filed in Daily Life
Fantasy vs. Reality
At 2 AM, in the middle of a deep, delicious sleep, my dog started barking by the front door. Rose only resorts to this when her stomach’s upset, so I dutifully took her outside, she did her business and we trudged back home. It took a while to get back to sleep and then at 4 AM, the cycle repeated. And again at 6 AM. Most of the time, raising a dog is a sweet. fulfilling experience. On occasion, it really stinks. (Literally.) What’s like that in your life?
Artwork by Randy Mora
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Interestingly enough, my boss has been much more forgiving of the few occasions I’ve had to take time off to take care of my dog when sick than when I’ve had to do the same for myself. He’s even offered me the option of going home to telework the day after rushing the dog in to the vet because he’s sick “to keep an eye on him,” while otherwise asking me if “I’m *really* sick” on occasions that have gone as far as calling him from the ER, hooked up to IVs, to let him know I won’t be in. It’s just weird and kind of insane that he behaves like that, though my impression is that he equates my dog with his children. I get that my dog – and his children – are helpless without us, but I *also* deserve to take care of my own health, and all…
Maybe he loves pets more than children.
Sorry, must have lost that in translation. It boils down to he believes that you’re never too sick to work, but that kids AND dogs deserve their “parent” when they’re ill. It’s a little weird (especially since what I landed in the ER with was a nasty, virulent stomach bug, and NO ONE deserves to catch that from a coworker “toughing it out”).
He doesn’t sound like a big picture kind of guy.
One thing I looked for when I bought my townhome was a small fenced yard. Thankfully I found one and it is perfect for my 15lb poodle mix. Sometimes he does wake me early(so i just get up and let him out in the yard) but hey at least they inform us right? Instead of doing it in the house
I MISS MY DOGGY DOOR. And so does my dog.
oh, I woke up this morning to discover that my dog had thrown up ON the bed (down comforter) as well as once in the upstairs hall and then again downstairs. And it was one of the few nights when I could actually sleep (until I was awakened by retching) To me it’s just part of the deal with dogs … and it doesn’t happen that often. And as I’m sure you agree, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Kimberly , amen to that,my dog recently threw up his dinner on my nice rug :). You are right though it comes with dog ownership and the the benefits do far outweigh the ‘accidents’
A friend who has a 5 week-old baby told me she’s barely left the house for a month. Put’s the dog stuff in perspective.
Throwing up ON the bed and comforter is really a bummer. And yes. They’re worth every minute of it.
I often ask my dog why he can’t get sick on the 75%+ of my floors that are hardwood or tile, rather than the <25% that have rugs on them. Yet, it never fails that the nasties land on soft surfaces.
Outside of that minor quibble, yes, there are more good times than bad.
That’s a good point. Why, oh why is it always on the rug?
My theory is that he sees it as grass. It obviously isn’t because he enjoys the rug cleaner, since he tries to eat that before I even turn it on…
Hadn’t thought about the grass theory. Interesting.