Harrington's Confidant (aka Musician Rose Cousins)

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1:38I don't know. There's just something so special about connecting with an animal. It's so intense. It's deep in a way that will never be spoken. You know what I mean? They just look into your soul. I'm Jen Moroz, and this is Furball Confidential. Let's be honest. Most of our pets have to suffer through the songs we sing them in whatever voice we have. You want a treat? You got to hear this voice. Let's go for a walkie-talkie. A walkie-talkie-talkie-doo. Walkie-talkie-talkie-doo. So you could say that Harrington the Schnoodle, that's part Schnauzer and part Poodle, is one of the luckiest dogs in the world.

2:31Because the voice he gets to hear on a daily basis is this one. That's how long I've waited for your love.

2:45That's how long I've waited for your love. That's Harrington's human, Rose Cousins. Singer-songwriter, musician, producer, Juno Award winner, Grammy nominee. You get the picture. Her latest album is called Conditions of Love, Volume 1. It's full of these gorgeous songs that are pretty much guaranteed to make you cry. That's kind of Rose's thing. But she also has this incredibly wicked sense of humor and a playful side. And as you're about to hear, she's always had a soft spot for dogs. Even though Rose waded well into adulthood to get a pet of her own, she told me it was pretty much inevitable.

3:35Anyone who is really in my life and knows me knows that I love dogs. And so I befriend, you know, if there are people in my life that have a dog, I'm friends with that dog. So I don't think it was a huge surprise. I've wanted a dog for a really long time. And yeah, it was more about like waiting for the good timing to present itself. So what was, I wouldn't say it was surprising. And so when you say good timing to present itself, it's funny, they'd say about dogs, like dogs will, especially dogs, that they'll come into your life at, I don't know, like just the right time. Did you experience that with Harrington?

4:14No, I mean, the pandemic presented itself. And in my mind, I was like, I want to have at least three or four months, at least three months, so that if I get the dog, the dog would then establish that I am its person. And in my mind, it was like three months. So it got to be May of 2020. And I was like, I was actually talking to my friend, Jen Grant, who has two dogs, and she knows that I love dogs. And I was like, I found out at that point that the rest of my year had been wiped work-wise. And I was like, oh, my God, this is the first runway of empty time. Should I get a dog? She's like, yeah.

4:51So the timing was, you know, a circuitous gift. And where did you find Harrington? Oh, my God. I went insane trying to, like, looking everywhere. I was looking for a schnauzer because one of the dogs that I was connected to someone in my past life was a schnauzer. I was like, whoa, what a like brilliant, amazing, smart dog. So I just started to look locally on Facebook and then locally on Kijiji and then nationally on Kijiji. It's like, you know, as lots of people know, you know, during the pandemic, everyone got dogs. And And so like if a dog was posted, it was like 20 minutes later it was spoken for.

5:36It was impossible to find one. Yeah. It was insane. Yeah. So I eventually found him in Winkler, Manitoba. Wow. Yeah. You're based in Halifax. I'm in Halifax. Yeah. So how did that transpire in the middle of a pandemic? Well, when I kind of claimed him, there was a direct flight from Winnipeg to Halifax. um by the time he was meant to come to me that no longer existed um so he had to come he had to come on two flights the the woman who sent him to me she was so great she she's just like i know what it's like we we had a hard time finding our dog too she i purchased a crate from a fellow on facebook marketplace in winnipeg and this woman like she's like oh yeah well i'm going into costco with my sister so i'll just go get the crate for you so she got the crate and she took him to the I booked the flight, took him to the airport when he needed to be there.

6:36She set the crate up like she'd done it before. And then there's this service in Toronto. He's had a seven-hour layover. There's a service called International Animal Lounge. So you can pay to have them go get them because they're in cargo, right? Otherwise, he'd just be sitting there. Right. Got them from cargo, took them, played with them, wore them out, fed them, peed and pooped, and then took them back when he needed to go back. And then he arrived at like two o 'clock in the morning and you were there. Well, what's crazy is that I went to the baggage area in the airport. And I was like, uh, I'm supposed to be getting a dog.

7:14And they're like, there's no dog on this flight. I'm like, there is a dog on the flight. Uh, there better be a dog on the flight. And, but then it was like in some building that was nowhere near the airport. I mean, it was nearby the airport, but it was like a cargo place. So, um, there was a bit of a goose chase at the end there, but. I found him. And what was it like just getting him that, like, for the first time? I know you had some pets as a child, but had you had an animal as an adult? No. Like, we had, I grew up on a farm in PEI, and we always had German shepherds, and they were kind of like, they were just outdoor.

7:51In my mind, I always joke that, like, they had their own apartments in the woods or something. They had their own life, and then they would just, like, hang around during the day and, like, you know, provide light security. Um, but they never, they weren't dogs that like came in the house and that we had like a really emotional relationship with. Um, but we always had one. So it wasn't really until I kind of left home and I was dating someone and they had this schnauzer and I was like, Whoa, this is crazy. This like, I'm like connecting with this dog, this dog and I are like bonding. And that was like, I was like, I'm going to get one of these one day.

8:27And was that the start of the love for the schnauzers yeah i mean that particular yeah that particular schnauzer i got close with um but i also my friend my friends in chicago uh there were a couple of dobermans that they had and they were just beautiful and uh i don't know they're just yeah there's just something so special about connecting with an animal oh it's so intense it's so it's it's deep in a way that will never be spoken you know what I mean looking they just look at they just look into your soul I know I know and did he like from the very beginning did he look into your soul I mean I think that you know here I was like you know ever like everybody isolating and July 2020 is when he showed up and I'm like this is it I'm gonna be it's gonna cure my cure any loneliness I might have is going to be awesome.

9:26But then like this dog arrives, it doesn't know who the heck I am. And it's just like peeing and pooping everywhere and ripping around. And I'm like, Oh God, I don't even matter to this dog yet. This isn't, this is just going to be a lot of work. So, um, so yeah, I don't think he looked into my soul quite right away, but once he, once we established, you know, that I was the person that had the food maybe. Food is always key. Yeah, but it was still so adorable. It's amazing how a puppy can trust anybody. They just rip around and they're just happy to be with anyone. And I was like, okay, well, eventually, hopefully, this puppy will connect with me specifically, you know?

10:13Spoiler alert, Harrington did connect with Rose specifically. And I wanted to know how he had changed her life. especially as someone who, like me, took on a dog well into adulthood. I got my dog Clutch in my 40s. I've had her three years now, and she's completely transformed my life. That's why I'm doing this podcast, because I just thought, wow, this is unbelievable what she's done for me. How did Harrington change your life? Do you have a partner or a family? No. Yeah. So you're a single lady like me. That's right. Yeah. So absolutely getting a dog for me has been transformative. I live alone and I spend a lot of time myself.

11:02I have a beautiful network of friends, but there's something about being responsible for the care of another living thing. You know, when you're not a mother, I don't know. I think it's like there's just it's a beautiful exercise to consider another living being. And like Harrington is an is an anchor and a comfort and a calibrator. um he slows me down when I you know you know like feeling anxious yeah it's like yeah it's companionship it's it makes you feel not alone it's it's a love that doesn't exist anywhere else you know it's and it doesn't change in its strength like now that we've established this connection he reacts the same way when I come come home you know I mean and like kids grow up and they then become teenagers and they're like, yeah, yeah, you're back.

12:10Who cares? And there's just, there's nothing that can compare to it. You know, whether it's a life partner, like that's like the, it's like impossible to ask another human being to be that consistent. That consistent and so like unconditional love. Oh, I think it's the only example of unconditional love. Yeah, it just is.

12:40What is Harrington like, like in terms of personality? He's, um, he really loves people. He's not, he's not super discerning. Yeah. He, he immediately will, will take, will take attention, but is also particular. Um, you know, doesn't really necessarily like to be picked up and um but if you like come and sit on the couch if anybody basically besides me comes and sits on the couch he'll come up and be on their lap um he's kind of funny like we go on walks and it takes him like he like poops five to eight times as opposed to just one you know spreading it around and he loves um he loves playing with all dogs but but like now that he's a little bit older is not super into puppies but also like sometimes sometimes we'll be walking and we'll come across somebody and I totally trust him reading their chi and it's like he's just kind of like I don't know and I'm like I trust you you know like and also the same thing with dogs like he loves most dogs but every now and again he's like no and I'm like okay you know I really think that they like kind of work it out um trying to think of i'm trying to think of funny things he goes down the stairs only using three legs he just there's one that he he just doesn't use it my mom was like i remember it was home at pei and she's like i think there's something wrong with one of his legs i'm like no he just he just only uses three to go down the stairs how does that even work though no it just seems like it's like seems to get in the way so he just doesn't use it which pod does he not use It's the right back foot.

14:21He just doesn't bother. It's very funny. That's hilarious. I'm trying to think. Oh, he does this. The one probably most annoying thing that he does is, it's hard to demonstrate, but like if I'm like every now and again, he'll check, he like checks in at night and not always, but he does this thing where like, let me just get a pillow. Okay. okay so i love we're getting a live live demo here this is me lying on my bed yeah for those listening rose is now cuddling up against a pillow yeah this is his face he's like smashes his face through the through the sheets into my face and i'm like yeah buddy i'm right here.

15:15And, uh, and then he did, I think he just needs like, he just needs to check in and then for like have a vigorous head rub. And then he's like, thank you. And he goes back down. And, um, for the most part, he sleeps on my bed in a bed in his own bed or on a blanket that I have spread out depending on his heat level. And then, and then every now and again, it's like, he didn't quite get enough love or he's feeling tender or something. And he, he's like, I need to sleep up against your legs tonight, you know, which is adorable. And also when we go and sleep somewhere else, like when we're, we're traveling somewhere, he goes into this kind of like protective mode and needs to sleep kind of at the, at the foot of the bed, which is kind of cute.

16:00It's amazing how much, I mean, I know you've had him for five years, but it's amazing how many like little peculiarities they have and that, and that you learn them all and, And then other people will be like, well, what do you mean? Like, they're like humans. Like, they're very particular sometimes. Yeah, and they definitely have. I mean, I think I'm learning, you know, definitely training is essential. And to get at it early, which I really did. I had a whole plan. And he's good at the things I wanted him to go to. He's not super good at recall in some instances, but for the most part he is.

16:43He's terrible at fetch. But yeah, I've learned that there are different breeds have different personalities for sure. 100%. What's Clutch? Clutch is a rescue who, the rescue said she was a shepherd mix. But I've since found out, like she's at least part husky. Yeah. She doesn't necessarily look it, but she's active like a husky, belligerent like a husky, and talks like a husky. Oh, interesting. Yeah. Interesting. So I've learned a lot about breeds through her, too. Sure. Yeah. And what are Schnauzers known for? Well, Schnauzers were bred to be ratters. Okay. But he's not a big digger. But he's a schnoodle, too, right?

17:31He's a poodle as well, yeah. Yeah, so he's just, I just, they're just very intelligent dogs. Yeah. Very smart and discerning, which is, I like to consider a lot like me. Well, they do say dogs are either become, I mean, not necessarily in looks. I wouldn't say that Harrington looks like you, but. Well, if someone said that, I'd be like, well, he's pretty handsome. He has a pretty handsome dog. Yeah. I've been lurking on his Instagram just to check him out.

18:11Not long before you got Harrington, I remember this song really well because it was really standout. You put out Bravado and there was the song, The Benefits of Being Alone, where you, and you must have thought about this after getting Harrington, but this song is you talking about a woman who is in charge of their own routine. And I'm curious, like looking back on the lyrics of that song, how how has that changed with Harrington? Has it changed your relationship with being alone? Listen, right on cue Harrington. Somebody might be at the door. Stand by. While Rose goes to check the door, I'm going to play you some of this song just so you know what we're talking about.

18:58This is the benefits of being alone from her album, Bravado.

19:21Okay, Rose is back. And look who she has in tow. Okay, up, up. Yeah! here he is anyone who's listening to this we'll have to go check our socials out to get harrington's butt right now um so we were talking about the benefits of yes yes being alone and how i don't know has has harrington changed your relationship to the notion of being alone i guess having a dog has make you know makes it so that i'm not entirely alone i do think yeah, I do think it's changed the landscape of my solo life. Like we were talking about with, you know, with the responsibility and the consideration that is involved with how I move in the world.

20:12So I'm not, you know, super restricted, but I care a lot. I'm not blowing in the wind on my own anymore. And I'm not tethered. You know, the beautiful thing is, is that he can be taken care of by someone else while I'm gone and that I trust. And that's a lucky thing. Yeah. And then he'll react the same way when I land home. Yep. And, and each day, I don't know if you experienced this, but I find whether this is a good thing or not, I think it's a good thing because I think it's good to consider mortality, you know, often. And I think, you know, I could lose him any day and it's just a reality.

21:01Like he could, yeah. So I think that's another calibrating fact too, that like, I think that's one thing that's really scary about relationships. It's like you get into a relationship, then you both, you rely on the person, you love the person, you care about them, and then you will lose them. Um, and this, like having a dog is like, puts that on speed, you know, because you only get, you might get 10 years. I mean, I might get a few more because he's a small dog, but also we don't know. And also you could get hit by a car. You know, if there's some, just some kind of freak, something that could happen.

21:40Uh, and mortality is something that I think about and, and consider. and uh i think having a dog you know helps with that thought process too i mean i'm not scared of that thought process but right i don't know if you if you think about that i think about honestly sometimes i see those memes um on social media and and how often people are thinking about the death of their their pet because they naturally live shorter lives than we do and And I choke up an inordinate number of times over this. I mean, it's something that you, because like you said, it's like getting into a relationship, but then knowing that you'll probably outlive the person that you're having a relationship with.

22:31You just have to go into it knowing I'm going to give it my all for their short time. Exactly. And then I'm going to be the one who's likely going to end up heartbroken, but you kind of have to throw yourself into it because they do. Right. I mean, I think that's the right attitude. Yeah. And I think that's, you know, we get so bogged down in human relationships and there's a levity to, um, having a relationship with an animal because there's, it doesn't get, um, interrupted with words and, um, you know, the repair, if a feeling gets hurt, the repair is easy and quick. Yeah. It's in its own category.

23:16They live in the moment. They live in the moment. They truly live in the moment. There's no grudges held. And it's so much easier not to hold a grudge against another living thing when they're not holding one against you. It's really pretty remarkable. I'm curious, like you were talking about levity clutch certainly for me i mean there's times when you know we were talking before as a single woman in her late 40s now 50 um who will chase my dog up the stairs and run and race her and jump on the bed with glee just going to go and jump up on the bed

24:01I am fully revealing that for the world to hear right now. But I was shocked to like access this part of myself. Yeah. That was really like, I don't know, hidden or buried or. Have you had those moments with Harrington too, where he's just brought out this silliness or this playfulness or. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Like I would never talk to a child in a weird, like baby weird voice. And I, and I find that tough when I hear that happening. Yeah. Um, but like talking to an animal makes you look like an, like, you don't want to, you gotta be careful about who you're around. You want to be around other animal people.

24:47Yeah. Um, it's playful. It definitely brings out, as I said, like a really tender part of me and, and is a venue for a silly part of me that exists that can, that can't necessarily exist in that way, you know, out in the world with like with certain people in your life, it can, but yeah, I don't know. Does it make it, are we like, can we be part of ourselves or like the rest of ourselves? I don't really know. Like the dog's not going to judge us for doing anything. It'll judge us if we're not giving it cheese and we're having some cheese ourself, you know, but yeah, it kind of maybe fills in the cracks somehow.

25:26I'm curious, do you, do you have conversations with Harrington? Sometimes I like to do like a summary of the day when we get into bed and I say, you know, we had a really good day. We had a great walk. We had a really great walk in the woods there. We got to, we got to see your friend. We got to see your friend, Stevie. We got to see your friend, sugar. That was really nice. Wasn't it? Yes. You were such a good boy. You did a great job, you know? And if he's like slow blinking, I'll be like, you're so tired. And we're going to go to bed, you know, like, um, so lovely. What a nice ritual. Well, it's nice too.

26:01Also, because I think it, it's like it, you know, I have this little, do you know, there's like five year diaries where you just write a tiny little bit. Like I started one, this is my third year now. And it's like, I can, I have this little mini ceremony for myself where I write just down a few lines of from the day, but then like saying it out loud reminds me that like what we got to do that day. And, and also what he got to do that day, which it's a, it's, yeah, it's like a taking stock of, of how did we do today? You know? Yeah. And I'm curious about singing too, because obviously that's what you do for a career.

26:39Do you, do you ever, do you ever sing to him? well or make up songs because that's another i'm guilty of the making up songs about some random thing in his life but i don't i don't think i make up a ton of songs but he will come into like that he has i don't know if you're like this too but he has like 723 beds all around the house um and so he has a bed in the in my studio and near my piano and he um he will come up there like it's it's also too like he definitely has like moods and like there'll be times where it depends on what I'm working on he'll lie down and be like really happy to be there if I'm playing and there'll be times where it's like I can't handle this right now and then there's these times where he lets out the most mournful cry it's like whatever I'm playing is like it's like too much for him and he goes into this like like primal howl oh wow it's so devastating and some and there's like a couple songs that that will for sure do it um which songs there there's a there's um there's one in particular off my new record um okay it's the very first song on the record called uh to be born the overture and it's just instrumental but it's pretty intense yeah and uh yeah he feels he feels it it's pretty crazy

28:13one of the singles on your your new album is called i believe in love and it's very hard um and one of the stars of that video which i love by the way is harrington

28:35So number one, just to get it out of the way, has that turned him into, you know, like his giant swollen head for now being a video star? I mean, he doesn't even know. He doesn't even know. He doesn't even know. He doesn't watch. He doesn't watch. He didn't want to see it. He didn't want to see it Harrington is in now three videos I Want to Dance with Somebody My cover of Whitney Houston's song I Believe in Love And That's How Long I've Waited for Your Love Which came out in February of this year So He just doesn't know He doesn't know And he doesn't need to know. He's not even on socials. I maintain his Instagram for him.

29:26He's never seen it. He's not interested. I was going to say, I bet he doesn't even know how many followers he has. He doesn't. I'm curious with that song. I mean, this is something that you, again, touch in a lot in your music is like themes of love. And we have talked a little bit about this throughout this conversation. But what has Harrington taught you about love?

29:53I think I always thought to myself that a dog would be a gateway to a human relationship, uh, on a more intimate level. I don't, I don't actually know that I have any conclusions about, um, human romantic relationships. I've been in several, um, and they're challenging and great and challenging. Um, and I haven't, you know, concluded where I want to be on that spectrum, but I do think that Harrington has opened a door in my, in the chamber of my heart that wants to love in that more intimate way. And I'm not talking intimate sex because like sex is like whatever, but like there's a vulnerability attached to intimacy that is frightening and, and really, um, disruptive and probably the seed to one's expansion.

31:14And I do feel like there's been, growth and an expansion in that part of me with the responsibility and with the little routines that we have and the space that I have made for him in my life and the way that I consider him. And it's not the same as a human relationship. And thank goodness, but there are elements, I think it's like it occupies the same place where someone would put a kid or another human, like it's occupying and exercising that particular part of me that hasn't really had its full chance, I think to, I mean, I'd be the only person keeping it from having that chance, but But, you know, yeah, it's like a safer way to exercise closeness and consideration and responsibility and intimacy.

32:14Yeah, it's it's I love it so much. I really feel like it's made me a better person.

32:24Thanks to Rose Cousins for that beautiful reflection on love. Her latest album is called Conditions of Love Volume 1. You've got to check it out. You can find all of her music at rosecousins.com. You can also follow Rose on Insta at Rose Cousins. Or if you want to check out Harrington, he's at Schmerrington. That's it for this episode of Furball Confidential. If the show has you wagging your tail, tell a friend, leave us a review and follow the show. It all helps.

32:55Furball Confidential is created and hosted by me, Jen Morose. Our producer is Talia Schlanger. She and David Travers-Smith co-created our theme music with Brian Kobayakawa on bass. Video and sound design and editing are all done by Reza Daya. Danny Stover does our social media. Our show artwork is by Adrian Foro. And on audience development, we have Marina Hanna. And thanks, as always, to the original inspiration for this podcast, Clutch. I'm Jen Moroz. See you next time on Furball Confidential.

33:36Is your kid's birthday coming up? Don't stress the prep. The Party Shop at Michaels is your one-stop shop for everything from bluey to rodeo. Transform your space into a birthday wonderland with dream-worthy tablescapes and decor starting at 99 cents. Plus, get free helium inflation on select balloon styles. Whether you're crafting a one-of-a-kind bash or grabbing the essentials, Michaels has everything to make their big day legendary. Shop now and order ahead for delivery or in-store pickup. Michaels, everything to celebrate anything. While every other channel is fighting for your customers' attention, podcasts are where they've already given it.

34:14No one accidentally listens to a podcast for 45 minutes. They choose to be here. They trust the voice in their ears. And when that voice talks about your brand, it doesn't sound like advertising. It sounds like a recommendation from a friend. Acast gives you that trust at scale, digital precision, host-read authenticity, and performance data that proves it worked. Don't fight for attention. Buy it with Acast. Learn more by visiting acast.com slash advertise.