Quarantine Love Series: Covid and Pets

Many of us are turning to pets to help us endure this challenging time in history. Dog adoptions and sales soar during the pandemic. 

Like many couples, Kenzie and Kacy, The Carter's are a young married couple who decided to get dogs during the pandemic will be sharing their experiences of being dog parents to two golden retrievers and also learning about life and love through their golden retriever's brothers Boone and Banks. 

Can you tell us a brief story of how you got Boone and Banks? Whose idea was it to get the dogs while in quarantine?

Kenzie: It was the springtime in Colorado, right after quarantine started and we were at home. We'd always talked about owning two golden retrievers but wanted to wait until we were in a house. I think it was probably me that pushed the idea of getting one sooner. I searched for breeders and came across one, we had our oldest "Boone" come at the available beginning of July. He was the runt and only 5 pounds when we brought him home to our apartment in Denver. Pretty much after he was home, I was back in the office full-time and Kacy was home with him working remote. We got Banks a few weeks after we moved into our house.

Kacy: We got Boone at the beginning of quarantine because we both wanna dog and it was a great time to get it considering that we are working from home Kenzie was the one that came up with the idea to get Boone but then we got Banks because we wanted Boone to have a friend and we also always wanted two dogs we just got a house with a yard so it was perfect and that was my idea.

What kind of dogs do you have?

Kenzie: Two golden retriever males. One is light hair and another one is dark hair. Though we got them from the same breeder they have different parents. Boone is from Illinois and Banks is from Wisconsin. Our local breeder was the middle man or "dog hustler."

Kacy: Two golden retrievers

3 words to describe Boone

Kenzie: Inquisitive, Cuddly, Crazy

Kacy: Slinky, Playful, Lounge

3 words to describe Banks

Kenzie: Rascal, Mischievous, Sweet

Kacy: Piranha, Fluffy, Sweetheart

Why get a dog during quarantine?

Kenzie: A pro of getting a pup in quarantine is that it allows for special bonding and training time that you may not have had working a 9-5 and leaving them home alone. Golden Retrievers are "people" dogs and they require a large amount of quality time for their mental and physical health. Being able to be around them during the formative months is a bonus/luxury not many people have when owning a dog. The downside was that I had to go back into the office full-time so I didn't get that with either pup. But Kacy did. We are nervous however for when things go back to normal and we have to leave them at home alone. It's a good balance to spend lots of time as well as let them learn to cope with your not around so they do not have anxiety and separation issues. 

Kacy: We always want two dogs and we always envisioned us with dogs as a family therefore when the opportunity arose for us to be working from home and being able to spend quality time with the dogs and being there all day for them so we can train them well without having to cancel them all day we thought that was a great idea.

What does your daily routine look like with your dogs?

Kenzie: Right now, because we have 11 weeks old and 10 months old we're up early. Banks sleeps through the night in his kennel then will wake us up between 4:45-5:30 to let us know he needs to use the restroom. This will wake up Boone and they both will go outside, Kacy and I take turns with who gets up and lets them out. They will usually sleep for another 45 minutes to an hour afterward at Kacy's home with them during the day and they go in and out of our yard all day long. He will take them to the park for fetch and a walk 1-2 times depending on the weather. In the evenings we eat and lounge, they are usually zonked out if they got good exercise in. 

Kacy: Our daily routine with our dogs is waking up early in the morning so that they can go to the bathroom and then bringing them back upstairs in the lounge and chill for a little bit until we get up about an hour later the day then starts with them going outside playing a little bit and then getting breakfast and then lounging for a bit playing for a bit going to the park lounging playing lunch dinner and the night ends with some lounge time while Kenzie and I lounge as well and watch shows like breaking bad or this is us.

How have the dogs helped your marriage grow?

Kenzie: communication and partnership. We have to partner together to take care of them and we take turns doing certain tasks. Because they are little and cannot be left home for too long unattended we have to plan things around their schedules and coordinate ours more.

Kacy: They have taught us patience and communication. Kenzie works in the office now and I still work from home so it’s like I’m a stay-at-home dad with a full-time job and sometimes that's overwhelming, I have to communicate how I'm doing with the dogs and let Kenzie support me through these feelings. They have brought a lot of joy to our lives and have given us the responsibility to raise them well. It's been fun!

How has having a dog helped with your emotional well-being?

Kenzie: Having them forces us to get outdoors and have a more active lifestyle which overall helps the emotional well-being and all the cuddles when you have had a long day but it is a lot of work and a lifetime commitment for their little lives. It a test of patience when they chew my furniture or drywall! A big responsibility and a lot of work in the front end when first training them, but bring us so much joy when they learn a new trick, cuddle or have their late-night zoomies!

Kacy: The puppy stage is stressful and forces you to have patience but overall they are such beautiful dogs and they have their different personalities that fit into our family so well. I feel like I have two children 😊 that I want to see be happy. 

What do dogs teach us about life and love?

Kenzie: to enjoy both life & those we love. From the moment the pups wake up they are excited about the day, to enjoy the fresh air, to play to eat their yummy food. They want cuddles and to be played with. They are social and need connection. I’d say the same for us, we’re wired to be together - and I think being excited for the little things in life goes along way.

Kacy: It makes you more aware of Life, and that our dog's life is just as real as ours. Love is about support and our dogs both give love and receive as we do. 

How have your dogs impacted your everyday life?

Kenzie: we have a schedule, we plan around their schedule and it forces us to be together more to take care of them. They are our babies!

Kacy: It’s been a lot busier! Our routine revolves around them now but my life is more full with them in it. 

What is your favorite dog movie?

Kenzie: I’ve never watched a dog movie but want to watch Marley and me. I’ll probably bawl my eyes out.

Kacy: Airbud

Any cute or funny story, you like to share?

Kenzie: the best part (for me) about being a dog parent is watching them learn and grow. I am so excited when they pick up on a new trick or gain weight. They love each other, and when they cuddle it melts my heart. 

Kacy: They ripped up our yard, I fixed it, and then they ripped it up again. So cute. (sarcastically).

Kacy and Kenzie, "The Carters" established 2020. Kenzie works as an Executive Assistant for Haselden Construction and Kacy works in Marketing at Red Robin. Together they are settling into married life, home life, and life with two pups! 

Kenzie Carter's photos were used with permission

Sara🌻

Blogger/Writer, Fashioned Magazine 

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