my solution for the dog has people questioning my sanity (no surprise)
red has behaved so horribly since we moved. honestly, he’s been awful and i have even referred to him as “a marley dog” on more than one occasion. and yes, i know he’s a lab and high-energy and needs a lot of attention and and and… but he’s trained. he is five years old and he’s trained.
he knows better. and he’s still being a bastard.
nothing is enough for him. no amount of attention, outside time, treats, walks, play time, none of it is ever enough. and ya know what? it needs to be enough, because while i love animals and think they’re fantastic, the bottom line is, they’re animals. my dog is not going to take priority over the humans in my life.
we treat him well. red is very loved. even on the days when he takes out his anger on us by leaving surprise turds throughout the house because we left him for a few hours, we still love him. he pisses us off, but we love him. he annoys the hell out of us, but we love him.
it dawned on me this weekend, when discussing red’s abundant attention-grabbing antics, that i may have a solution to this problem. i have figured out how to occupy the dog while still being able to live our lives.
we need a second dog.
i’ve mentioned it to a few people and have gotten mixed responses. some people think it’s a great idea and that red having a companion would help out his current shitty behavior. and other people think my pregnant status has caused me to multiply everything in my life, including canines, which is just crazy.
here’s the thing though… i am crazy. i was crazy enough to go along with paul and pick out red to bring home 3 days before paul left for japan for months. i’m crazy enough to add kids to this wack-a-doo world that we live in. pretty sure i’m crazy enough to seriously consider getting a dog for the dog.
red needs a friend. and i may just be crazy enough to find one for him… thereby filling our lives with more shit than i ever thought possible.
*EDITED TO ADD* comments below are awesome and give me a lot to think about… but i should mention that a cat is not an option for us as i am DEATHLY allergic to them. so thanks to those of you who have offered another type of animal as a suggestion, but a cat would literally kill me. kthxbye!
8 Responses to my solution for the dog has people questioning my sanity (no surprise)
Have a Sip
But two dogs?! So much work. Right as you’re about to go step up to two kids?!
The situations are entirely different, I know, but let me just say the lowest of lows that I’ve ever felt was the day I called my friend in Raleigh sobbing about our hound Uma. We’d been in our new house less than a year and I was overwhelmed with the twins and Esme, and I felt like the shittiest dog mother because I simply couldn’t give Uma the love and attention she was accustomed to or deserved. I was ready to ask my friend to find a new home for her.
The crisis passed and perhaps, though not likely, I got some sleep. And we kept Uma and OH MY GOD, we even added Tobias to the mix. But I still feel like Uma doesn’t get what she should and while I’ve resolved myself to this and try to do as much as I can, I just, I don’t know. I should stop writing.
After just one more thing: will you have to take the dogs on a walk or will they be able to do their business in a yard? Because walking two dogs is hard enough without also complicating it with a stroller and toddler too.
Now, just ignore me.
Dana´s last [type] ..Contentment
I don’t think it’s crazy. When we got our first 2 cats, I insisted we get 2 because we both worked out of the house and they would have each other. And then when we got 2 more it becaue I didn’t want to get just one and have the original 2 shun it. Then we got a dog who now thinks she’s a cat…pretty much, because our original 2 cats took to her right way (the other two, not so much, and they are the two we have left now…ugh). BUT, before you go out and get another dog, give it a little more time. My Abby acted the same way after some major changes…the first baby, moving, etc. and she calmed down after a bit. I think their adjustment periods may be longer than ours sometimes.
Erin´s last [type] ..Coyote Yummy
Two dogs are so much easier than one. SO MUCH. They play with each other, keep each other company, snuggle together. I spend way less time walking dogs and playing fetch now that we have two dogs. The only increase in work or effort is in paying for food, paying for vet care, and finding pet sitters. I will say: GET A FEMALE. The most balanced combo is one male and one female dog.
erniebufflo´s last [type] ..cry/babies
We had the same kind of issue, but instead of another dog, we got a cat, which is free entertainment for the dog, and puts her (the dog) in her place when she is being fiesty. We currently have 2 dogs, and they definitely use each other for entertainment, but they also use each other for making trouble, but is in the form of dumpster diving, shoe chewing, and rug ruining…eek.
I don’t think it’s a crazy idea, but maybe ask to borrow a friends dog for a “trial period”.
It’s not a horrible idea, but it hasn’t been horribly long since you moved either. Red might just need more time.
thepsychobabble´s last [type] ..SYWM Monday: Everyone
Ohhhhh mai gawd. Nic….get a cat. NOT another poop-anywhere kind of animals.
Cats poop in a box! A BOX. It’s the most conveniently pooping animal ever.
OK, they occasionally sound like some sort of reverse vacuum and vomit a mass of hair, bile and kibble onto the floor….but they give you WARNING by jerking around and emitting sounds like a reverse vacuum.
Insane.
Unless you get a Corgi-Husky cross. Because dude? Awesome.
http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmbxrfM2Es1qk5yn3o1_400.jpg
Canadian In Glasgow´s last [type] ..Ironic in a mind blowing way…
I think it’s a good thing for your dog (my sister and her husband got a second dog for the same reason and their first is so much better now) … but you *might* be crazy with the whole new-baby-entering-the-world thing… BUT again your dog now might be much easier to deal with when new baby arrives if he has another dog to entertain. Good luck!
Devan @ Accustomed Chaos´s last [type] ..Motherhood and Tattoos
I’ve considered doing the same thing and for the same reasons. But now I’m thinking I’ll wait and see how it works for you
Kara´s last [type] ..Moose Mugs and Leg Lamps