puppy. My daughter even took her plea public, crafting a persuasive writing project about it in second grade. I was ready to welcome a dog into our lives but wanted to ensure my twins were old enough to help care for it. Puppies are irresistibly cute, but I was already exhausted juggling the responsibilities of motherhood and I didn’t want to add to my workload.
As the years passed, the kids kept asking for a dog while Derek remained firm on the allergy issue. However, everything changed when I stumbled upon a study from the CDC, which indicated that children with pet dogs tend to have lower levels of anxiety compared to those without. That was my lightbulb moment—not only did we want a dog, we needed one for the kids’ well-being. With research backing me up and my twins now able to assist with a fur baby, I could envision a dog in our future.
By the time my twins turned nine, we started searching for our new family member. Our attempts to adopt a rescue dog fell flat, and our visits to a local upscale pet store ended when a friend warned that the puppies might come from puppy mills. Since we were focused on finding a hypoallergenic dog due to Derek’s allergies, it seemed that buying from a breeder was our best option.
I had done my homework and was determined to find the perfect fit: the charmingly named Cockapoo, a mix of cocker spaniel and poodle. My friend Lisa had a Cockapoo named Charlie, and she mentioned that her husband had similar allergies, but it turned out he was only allergic to the dog’s saliva. She brought Charlie over for Derek to test his reaction. While nothing happened when he held Charlie, he swelled up when the dog licked his face. We all celebrated—Derek could absolutely avoid dog saliva, making it possible for our kids to have a supportive companion.
After some searching, I found a breeder in upstate New York known for her high-demand puppies, but she wouldn’t accept deposits. Instead, I had to call her to find out when new litters would be born and hope for the best. After missing several litters, I was ready to give up and consider a hamster, even though I was doubtful about hamsters being effective for lowering anxiety levels.
Then, just before Christmas, I called the breeder one last time. To my delight, she revealed that one of her favorite dogs had just given birth to six Cockapoo puppies. The mom was calm and had delivered three puppies quietly—what a champ! I immediately knew that was our litter and asked when we could come see them.
The day after Christmas, we drove upstate and chose a tiny buff-colored boy with his eyes still closed. As we awaited the eight weeks until he could leave his mother, we debated names. I was keen on “Angel,” but the kids insisted on naming him Max, in honor of my childhood dog. Derek sided with the kids, and I begrudgingly agreed, warning them that our future pet would be “Angel” for sure.
When we finally brought Max home—our eagerly awaited family addition—he seemed less than thrilled. At just two and a half pounds, he was quiet and preferred his carrier. Thankfully, after treatment for an infection and some time to adjust, he perked up.
Now a healthy 20-pound dog, Max shines as the heart of our family and has proven to be a great source of comfort for all of us. As my “third child,” he follows me around, shows no interest in screens, and never talks back. Despite the effort it took to bring him into our lives, I can confidently say he was worth every bit of it.
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In summary, despite my husband’s allergies, the desire for a pet led us to find a hypoallergenic dog that turned out to be the perfect addition to our family. Max has enriched our lives immensely, proving that sometimes the effort to overcome obstacles leads to the most rewarding outcomes.
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