The Yin and the Yang: Canine Style

So, based on your comments, I've scared many of you into NEVER getting a puppy.

This was NOT my intent.

Really.

I would love each and every one of you to go out and rescue a puppy, or even better, an older dog.

But I think there is an upside to having shared all this misery with you.

If you are considering bringing a dog into your life, you need to be aware of the good, the bad AND the ugly. A new pet, particularly, a puppy, comes with the whole package.

It had been 13 years since we'd lived with a puppy. We rescued our third dog when she was 3 years old, so she, besides needing to learn how to walk with me rather than drag me down the street at 60mph, blended into our family seamlessly.

We were spoiled...and senile. (Like after childbirth when you swear you won't go through that freak show again only to forget your vagina widened to the completely horrific and unnatural size of a watermelon and you end up WANTING to do it AGAIN. And the fact that your husband even wants to venture back down there after seeing that Nightmare on Wifey Street, is a testament to his need for SEX love for you.)

Part of this is our fault. Because we didn't get a crate right away. We prided ourselves on having raised three dogs before; we thought we were pros.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha.
Okay, it felt good to get that out.

So, we hired the trainer and now, within a day or two, I can confidently walk the dogs without risk of tripping over them or being dragged into a neighborhood doggie gang bang. We purchased the crate inside which Peanut slept all night without a whimper and allowed us to wake up without any untimely deaths to our socks, underwear, book lights or Pokemon cards (THAT did not go over well with my son - talk about hitting him where it hurts).

So, I hate to speak too soon, to jinx anything, but now that we've been humbled into realizing we need to earn our supremacy over this cute, little ball of energy, I hope that the situation will make a turn for the better.

MORAL OF THE STORY: If you're so inclined, you SHOULD consider ADOPTING a dog because he/she can be an amazing, fun-loving addition to your family (not to mention a way to teach your kids, and sometimes yourselves, responsibility) BUT you must be aware that while it is a lot of fun, it is also a lot of work and it's incumbent upon you to do the work to make living together all it should and could be. These dogs just want to please and they give so much love in return.

So, though I'm sure my carpets will again be doused with unfathomable amounts of disinfectant, and my arm muscles will fatigue from the workout, I want you to know that I LOVE my Peanut despite all the troubles we've had adjusting. I love when she cuddles with me and rests her little, peanut head in my lap. When she moans as I pet her ears. When her scrawny little body takes in entire bowls of food. When she rests her soft, furry body on top of my feet as I sit at the computer. When she learns how to stay, heel, and come. She is a great dog and in time, I know, all will be lovely.

SHHHHHH... both dogs are sleeping at my feet right now. Sooooo cute.