We got a dog. We got a dog about 3 months ago. The reason I haven’t written about her yet is that I thought that blogging about her equaled too much commitment. Commitment that I wasn’t quite ready for. “Weren’t you making a commitment by getting a dog in the first place” you might ask? Well, yes, sort of, …technically, yes. I just can’t say no to these faces, can you blame me?
She really is a nice dog. And I really do like dogs. I just have some ‘issues’ pertaining to dogs that I am currently working out.First of all, dogs are hairy creatures. This is a fact of life. I hate dog hair. This is another fact of life. I am slightly OCD about the cleanliness of my floors, furniture, clothes, children, etc. Which reminds me of a funny conversation that I had (well, overheard) with my boss about being OCD. It went like this…
Co-worker: (to boss)“wow dude, you are really OCD” (boss is doing something that resembles OCD behavior, can’t remember what it was, b/c it is a frequent occurrence for him)
Boss: “Everyone says that, but just because I’m awesome doesn’t mean I’m OCD”
Co-worker: “But, you really seem OCD”
Boss: “No, I’m just really, really good at everything”
Co-worker: “Vanessa, don’t you think he’s OCD”
Me: (pretending not to be eavesdropping) “what?”
I just thought he had a good point and offered an interesting perspective on what should or shouldn't be labeled as OCD behavior.
Anyways, on the other hand, besides the dog hair, Harley really keeps my kitchen floor immaculately clean. “Oops, dropped some cookie dough on the floor, better clean that up….. Wait a minute, thanks Harley!” “Sam, don’t throw your chicken nuggets on the floor! Mommy’s going to have to clean that up!…. nevermind! thanks Harley!”
Also, barking dogs set off some sort of ‘barking dog rage’ inside of me. I feel like I’m about to Hulk-out, seriously. I had a really bad experience with some neighbor dogs barking non-stop when we lived in Heber and I’ve never quite recovered…it involved nasty notes, nasty phone calls, ‘formal’ complaints. It really crossed the line that I've drawn for myself on just how much confrontation I am generally comfortable with …needless to say, it was really traumatizing for me. She really is not that bad of a barker. She barks occasionally, but quits immediately if I even as much as peek out the window. Not to mention that I have the most sensitive nose of anyone that I have ever met. Dogs stink. And they stink x10 to me. I'm still not sure what I was thinking, adding yet another being to the family that I have to feed, clean-up after, pick up poo after, and yell at.
I am still trying to see the benefits of having a dog. I’m not sure there are many for me. But my kids really seem to love her, and Jared does, too. And as “anti” as I am about dog issues, I really am starting to get attached to her.
See, I'm hugging her. (Even though it sort of looks like I'm kind of happily strangling her, I can assure you that this was a hug out of love).
8 comments:
Okay, that was funny. My feelings exactly. I have always said (well, after I went through my, "I NEED a dog stage" ages 10-14), I would rather have another child than a dog. At least I don't have to "walk" them went it's freezing cold outside. Looks like fun, though and I'm sure the kids love her!
I love your writing. I really don't like pets. You are a very nice mother for getting a dog.
As I've mentioned before, you crack me up. And, I was glad to see that you didn't mention that you have not one, but two, dogs this week. I'm afraid to ask how that's going. Hopefully, Justice isn't creating too much chaos for the Neal clan. I do hear he is a gentleman when it comes to Harley though. Yes, I raised him well... HA!
Cute dog! You deserve Mom-of-the-Year award for getting a dog.
I love dogs, but i could only permit dogs that live outside. Because I have a super sensitive sniffer. We don't have a dog yet because of that.
yeah, she is not allowed anywhere in the house except for the kitchen. (and the family room at night, but only on her blanket). because of hair and smell issues. i feel like i'm being a nazi about it, but that's the control freak in me.
I am way impressed you got a dog. Isaac has been asking for a dog for awhile. I tell him that we can't have one until we have a fence around our backyard,for the purpose of keeping the dog outside most of the time. I just can't have an indoor dog, I must be a control freak too. All I think of is hair and stinky house. By the way I love the name, Harley, who thought of it? Such a cute dog!! Good Luck!!
her name was marley when we got her, small modification and we had harley!
My kids want a dog. The only way out was to say, "No, we're renting, we can't. Sorry." Now we have a house and Quois says, "Now we can get a dog!" Oh no, help!! Now I can only say that our fence is not finished. I don't know how to have a dog in the city. Growing up, we'd just let the dog loose and he'd find his own food, and poo in the fields. Walk a dog? What?!? Are you kidding? Anyway, I know how you feel. Perhaps someday...
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