As some of you know, Lana isn't my first dog. Before her there was Charlie, and Chrystal, both Labradors, both completely loved. I know how this works. And yet somehow, every single time, you forget just how much they become part of your every move.
But even knowing that, Lana has surprised me. She's more attached than any dog I've had before. More present. More attuned. Like she decided early on that wherever I go, she goes. And she's never once reconsidered that decision.
From the moment Lana became part of our family, privacy became something that only existed in theory. In practice, it was gone. And honestly? I didn't miss it for a single second.
Sometimes she follows me to the bathroom. Sometimes to the kitchen. Sometimes from one side of the house to the other, as though I've been assigned a personal security guard. If I stand up, she's curious. If I leave the room, she's usually not far behind. If I sit down, she'll somehow appear nearby within a few minutes.
But following me isn't really the point.
Being near me is.
There is something about being someone's absolute favourite person that does something to your heart. It's not a competition. Lana loves our whole family. But there's a particular kind of bond that forms between a dog and their person. She tracks me. She waits for me. She follows me. Somehow, somewhere along the way, I got assigned the role of her person. and she's never once questioned that decision.
To her, I am the entire world. The whole thing. And I don't take that lightly.
