Story submitted by Tiffany F.; Photos by Jenn Lin © 2024, All Rights Reserved.

The day we brought Benny home, he was this tiny, squirmy little potato that immediately filled our lives with so much joy—and frustration and tears in the beginning, if I’m being completely honest. As happy as my fiancé and I were to welcome him into our lives, we fell into the “new puppy blues” in the first month or so of bringing him home. The woes of potty accidents and teething, plus not being able to really take him outside until he was fully vaccinated was tough. It put a strain on our relationship at first, but we learned a new level of patience and devotion both in our love for Benny and for each other. 

The first few days of having him home were so emotionally taxing that we questioned if we were ready for it. We were sleep deprived and felt like we couldn’t do anything right. He was like a little shark that wanted to bite everything in sight. He ripped up all our clothes and left us covered in scratches and bite marks. It was so bad that we would have to crate him before we could change into our work clothes, or else he would shred those too. I never had a dog before and my fiancé only had family dogs whom he wasn’t responsible for training, so this was a new learning experience for us both.  

Corgis, we learned, are so smart but defiant. Benny is so dramatic; he’ll whine and pout if he doesn’t get his way. He has such a big personality and what I like to refer to as “big dog energy.” Once we figured out the right amount of exercise and mental stimulation that Benny needed every day, it was a game changer. We fell into a routine and started to see his training pay off.

Looking back, I wish I cherished his early puppy days more instead of being so wrapped up in my anxiety, but we were so overwhelmed with all the new responsibilities of becoming dog parents and constantly wondering if we were doing the right thing with his training. Once we were able to meet other dog parents in our neighbourhood and at puppy classes who shared similar experiences, we were able to relax. It felt good to become part of a community, and it helped to hear that things would get better.

There are some people who only know us as “Benny’s parents,” but we don’t mind at all. My fiancé and I are both fairly introverted people, so it’s nice to have Benny be the centre of  attention, and of course he loves it. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks his name is “corgi” because people on the street will stop and exclaim “Oh my god, it’s a corgi!” My fiancé jokes that it’s almost as if people lose their brain function and become reduced to making silly noises when they see Benny’s cuteness. I understand because I feel the same way when I look at him and marvel at his fluffy butt and little stubby legs.

People say that dogs are just a chapter in our lives, but to them you’re their whole life. That really weighs heavily on me, and I try my best not to take any of this time we have together for granted, even if it’s our rain-drenched walks at 6am in the morning. His adorable smile as he looks up at me makes it all worth it. We love taking him everywhere with us, whether it’s on car rides or giving him new experiences like taking him to the pumpkin patch and the beach. We can’t wait to take him on more adventures.

In a way, Benny has taught us how to  be better humans. My fiancé and I had only lived together for a short period before getting him, so having Benny helped us learn to communicate more and be even better teammates. Until we brought Benny home, I didn’t know it was possible to have so much love in my heart that it felt like it was bursting at the seams. He has helped us grow both as partners and individuals, and our relationship is so much stronger now because of him. Benny made us a family and has changed our lives irrevocably for the better.

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Dogs Will Teach You Love is an ongoing collection of love stories created by photographer Jenn Lin. Open to dog owners in the Lower Mainland and beyond, participants can expect to receive a minimum of 3 free digital images that will accompany their published story. Click here to inquire and join the waitlist!