Introverts United

My dog is an introvert.
Just like me.

I never thought Golden Retrievers could be introverts —
aren’t they supposed to be social butterflies with fur?

But Bruno?
He avoids dogs and goes straight to their humans.
I, on the other hand, hang out with the dogs.

Before he got neutered, he had this… awkward habit —
of humping female dog owners.
The only difference between us?
I’m not neutered.

Bruno came to us like many COVID dogs did —
we were prime candidates: dog loving, single-child parents.
One look at a photo of this calm, nine-month-old golden boy staring out the window…
and seven days later, he was home.

What followed?
Excitement. Overwhelm. Guilt —
especially when his previous family visited,
He showered them with love, we hadn’t yet earned.
For five days after, he sulked.
He was grieving.

But over time, he changed us.
He got me — a lifelong night owl — out of bed at 5:30 AM.
We now hike every morning.
We know all the neighborhood dogs by name.
Still, for the longest time, we felt like his caregivers.
Not his family.

Bruno reminded me of my dad —
calm, strong, quietly resilient through pain.
Bruno’s had surgeries, needles, anesthesia…
but always meets his vets with a wag and the occasional hump.

He’s still an introvert.
But he’s helped me come out of my shell.
With him, I’m more open. More grounded.
More me.

Then one day when I returned, after a few days away — he walked over, looked at me…
And hugged me.

No humping. No zoomies.
Just sheer love.

That was the moment I knew — we were finally his pack