It’s a doggie dog world
When my parents lived in Okinawa in the 1960s, they got a puppy. She was a Japanese Spitz (closest domestic approximation is an American Eskimo), and her name was Geisha. She was small enough to fit in the palm of my father’s hand, and she’d crawl under the car and come out with her white fur covered in black oil. When my father would call home during the day, the maid (Chioko) would inform him, “Okusan go Naha. Puppy go pee pee.”
(Translation: Your wife went shopping in Naha. Your dog pissed all over the floor.)
When I was born, Geisha was six. She lived to be seventeen, in spite of cataracts and being spayed very late in life.
When Geisha died, my brother and I knew better than to push for another dog. We did ask – in the “wouldn’t it be nice to have another dog?” style of passive-aggressive asking – but we never expected our parents to go out and get us a puppy.
Instead, a puppy came to us in 1987, and then another one in 1999, but by then the puppy belonged solely to my parents, and I had two step-cats that came to me via Kyle.
We’ve been pet-free since we moved to Colorado in 2005, and I’ve been not-so-secretly relishing the lack of responsibility and hairballs. Because when I’ve got three children to create messes, the last thing I need is a pet to join in the mess-making.
So I was downright shocked when we very nearly got a puppy in September. If she hadn’t been sold right out from under our noses, we’d have a little Sheltie pissing all over the floor (but sadly, no maid to report it).
It was an ideal opportunity – two pedigreed family pets who’d bred their last litter, owned by neighbors just up the street. Shelties were high on our list of preferred breeds. And the price – while not free – was definitely right.
Kyle, his dad, and I had gone out to ride the triathlon bike course the day before the big event, and Kyle had taken the girls down the street to see the puppies earlier that day. “You’ve got to see these puppies,” he told me. “They’re so cute. The little girl especially.”
We chatted about it as we rode, the possibility of getting one. We’d wanted to get a dog, before we found out about Oliver. But a new baby took priority over a new pet, and those plans were moved to the back burner. I hadn’t thought about them in a long time, but knowing there were puppies for sale just up the street brought it back to the forefront.
By the time we turned into our neighborhood, we had decided that if the female was still there, we’d go for it.
We pedaled past our house and down to the neighbors’ house, where we saw only one puppy still in the crate on the front lawn – and it wasn’t the little girl.
“Was she sold?” Kyle called out to the owner.
He nodded. “Yup. Just a few minutes ago.”
And so that was that. No puppy for us. Not then, anyway.
But it’s helped us decide that yes, we do want to get a dog, and we want to get one soon. Probably this spring, when housebreaking and trips outside will be easier to manage. We’ll likely start with the rescue organizations and our short list of preferred breeds.
No, I don’t look forward to vacuuming up pounds of fur or scooping poop, but neither do parents look forward to 2am feedings and endless diaper changes. It’s the unflagging affection of a pet and the joy of seeing my kids grow up with a dog – that’s what I’m anticipating.
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People like writing about their pets about as much as they like writing about their kids. Do it, and you could win $250, thanks to Burger King and their new iDog promotion. Oh, and PBN, of course.
(Anybody know where the title of this post comes from? I’ll be so impressed if you can tell me without using Google to cheat.)
October 25th, 2008 at 6:48 am
You are a much braver woman than I. A puppy and three kids that young? That makes you Superwoman in my eyes.
Chicky Chicky Babys last blog post..Love/Hate
October 25th, 2008 at 8:14 am
We took the plunge two years ago, when I was afforded the opportunity to stop working. Corrie is a mutt from the Humane Society. She has made us all joyous. She doesn’t take “no” for an answer when it comes to twice-daily walks. And I clean up mounds of poop in the back 40. And she sheds. And she tracks mud. And she…wouldn’t be traded for anything in the world.
No clue about the title, but it did give me a smile.
patoiss last blog post..The Weekly Wonderings #81
October 25th, 2008 at 8:16 am
We own a Wheaten Terrier. They’re great because they don’t shed, they’re the most mellow of the terrier breeds, and they come highly recommended as family pets.
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), you rarely find them in shelters. We ended up going to a very reputable breeder.
Good luck with your search!
Mandys last blog post..The Space Between
October 25th, 2008 at 9:05 am
RE: title. Isn’t is Phoebe from “Friends”? Then when they tell her it’s really “dog eat dog”, she freaks, right?
Marins last blog post..See This Is Why I Get Pissed
October 25th, 2008 at 10:39 am
[...] It’s a Doggie Dog World [...]
October 25th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
George Bush is famous for messing up the English language. Did he say it? I wouldn’t be surprised.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
If we didn’t already have a dog and cat, we would definitely wait until we were through the baby stage. But with your two ones out of it, I can see being ready for a dog. Hubby and I have always had pets, so to us it wouldn’t seem like a family with them.
They do have messes to clean up, but they are worth it. Usually.
caramamas last blog post..Developing Memory and Reasoning
October 25th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Wow. No way will I be bringing a puppy to our house until the baby is at least 3. You’re a brave woman.
Heathers last blog post..It Followed Me Home, I Swear
October 25th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I did not want a dog, but my lovely MIL got my youngest son a puppy for his birthday two years ago. He is a three-legged Shitzu/Maltese mix and I could not imagine our lives without him. Rescue dogs are great, and rescue dogs that don’t shed? The absolute best!
October 25th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Depending on the breed, the hair shedding can pretty much be cancelled out by the way they eat all the kids’ crumbs off the floor.
(Yes I am also SHOCKED that you came that close!)
mayberrys last blog post..Shopping list: 1 bichon frise, 1 kitten, 1 rabbit …
October 26th, 2008 at 11:55 am
At 62 I’m done taking care of things..and a pet although more loyal then most things is the same as having a child.
Blessings to the young that still have the energy..my daughter age 42 has three dogs, two horses and a cat. She loves them all and so do her seven children..
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
Dorothy Stahlneckers last blog post..Women In Business Expo Eastern Hills Mall
October 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
We want a dog. Someday. I grew up with a dog and miss having one.
But at this point I just can’t fathom another living creature needing my attention at 7:00 am.
I would kill, though, to think of some system to share a dog with a lot of other families…to sit under the table while the kids are eating. So much mess and so much waste.
Kates last blog post..Unsurprisingly, I have no idea how to explain politics to a preschooler
October 27th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Long time no chat, cousine. But I found this post to be up my alley (shocking, I know). I vote for the rescue route. But I also wanted to throw a breed out there… scotties don’t shed much at all. And every one I have worked with I have falled in love with. Assuming you want a small breed… if you want a large golden beast I feel you know which breed I pledge my allegience to.
)
October 27th, 2008 at 7:29 am
And by falled I meant fallen. Yea, I go to college and I done spelt good.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Axel loves the dog. The dog does not love Axel. I think, though, that’s because he had a good 5 years alone with us before the baby came and messed up his good situation. I love the dog, I do, but if we didn’t already have him, there’s no way I would have brought something else to feed/clean up after/love into the house. And I’m really, really tired of the dog eating Axel’s socks.
Ozs last blog post..Where’s my Baby-Sitters Club?
October 27th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Our dog (Australian Shepard)is six years old and we go back and forth about getting a second one. She just calmed down in the past year. Sigh. My kids so want a puppy, but they are so much freaking work. I’m guessing I’ll hold out until the baby is at least walking. Or potty trained. Only so much poop I can clean up.
No clue on the title.
Issas last blog post..One month…
October 27th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
oh, don’t do it. puppies suck. they’re WORSE than a newborn. i’ve had both and i’ll take a newborn ANY day, because neither of my children have ever eaten half a linoleum kitchen floor or part of a sofa or an entire plastic laundry basket.
when you decide to go there, i would strongly encourage you to look for a rescue or shelter dog. there are very specific behaviors well-adjusted dogs exhibit–we found one of them, sitting in front of a petsmart store with a bunch of her brethren from the parkville animal rescue. she’s a big, clumsy mutt, but she’s the best dog ever.
Mitzis last blog post..Sleep Deprived, or Tardy?