Dogs are not a bed of roses

Posted by Precious on 6/20/09 • Categorized as me, my pets

Some of my friends have asked if it is troublesome to rear dogs. I won’t pretend that it’s easygoing all the time.

When I was seventeen, I had a dog who was aggressively affectionate. Whenever I am going out on a hot date, the sound of my strutting heels would alert him that I’ve put in a lot of effort to dress up. He would get jealous and jump on me; as I screamed, “NOooOOooOooo!” while fending him off with flailing arms, he would attempt to lick my lips only to miss and wipe off my entire left eye-makeup.
Welcoming Committee - Dino the German Shepherd
That dog is dead and gone but now, I have another challenge – Charise my Dutch Shepherd is a talented escape artist.

A few minutes ago, a friend drove by to drop off her home-cooked food. As I opened the gate to pick up the food, I had to speak to her in a barely audible whisper in case the wind carries my voice to Charise’ ears. Then, she will come around and she will know that the gate is wide open, and she will sprint out, and I will have to chase her around the neighbourhood to get her back into the house.

Welcoming Committee - Charise the Dutch Shepherd
Having said that, rearing dogs is not an entirely hopeless situation. Dogs enjoy being trained and if well taught, can behave exactly the way you want them to.

For instance, whenever I arrive home, the dogs will get overly-excited to the point that their slobber will hang to the floor and they will knock each other down to be the first to jump and tread me with their muddy paws. Welcoming Committee at home But despite their excitement, they have learnt that unless they get their asses on the floor…
Welcoming Committee - nicely seated
I will never ever open the car door, not even until 50 years later when all that’s left is my ash-white skeleton still holding on to the steering wheel.