They Chose You

That Feeling When You Find Your Dog, or Your Dog Finds You

The idea of bringing home a dog can evoke a mix of emotions — from doubt and bursts of excitement to happy tears and even a few fears. Whether you’re new to dog ownership or deeply familiar with dog life, those feelings are natural. Over time, we’ll explore the many emotions people experience when choosing to bring a dog into their lives. For now, we’ll focus on that sudden, unexpected rush of love you feel when you find your dog.

There are many ways a dog can enter your life: through a shelter or rescue, from a reputable breeder, because a friend’s dog had puppies, or because a neighbor can no longer care for their companion and needs help. However it happens, this new presence has a way of reshaping your routines and taking up more space in your life than you might expect. In some ways, you don’t come out unchanged — and most dog owners recognize that feeling immediately.

Overwhelming Love for Your Dog

The decision to adopt often comes with a mix of emotions, but the surge of love you feel when you first meet your dog can still catch you off guard. More often than not, there’s a sense of recognition — something shared, even if it’s hard to explain.

Looking into their eyes, there’s a moment — sometimes quiet, sometimes instant — when something settles. The responsibility feels real. Not heavy or daunting, just clear. Care becomes the focus.

Dogs don’t express emotion the way humans do, but connection tends to show up in small, consistent ways. A hesitant glance that turns into trust. A quiet presence nearby. The familiar sandpaper lick against your cheek — one of the first signs that this new relationship is beginning to take shape. Without saying it out loud, you’ve both stepped into an agreement to show up for one another.

The Twinge of Panic About All the Things

What type of food to choose, finding a vet, a comfortable place to sleep, potty training, dog walkers, pet sitters… all the things.

That moment of panic doesn’t mean you’re unprepared. It usually means you care. Care is something learned over time — through questions, routines, and patience. Our role at Shepard’s Pie is to support that journey, whether you’re just beginning or slowly finding your rhythm together.

The First Quiet Moment

And then, often later than you expect, there’s a quiet moment that catches you off guard. The excitement has settled. The questions can wait. Maybe your dog has finally fallen asleep nearby, curled into a shape that already feels familiar. The house sounds a little different now.

In that stillness, the weight of what you’ve taken on becomes clear — not as pressure, but as presence. This isn’t a temporary feeling or a single decision. It’s a shared rhythm, one that unfolds over time, shaped by routines, patience, and small acts of care repeated day after day.

For many dogs, especially those who’ve known uncertainty before, these early quiet moments matter more than we realize. They’re often the first signs that this place — and this person — might be safe. And for us, they serve as a gentle reminder that love isn’t proven all at once. It’s built slowly, through consistency and showing up when it counts.