I never liked this song. I never cared how much the doggy in the window cost. I am not a dog person. I don’t even like when the kids sing this song.
My children have wanted a dog for a long time. They have been asking for a dog since they could talk. I always said no.
They have stuffed toy dogs. I make leads for them out of ribbons. They take them for walks. I then wash said teddy dogs. They walk them. I wash them. I am fine with this level of commitment.
Then it got taken up a notch. We now have imaginary dogs. Two of them. Michael D Higgins and Queen Elizabeth. We walk these imaginary dogs. We throw sticks for them. We even pick up their imaginary poo. Its my own fault isn’t it? I should have put a stop to this dog nonsense a long time ago.
Anyway in a moment of madness over Christmas I relented a little. Maybe it was the magic of the festive season or temporary insanity brought on by overeating but my resolve weakened a bit. The smallest child is three this month. Good time to get a dog according to my husband apparently. Like the stupid fool I am, we included the children in the dog talk. Sure that was that. It seems we may be getting a dog. A real live one. I don’t know how this happened.
I found myself in a pet shop the other day admiring dog accessories. I don’t know how this happened either. As much as my husband and my children love dogs ( I caught the youngest kissing a dog on the mouth last week), I am the one who is here the most, it will be my dog, won’t it? I will have to do all the dog stuff. I don’t know how this happened, did I mention this?
I don’t know when we will get the dog or even what type. My preference would be one that is mute that comes with a catheter and a colostomy bag that self cleans but that probably isn’t possible.
I took out the my baby name list the other day to consider dog names. My husband said we need a dog name and Annabel, Rachel,Leo or Thor are not suitable dog names. Nor will I be allowed take the buggy down from the attic or buy dog clothes. So the dog isn’t even going to be my substitute fourth baby. It’s just going to be a dog. Not a fourth baby. A dog.
I don’t know how this happened.
I’m off to ring the dog shelter to put our name down for a puppy.
Sweet Jesus.
Our local shelter now has a 6 month waiting list for puppies- maybe your folk will grow out of the notion by the time one is available? We got an adult dog; less bouncy, less messy, but also less sociable…
I am open to a bigger dog. Less bouncy, less messy sounds like my kind of dog.
I dont think they will grow out of the notion. Ever.
Do NOT under any circumstances get a dog if you dont want it. Your children are too young and trust me the novelty will wear off very quickly and you will be left with the mess. This happens all the time, parents relent to kids pressure and the poor dog is the one to suffer months down the line. DONT DO IT!
I may have been slightly flippant. My husband wants a dog too. I would never get one on a whim. We have tentatively said maybe and I am researching it thoroughly. If we do get one, the dog will be very much loved by the four of them and I might even warm to him or her.
Sounds like my story. In a moment of madness, we got a dog. I loved dogs as a child but they don’t do much for me now – must be since I had my own kids I transferred all that love or something to the kids. My kids adore the dog. (They’re early teens and a pre-teen). We have him about 5 years and I waited until the oldest was about 12 so the kids could take reasonable responsibility. I didn’t want a pup, wanted a trained dog that could fend for himself a bit so they told us he was about 2 but vet said he was older. Got him from a shelter. Day we brought him home in car, he peed on me and growled at my youngest who was about 7 at the time. The youngest wouldn’t go near him for weeks. Dog was marking his place in the family/pack and he saw the youngest as being below him. Then they all started to warm up to each other. Best thing ever getting an older, rescue dog – kids had to learn how to manage his behaviour, they like that he’s a bit of a mutt and a bit of a delinquent (he doesn’t really care for other dogs or toddlers and regularly races out the front door down the road with us calling him back and running after him). He’s quite lazy but if one of us goes out to the back garden, he jumps up to bark at birds letting us know he’s not sleeping on the job. The deal was that I would never feed the dog or clean up after him so there’s a dog-feeding rota for the kids. If they forget to feed him, I tell them he was in his kennel for half the day because I had to go somewhere straight from the school drop (actually not really true, I always let him out and feed him if they forget but they don’t need to know that!) It does cure them ‘forgetting’ to feed him. It’s the only rota that works in our house. DH does pick up the poo but the kids do it when I’m with them for walks. The garden is destroyed, there’s often muck in the house and he’s inclined to bark on a Sunday morning to be let out of the kennel when we’d rather not have to get up but he’s loved by the kids. He goes on the trampoline with my youngest, he’s ecstatic to see them home from school, he’s really grateful for his food (as a rescue, he was probably hungry quite often) and he’s the only one in the house who never complains about what’s on his plate! I could take him or leave him (and I think he knows it) but it’s been wonderful watching the kids with him and watching them care for him and love him. It can be a bit like having another child and we do have hassle going on holidays (he hates kennels and the kids were demented with worry), but he’s now one of the family.
I love my dogs. That said, they are a lot of work. My surprise was Little Incredibly Dumb Dog. I got her for Flower Child,I was never ever been tempted by a little dog for myself. Now I find there’s something extra lovely about a dog that’s so smooshable and easy to bathe.
I’ve almost been here a few times but thankfully never fully arrived! Rather you than me hon though you will probably end up being the one that loves it and it you best! Go for something with short hair!!!!!!!!!!! That’s about the extent of my knowledge on the subject I’m afraid but good luck : )
A dog will be more work than a fourth baby.
I love ours, she is 6, completely neurotic and part of the family but a lot of work.
Maybe you can borrow her to give the kids a taste of the effort
I was broken last Summer. But I was also broken 7 years ago when our first son was born and I knew then and there that I was going to have more. BUT we have one doggie, and there will def be no more. She is lovely. She is gorgeous – all black and shiny and licky and does her wees and her poos everywhere. She has also learned how to open the back door by pulling the handle with her teeth to get into the house. It is just a huge pity she doesn;t do the same thing when she needs to get out for her wee’s!! Our doggie is a doggie in the window too and she gets up there whenever we drive off and leave her. Breaks my heart. But our doggie is now a house doggie. All of her six month, huge, bounding, loveable black lab collie cross puppy bit of her. Nothing beats your child racing down the hallway into your arms for a random hug. Except maybe your doggie when she wants one too. Good luck!!!!!!!!
Thor is a perfectly good dog name. (We have friends with a dog called Odin.)
I feel your pain, except for the part where you gave in, because I haven’t done that yet. But my husband is also not a dog person, so I think I’m safe for a while yet.
Expensive business to be getting into and no children’s allowance to offset the cost either! You should tell them that in order to afford a dog you will need to have another baby – see how that goes down especially with DH!
Good luck; I didn’t want a dog either…and I ended up with two.One is a giant who is still with us, the other one had to be put down.Brace yourself; they wiggle into your heart, like it or not.
Sucker ;0) We´re in negotiations over fish here but I´m holding my ground and refusing point blank knowing full well that I will be the one left cleaning out a manky fish bowl/tank bleurghhhhhhhh! Tell your dp that a dog will more than likely chew his bike tyres and pedals, that should take the wind out of his sails ;0)