Unexpected Love

[MollyM]

I first met a bd in 2021, then I knew I wanted one someday.

Then, I abruptly lost my soul dog to cancer, November 4th 2024. Never felt this much pain and sadness. She was my world, my life revolved around her. We woke up together, she was my work from home partner, my gym partner (I have a big homegym), nap partner, we went everywhere together, she traveled all around the country with me.

For many reasons, we cannot get another dog right now, and we decided to take home Dr.James Wilson, November 24th.

I knew I would love that 4inch 8ish grams small creature, but knew it « was not like a dog » ; that « I would love it less bc it’s not as affectionate » .

Let me tell you I was wrong!!! I still do not comprehend how much I care and love that small dude. I think you all do!

For those who read all that, lol thanks, just know that I was a crazy dog mom, dogsitting every chance I got, even when I had my own, and now U can add crazy reptile mom to that title!!

 

[xp29]

I first met a bd in 2021, then I knew I wanted one someday.

Then, I abruptly lost my soul dog to cancer, November 4th 2024. Never felt this much pain and sadness. She was my world, my life revolved around her. We woke up together, she was my work from home partner, my gym partner (I have a big homegym), nap partner, we went everywhere together, she traveled all around the country with me.

For many reasons, we cannot get another dog right now, and we decided to take home Dr.James Wilson, November 24th.

I knew I would love that 4inch 8ish grams small creature, but knew it « was not like a dog » ; that « I would love it less bc it’s not as affectionate » .

Let me tell you I was wrong!!! I still do not comprehend how much I care and love that small dude. I think you all do!

For those who read all that, lol thanks, just know that I was a crazy dog mom, dogsitting every chance I got, even when I had my own, and now U can add crazy reptile mom to that title!!

We do get it!!!!
No one ever knows until they get a beardie just how special they are.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, losing any pet is extremely difficult & hard to recover from. So sorry for the loss of your dog.
A bearded dragon seems magical, they have a sweet soul & unless you have had the gift of caring for
one, you have no idea just how wonderful it is to have one in your life.
Dr. James Wilson is very handsome indeed!

Tracie

 

[MollyM]

Thank you They do have sweet souls, and are sooo goofy

 

[ChileanTaco]

Thank you They do have sweet souls, and are sooo goofy

They for sure do!
I'd always been much into reptiles, despite (except for foster lizards from the wild from time to time) never had one as a pet before Taco, just as it didn't work out (for reasons like: college, then moving each 2 - 3 years internationally for a new job).
I remember when I planned to get a bearded dragon, my husband was not really convinced. He asked if I rather would want a cat. Others, I remember, saw a reptile also as a "replacement for something furry", asked me what the pet is that I really would want and later asked me whether I'm "okay" with my dragon or whether I want "something else", asked things like "does it recognize you" (that was from a person who had seen reptiles more like "machines" and not interacting and not self-aware). Common misconceptions.

I can say now after one and a half years with Taco, my husband who was really not into reptiles (and was even scared a bit by him, just as of "is not a mammal") loves him equally Says he is cute, worries (despite there was nothing really to worry, but just... out of affections), comes up with cute alternative names...

 

[MollyM]

They for sure do!
I'd always been much into reptiles, despite (except for foster lizards from the wild from time to time) never had one as a pet before Taco, just as it didn't work out (for reasons like: college, then moving each 2 - 3 years internationally for a new job).
I remember when I planned to get a bearded dragon, my husband was not really convinced. He asked if I rather would want a cat. Others, I remember, saw a reptile also as a "replacement for something furry", asked me what the pet is that I really would want and later asked me whether I'm "okay" with my dragon or whether I want "something else", asked things like "does it recognize you" (that was from a person who had seen reptiles more like "machines" and not interacting and not self-aware). Common misconceptions.

I can say now after one and a half years with Taco, my husband who was really not into reptiles (and was even scared a bit by him, just as of "is not a mammal") loves him equally Says he is cute, worries (despite there was nothing really to worry, but just... out of affections), comes up with cute alternative names...

They recognize us soo much! The lil side eye he gives me before doing something bad (ex. jumping from
the couch) like yeah i see u buddy , don’t you dare !

 

[xp29]

They recognize us soo much! The lil side eye he gives me before doing something bad (ex. jumping from
the couch) like yeah i see u buddy , don’t you dare !

Oh I know that look!!!! The other look is when they are studying something and you can see in their eye they are calculating how to get it or get to it.

 

[ChileanTaco]

@MollyM

Of course they do! Taco also showed from the beginning on a different behavior when I approached vs. when my husband (not having to do much with Taco) did so. Also he of course knows that these are two different people who do things a bit differently, and that these are always those two people and not somebody else.
I really wondered why somebody asks. The person asking even meant it in the way of whether this animal is aware of its surroundings at all. Yes, people are sadly often thinking a reptile is more like a machine.
Nowadays, at least in neuroscience - but it's a long way to go to make something a common knowledge - it is more and more accepted that likely each animal from whatever species is aware and conscious, just to a varying degree instead of it just being "conscious like a human" vs "not". (Also matches my own observation of various species. I am very interested in neuroscience and biology, and I had thought for a while whether I should study biology or physics (ended up with physics then). I like to observe animals, small and big, and can spend a lot of time with a "bug".)
This morning, I found a moth in the shower - it saw it only when it started to fly around when I switched on the water (I then switched the water off and managed to get it out). That moth is quite sure less aware and conscious than I am, but I bet that moth was aware of some danger (noise and movement nearby), felt in panic and tried to escape.

 

[Sue E.]

Well, mine knows me all right...he runs away, finds a spot to blend in with his surroundings, freezes like a rabbit, jumps when his door slides open etc etc. Hes okay when I take him out and hold him against my chest but scrambles like heck when I put him in or out. And I try to be so gentle and move sooo slowly. Unless I have bugs. It takes everything I have not to give him extra"treat worms" on veggie days to tame him more, like youd give a dog treats. But I know thats not good for him so I walk away and let him be. I think its a combo of the new tank and my putting his worms on top of his veggies lately. He is smart enough to pick them out now(again), and I think he had a lot less fearfuness when I hand fed him. He is back to only eating veggies unobserved. Shoulda named him Shy instead of Kai lol.

 

[Rocky2022]

Soon you will see, they have tendencies of a puppy.
-former dog owner