Dagr Tales is a tribute to the transformative bond between humans and animals and explores its remarkable healing power. My journey with Dagr began as a personal quest to document my new emotional support dog's profound impact on my life. Battling anxiety since childhood, I decided a year ago to find a furry companion who could provide me with the support I needed to engage more fully with the world. As an introverted, highly sensitive person, I've always felt a deep connection to animals and have found solace in their calming presence, making this a natural path for me to explore.

The Search

Dagr came into my life after careful contemplation, research, and a long wait. It took time to find a trusted breeder experienced in placing dogs in service/support roles and even longer to find a puppy she thought would be right for me.

Dagr was worth the almost year-long wait. It’s hard to describe what I felt when I met him for the first time at four weeks old, but there was an energetic pull between us. He held my finger in his toothless mouth and wanted to snuggle closer. There was something about him that spoke to me the second we met.

Unbeknownst to me, Dagr was the puppy the breeder had been considering for me all along. She has a knack for pairing puppies and people and suspected that we’d do well together. She was right! She let me know that unless his upcoming temperament test revealed something unexpected, he’d be the puppy for me. I kept my fingers crossed because, in my heart, I knew he was the one.

Several weeks later, I received a message saying that Dagr was my dog, and that’s where our story officially began! After searching and waiting for so long, I finally knew who my puppy was. I had a face and something tangible to focus on.

The Meaning Behind Dagr’s Name

Dagr came home with me a few months later in early April. I named him Dagr in honour of the renewed sense of hope his presence gave me. I wanted a name that meant light in another language. In Norse mythology, Dagr is a God who personifies the Day. Dagr means daylight. The proper pronunciation of Dagr sounds more like “Dah-gur,” but I chose to pronounce his name as “Day-ger” to embrace the daylight theme.

Moving Forwards

Dagr has been growing and developing so fast, and I couldn’t be more proud of the dog he is becoming. I faced some challenges early on raising a new puppy, which I will expand upon here on my blog. When you have anxiety, stressors like a new puppy can temporarily exacerbate your symptoms, which I wasn’t prepared for. I had a couple of weeks of panic, and then things slowly started to get easier. Looking back, the temporary upheaval in my life was well worth it.

As we embark on this journey together, I hope to foster a supportive community where individuals can find solace and inspiration. Here’s to embracing the adventure ahead and exploring the profound beauty of the human-animal bond.