We, as a family, decided last year that we would get a pooch. We knew right away we weren't going to buy a dog, too many pets in this world already. So we started on kijiji, looking for a free dog. This resulted in either 10yr old dogs, or dogs with obvious issues.
Next was the SPCA, but at the time there were no suitable dogs (to abused to be around kids), and I'm not the type to wait around for the dog that calls our name. I'm not picky, I just wanted a dog!!
I happened to stumble on an ad about adopting a Greyhound. Hmmm, they are cool looking, and different....lets check this out!
I called them up, submitted my application, and arranged for a home-visit with a sample greyhound to see how the kids would like it. They showed up, and I swear it was almost like this breed was meant for us!! They sleep more than babies, need very little exercise, a moderate amount of walking, and they are (usually) very well mannered.
Perfect!! Sign us up!
We got to choose between two greyhounds. A female, all black, VERY hyper! Then, a boy, white and brown, a shy amputee (missing a toe!), who clung to Todd's side. The decision was very easy. We wanted the boy, he seemed so loving, and was very mild mannered.
Meet Junior....aka WW Junior Mint, an ex-racer from the states.
That was last October. Over a year we've had the dog, and you want to know what I know now!? Yes, he sleeps all day, and yes he is very mild mannered....until you take up too much room on the couch for his liking, or until you try to move your leg that his 80lbs of body is laying on while you try to sleep. Then he turns into psycho dog, who whines and growls, and shows you how mad he is by shitting on the floor when you tell him to get down!
His farts clear a room, he won't leave the garbage alone, he hyper-ventilates when he's upset (seriously). He jumps all over you, eats all the cat food, his nails are freakishly sharp, he knows zero commands, and looks at you like a spazz when you call his name. Oh, and for the record when the adoption agency says "Oh yeah, he knows his name".....don't necessarily believe them.
He doesn't like being around other dogs, his attention span is like 3.2 seconds, he plays for all of two minutes and then sleeps for 4 hours and I'm pretty sure he has irritable bowel. He follows me everywhere, and waits outside the bathroom door. He's very sensitive, and his feelings get hurt easily. He is mentally-defective.....and I wouldn't have it any other way. He fits in quite well with my screwed up family!
He's quite funny, he's really pretty, he doesn't mind smaller crowds but hates big ones, he sleeps on his back with his tongue hanging out and he loves to have be rubbed...hmm, sounds familiar!!
Sure, I wish he didn't crap on the floor, and that maybe he'd actually stay when I asked him too, but I also know that it's not his fault either. We know he has "issues", but most of the time it's not on our priority list to correct them. I try to teach him stuff, but I'm not consistent. It's hard to scold him for pooping when most of the time we don't catch him in the act.
He's like living with a full-time toddler, that's never, ever going to grow up. He's only five, so we probably still have at least another five years of the terrible-twos!
In comes Doggy Daycare!! Just like when my children were toddlers, I love him....but sometimes you just need a break from them from time to time. Unfortunately, it's not like I can send him off to a friend's house for a play date for a few hours. He's here, ALL THE TIME....who knew a dog was such a big responsibility?!!?
He can't be leashed outside, so he has to be walked....and he pees, a lot. During the week, it's about 4 times a day he goes out, maybe 5 or 6 if he wasn't walked long enough. Some days it feels like my life revolves around a peeing dog.
The walking has turned into such an ordeal around here. The weekday schedule is pretty consistent. Todd in the morning, Jeremy after school, Grace after supper, and me before bed. This shifts around sometimes, but overall it's ok. The issue is weekends. Who wants to get up at his regularly scheduled morning pee at 7am?? We sleep until about 8:30 or 9am but nobody told the dog that! Then we are around all day so he thinks that means more walks than usual. Sometimes it's every hour that he wants to go out. And "someone"....fine ME, foolishly taught him how to bark when he wants to go out (he's not all spazz)....so he's a built-in alarm clock. It's a constant fight of "it's not my turn".
Weekends are wild, with no structure. The kids are in and out. Sometimes they are gone for hours, other times there are so many kids here that I'm pretty sure I violate fire codes or somethings. We come and go all day which leads to complete chaos for the dog. He doesn't handle stress very well so this turns into LOTS of walks so he doesn't relieve himself in frustration on my floor. But...unless I manage to catch the kids while they are free, I either end up fighting with the kids or I end up walking him a gazillion times and it drives me nuts.
I knew Todd would be away for the weekend, I knew the kids would be out most of it too, and I was dreading having to deal with him all frickin' weekend by myself. I just want one day of peace!!
So I did it, I booked him in the kennel for no reason other than I wanted to be selfish. He's been to the kennel before, but only for when we are going to PEI. He likes it there so there's no guilt of leaving him. But this time I sort of felt bad, knowing I'd be dropping him off and then just coming home to lay on the couch and watch TV all weekend!
I figured I'd drop him off this morning, and pick him up in the AM. A nice little break for Mommy! When I dropped him off, I was told that pickup tomorrow is only from 5-6pm because it's a weekend. WOOO HOOO!!!! Now I basically get all of Sunday too! I'm not sure what to do with myself. No dog looking at me like he just lost his best friend. He's not fighting me for space on the couch. I'm not yelling at him to get out of the garbage, or the cat food, and I don't have him following me around everywhere!
It reminds me of when I'd drop the kids off to Mom for a night or two...the utmost joy of having ZERO responsibility for the day was practically orgasmic. Since the kids pretty much do what they want on the weekends, my only responsibility today is to feed them supper which is ok, because I have to eat too!! I may even do a load of laundry or two to make sure I did SOMETHING productive this weekend. Ahhhh....freedom, you are mine again!! Until Sunday night at least...
Rule #1 - NEVER get a dog because you think your kids will love it and spend all kinds of time with them. It WILL backfire on you, and you will forever be stuck with the responsibilities of the dog.
Rule #2 - When you have foolishly ignored my Rule#1, and are now stuck with a dog that drives you loco, invest in some good doggy daycare!!
Rule #3 - Even on the worst days, when your dog drives you nuts, they always give you a reason to laugh....
