Top 5 Cutest Pictures of My Dog, Harry

When it comes to being a pet owner, I consider myself somewhat of an expert. Over the course of my life, my own personal zoo has included dogs, lizards, frogs, crabs, fish, snails, shrimp, and even an eel. Out of all of these pets, my dog Harry is definitely the most photogenic. Harry is now nine years old and, over those years, has been photographed quite often; each picture has its own stories and memories. While I cannot declare Harry to be the world’s cutest dog, in my mind he is. What I can say with the utmost level of certainty is that Harry is a VERY good boy. Whether you are in need of cheering up after a rough election week or are contemplating buying a bulldog or other breed of furry friend, I hope you enjoy these pictures.

5. As you may imagine, the life of a bulldog is very hard. After a long day of sleeping until noon, Harry enjoys laying in the sun either outside in the summer or through a window during the winter. In this picture, captured last summer, it appears that Harry’s first nap of the day did not leave him well rested. On any given day, Harry takes on about five naps, waking up to go on walks, eat, play, go outside, and bark inexplicably whenever I have a math test. Although not pictured, Harry’s favorite places to take a siesta are often the most inconvenient for his owners: on the stairs, against doors, in front of sink, and on my feet when I need to go somewhere (I never have the heart to wake him up so I put my plans on hold). While in itself the picture may not be as adorable as others, it conveys Harry’s personality and mannerisms that make him so special, even if he is a lazy little guy. The level of energy that you want out of a dog is one of the most important factors in choosing a breed. Harry’s level of activity is pretty representative of the breed as a whole, his brother Hugo was the same way. Bulldog’s tendency to sleep the day away makes them a very low-maintenance breed, but don’t let it put you off. When he is up and about, Harry loves to run around, play a game of tug, and do other dog things.

4. This image captures Harry’s more formal side. Adhering to the “work hard, play hard” mantra, Harry has to work pretty hard to justify all of the playing that he does. While unfortunate that Harry did not want to face the camera, this was likely a result of him contemplating what he had agreed to when he shook my hand just moments before as Harry is a dog and cannot understand English. In reality, Harry had secured a deal where he would receive a walk and treats in exchange for getting gated in his room during dinner, a fair deal. While he looks good when he dresses up, Harry dislikes wearing clothes, wriggling out of any shirts or outfits we have tried to force on him over the years. Harry does tolerate some accessories but still normally ditches them after a short while. Harry’s aversion to clothes is because of his breed, it is something he has learned. If you are looking for a dog who you can put sweaters and other things on, you simply have to start it at a young age. While this picture is solid, Harry’s lack of focus on the camera (more of a reflection of my photography skills than Harry’s obedience) relegates it to near the bottom of this list.

3. Another example of Harry rocking some accessories, this image is also the most recent picture of Harry on this list. During the beginning of this year’s online learning, I tried out letting Harry come into my office during class so he wouldn’t feel lonely in my absence. While this idea seemed good in theory, Harry did not understand where the voices of my teachers and classmates were coming from and began to freak out. One important thing that I had overlooked was the fact that after he was upstairs with me, Harry was essentially trapped. Bulldog’s chubby bodies and short legs make stairs a difficult obstacle. Typically, larger dogs are more mobile than shorter, fatter breeds. Whether out of fear of falling or a desire for moral support, Harry will not go down a flight of stairs without someone, usually me, present and I was busy with class. After a while, I took him back downstairs and tried to show him my Chromebook to explain what I was doing upstairs. Of course, looking at a screen for too long is bad for your eyes so I decided to let Harry try out my glasses while I showed him my Microeconomics class. I think it made him happy to look like all the other kids on Zoom. 

2. While Harry does get lots and lots of love from all members of the family, sometimes that is not enough for him. Harry loves to make his presence known to anyone who tries to watch TV in my living room. Whether he is looking for belly rubs or a part of your lunch, Harry knows that most people will cave when he begs. With his paws up on the couch, Harry looks into your eyes and knows that nobody could say no to that face. I’ve started just bringing extra snacks, just for him when I go to watch TV to save myself an extra trip to the cabinet. A benefit of bulldogs and other small to medium size dogs is that their size prevents them from getting entirely on a couch or other pieces of furniture, providing some barriers and safe places to put food. This picture is one of my personal favorites, one that held the title of my phone’s lock screen for a long time. Overall, a good picture of a good boy.

1. Although each of these pictures hold memories that make them special to me, I found this to be an easy choice for first place. Harry’s 2015 Halloween costume as a firefighter was one of his best and longest lasting–he managed to keep the hat on for ten whole minutes! Also, he earns bonus points for thinking outside of the box; Harry is a bulldog not a dalmatian so its still creative. Regardless of how you believe these pictures should be ordered, I hope that you agree that Harry is a cute little guy. If you find yourself on the fence about getting a dog or a bulldog in particular, I implore you to do so. Adding a four-legged friend will transform your life for the better, I can’t imagine how people can live without one.