At some point someone has said it to you. Maybe kindly, maybe not. "It's just a dog."
And you smiled, because explaining it would take too long. So let's take the time here.
You plan your life around someone who can't read a calendar
You've left a party early because they'd been alone too long. You've turned down a trip, or spent twice as much on the dog sitter as on the hotel. You know the exact sound of the treat bag from three rooms away, because so do they.
You speak a language only one other creature understands
The walk voice. The "who's a good boy" voice. The quiet voice at the vet. You have a vocabulary of nicknames that has drifted so far from their real name that the new vet looks confused.
Your camera roll is 80% one subject
Sleeping. Sleeping in a funny position. Sleeping on you. Looking out the window. You'd rather lose your contacts than those photos.
You know what "family" actually means
Family is who's there when you get home. Who notices when you're sad. Who is thrilled, every single time, that you walked back through the door. By that definition, the question was never close.
People who've loved a dog rarely need this explained. One reviewer summed it up in four words while buying a gift for her daughters: Dog Moms are Moms, too.
So say it proudly
Being a dog mom isn't a joke you apologize for. It's a relationship you chose, show up for every morning, and would choose again.
Tell us: what's the one thing your dog does that nobody else would understand? Share this with the dog mom who'll recognize herself in every line.
Buying for a dog mom? Our free guide, What to Write: 60 Gift Messages, has ready-made lines for every kind of card.
Wear their name
Choose your dog's name, your script, and carry the one who's always waiting for you.