It’s 5am, the sun is barely up, and there’s a Bernese Mountain Dog pacing your room. You’re still tucked up in bed but there’s not much space to move, what with the three other dogs tucked up next to you – one curled on the pillow, one resting a paw on your face and one burrowed into the nook behind your leg. Meanwhile the cat’s watching everything from on high, his favorite place to be.
Let’s pause here for a quick roll call - cats first, then Steph's dogs, in order of seniority: Zach the orange tabby, Zeke the Malamute, Zoey the Pomino, Zara the mutt, French Fry the Frenchie, Oatmeal the Husky, Murphy the Collie, Foxy the Shiba Inu and Montana the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Every morning Steph gets up, lets her eight dogs into her big fenced backyard in Iowa and then serves breakfast. All the dogs eat together, but they each get their own meal and set of supplements – for example Oatmeal the husky takes WellJoy Joint+ for his arthritis and Zach gets regular Skin & Coat+ treats. Snack time is at noon, everyone gets a potty break again in the afternoon, and the next day they start all over.
Steph says if she’s learned one thing about having nine pets it’s that routine is the answer (and, maybe, that she needs a bigger bed).
“We like routines,” she says. “And we need that routine. I actually keep my WellJoy supplements in my office, and by 8am my dogs are sitting on the stairs waiting for me to go upstairs and give them their supplements. Your dogs hold you accountable.”
And, by the way, that daily routine always includes some dedicated couch time so each pet gets some one-on-one cuddles.
It started with a Malamute
Steph’s pet journey started 12 years ago with a big Malamute called Zeke. A few months later, Zoey the ‘Pomino’ – half Pomeranian half American Eskimo – joined the family. For quite some time the family stayed that size, but then the pack started to expand. In the space of four years, six dogs and a cat joined the family. Some were rescues, like Foxy; some were puppies; and in the case of Murphy, it was an instant connection in a pet store.
The dynamics have shifted over the years, but Steph says the pack’s settled into its own comfortable relationships. Zeke and Zoe, the ‘originals’, remain the best of friends, meanwhile Zach, Zara and French Fry are a solid gang. And Zach has plenty of up-high spaces for when he doesn’t want to be drooled on, or fancies indulging his favorite pastime of watching the world go by.
Bringing on nine pets teaches you a lot about diplomacy, says Steph. To set up relationships properly, dogs are always introduced slowly, starting outside the house, and then moving to meetings with barriers in place. “We know there’ll probably be some hiccups along the way, so we expect some boundaries to be crossed,” she says. “But dogs are really good at communicating their limits. They’ll let you know if they’re uncomfortable. We let the dogs, in a sense, work it out among themselves."
And if you’re wondering which of the nine ultimately rules the roost? Well, that would be Zoey the Pomino, who reigns over the household with a small but mighty paw. “She is the queen,” says Steph.
Pets teach compassion
It’s maybe no surprise that Steph is such a dedicated Pet Loyalist, having grown up in a household full of cats and dogs as well as rabbits, frogs, salamanders, gerbils and guinea pigs.
“My parents believed that pets make compassionate people,” she explains. “I think that’s why they kept them around and have continued to do so my whole life.”
It’s not just compassion, either. Steph says taking on rescue dogs with uncertain histories has taught her a lot of patience. “It’s as much about them understanding you as you understanding them,” she says, “so you need to give them time, space, observe them, and notice behavioral changes. If you stay in tune with your pets, they show you a lot of things.”
Dog love languages
Part of that understanding is getting to know how different pets express themselves. Pet Loyalist readers will know that some cats love a face rub, while others prefer a long slow blink from far away. And while some dogs love nothing more than a heavy sigh and a lean, others delight in big face licks or following you round the house. With nine pets – including Murphy the Collie who loves nothing more than hugs and staring into your soul – Steph’s experienced pretty much every version of this going.
“When you take a pet in, you have to understand their love language,” she explains. “That’s what they need to feel safe, to feel comfortable, and you have to accommodate that.
“Whenever we consider bringing a pet into the fold, I think about the impact that has on that individual and the pack. It’s not about seeing a cute dog picture on a rescue website. It’s asking, what’s the story? What do they need? What have they experienced? Is there something I can provide to them in some way? There’s a lot of joy and purpose in it.”
Lessons learned
When you’ve got nine pets, some things get easier: you’re never alone, you’re never short on affection, and you never have to travel too far to find a friend that’s prepared to listen to you. Other things, like going on holiday or hosting parties, get more complicated. (That’s ok, says Steph, her pets are her vacation).
“If you’re going to take on the joy of a pet, you take on the responsibility as well,” she says. “When you’re thinking about adding to your pack, it’s about making sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, and not taking your current pets for granted."
At this point in life, Steph isn’t planning on adding any extra members; instead, she says she’s focused on making life as joyful and comfortable as possible for all nine of them (with help from a cupboard full of WellJoy treats and supplements).
“You sign up for their whole life, knowing it’s not as long as yours,” she says. “I think that’s something people don’t realize or necessarily think about, because it’s sad, but it’s such an important part. My dog Zeke is now 12. I saw him as a baby, then an adolescent, now he’s an old man. I’ve had the joy of experiencing him at every stage of his life.”