'I never even considered giving him back, because you don't abandon family': Struggling 16-year-old makes appreciation post for his beloved border collie, and all that the dog has taught him

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jul 17, 2026 10:45 AM EDT

It's important to appreciate what we have. It's never too soon to thank the universe for the things we love. 

This is a wholesome and simple story. In Reddit's r/BorderCollie, a teenager looks back at the years he's had with his favorite person, and the years they have to come. When he turned 14 years old, his parents decided that he was finally ready for a puppy. He had been wanting one for years, but they waited for the right time, and he's appreciative of that now. At first he didn't want a border collie. But after researching some different breeds, he fell in love with them. Ruban the border collie was 4 months old at the time, and he actually wanted a dog that was younger, but ultimately the dog was perfect for him. The first day they were together, Ruban threw up on him, but it didn't change how he felt. The dog taught him so much, and how to love and live. They had their hard times together, and the teenager felt like he was constantly failing him. He cried a lot, but ultimately they got out of the dark days. 

They trained together every day and just took it bit by bit. A year went by, and suddenly the scared puppy turned into a loving, smart, and incredible dog. The teenager knows now that he has the border collie to thank for his own personal growth. He says, "Ruban has changed my life in ways I never expected. He's given me a reason to get outside, to explore nature, to move my body, and to keep going even on the hard days. I started doing those things for him, but somewhere along the way, I realized I was doing them for myself too." Isn't that beautiful?

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    When I turned 14, my parents decided I was finally ready for a puppy. I'd begged for one for years, but looking back, I'm grateful they waited.
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    At first, I didn't want a Border Collie. But as I researched different breeds, trying to find the right fit for me, I completely fell in love with them.
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    Then we found Ruban. He was four months old-older than I'd originally hoped for-but the
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    moment I met him, none of that mattered. He actually threw up on me the first time I met him.
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    The first few months with Ruban were anything but easy. His fear period hit hard, and I constantly felt
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    like I was failing him. I cried more times than I can count, and I was convinced I was doing everything wrong. At one point, my mom asked if I wanted to take him back.
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    I never even considered it. Because you don't abandon family. By then, Ruban was already my family.
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    So we kept going. Every day, we trained, learned, made mistakes, and tried again. That's all I did. Little by little, things started to change. A
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    year passed, and somehow the scared puppy I'd worried so much about had grown into an incredible dog. Now, looking back, I realized it wasn't just him that grew, but me as well.
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    We started agility together and found a community filled with kind, encouraging people who shared the same love for their dogs. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere.
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    Ruban has changed my life in ways I never expected. He's given me a reason to get outside, to explore nature, to move my body, and to
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    keep going even on the hard days. I started doing those things for him, but somewhere along the way, I realized I was doing them for myself, too.
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  • It's important to recognize what makes us happy in the moment. Taking these spaces and posts to express gratitude is one of the best ways to fulfil yourself and appreciate love. We never know what's around the corner, and life is too short to not appreciate the good things we have and if our pets taught us about love. 

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    Tomorrow, I turn 16. He may never understand everything he's done for me. But I hope he knows he's my best friend.
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