We Asked 11 People What It Means to Be a Dog Person. Here’s What They Said.

In honor of Dog Person Day—that’s today, September 24—we invited dog people to the Georgia Room at the Freehand Hotel in New York City, where they told us what their dogs mean to them. If you, too, are a dog person, chances are you’ll find their answers relatable and maybe even touching. Here are some of the highlights.

Person: Gaby
Dog: Kenzo

“Kenzo taught me the true definition of being a dog person. I never understood when people would say they couldn’t attend something or do something because of their dog. But now I get that he’s not my pet. He’s my child. My first date with my boyfriend, I told him I had a son. He was very happy to see that it was Kenzo.”

Person: Kaitlin
Dog: Atlas

“In this day and age, everyone’s on their phones or on the computer. He keeps me moving. He keeps me going. It’s like, okay, let’s go for that walk. It’s an hour, but it’s good for both of us. Keeps us both happy.”

People: Amirita and Marcus
Dog: Ollie

“This little guy pretty much runs my life. He tells me my schedule. He tells me what time I wake up. He tells me what time I go [for a] walk.”

Person: Emily
Dog: Cody

“The first night that we got him, we got a crate for him. And he was crying and crying all night. So I picked him up and held him all night in our bed. And he’s been in the bed ever since.”

Person: Andre
Dog: Rocket

“I always think about him. Like, we have plans. What’s going to happen with him? Should I leave the TV on for him so he hears some noise? Every little thing I do, I think about him. I just booked a vacation. I’m like, ‘Who’s gonna be watching him?’ He’s the first thing on my mind.”

Person: Micael
Dog: Buddy

“No matter how bad today was, or how chaotic it was, you get home and he reminds you that this is home. This is good. ‘No matter how bad, I’m here. Let’s hang out.’”

Person: Isabel
Dog: Simon

“I don’t know exactly how, but I do know that every foster I bring home seems to immediately feel—maybe not comfortable—but at peace, and know that they’re safe. I think there’s an energy. I think Simon plays a huge part in it as well. But I like to think that all of those dogs know that I’m a safe person for them, that I’m going to take care of them.”

Person: Ken
Dog: Romeo and Claire Rose

“It’s something that you just can’t explain with words. You can see the way that dogs react to a person. I think that, with their instinct, they can weed out the people who aren’t dog people. They know.”

Person: Lis
Dog: Mac

“Before, I feel like I would walk around New York, head down, staring at my phone, going from one destination to the next. And now, I feel like with Mac, we’ll go on an hour walk and see a new park that I never knew existed. Or we’ll pop into a store that I had never noticed before because I was so busy going from one place to the next. He really makes me slow down a little bit and appreciate a nice day and a nice cup of coffee—and enjoy a walk together.”

Person: Sara
Dog: Foz

“As soon as [Foz] got to my apartment, I made my friend stay all day because I was still intimidated by this dog. And my fiance was obviously there, too. She kept going into their feet, sleeping with them, and cuddling.

At the time I was studying for the GMAT, so I had to stay up. So I was watching this happen the whole time. And the amount of love she gave right away, off the bat, just made me obsessed with her.”

Person: Sophie
Dog: Chloe

“She’s a little, perfect child. Right? Is that what you are? She’s such a part of our lives. She makes everything better. She makes our marriage better. She makes everything better with the kids.”

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