Open Emotion

love

No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich. --Louis Sabin (from Daily Good)

my pretty girl

 

THROUGH the door. NOW!

I'm searching through my daily goods to see if I could possibly have a quote that would fit this post...haven't found it yet, but if the quote appears at the bottom, I've obviously found it. ...or I gave up and chose a random.

I can teach. I can.

I once taught little children their sounds to be able to read...and they read. They showed progress. They were at the beginning stages of reading.

I taught a child what the proper behavior was for a school desk. Although the student was in total brat mode, Ms. D. remained calm and collected. She TAUGHT the student how to properly sit without ever raising her voice.

Yes, Ms. D can remain calm...when at work. For knowledge way beyond me, I have the utmost patience for my students. I sometimes walk away from a situation and go, "wow, did I really just turn that into a learning experience...for both of us...and not raise my voice or even an eyebrow?!" Basically, I amaze myself that when at work or with children, I can be absolutely calm.

...BUT...

yes, of course there is a but. Without a "but" this post would not be.

...but, I cannot. CANNOT get my damn dog to go through the gosh darn DOGGY DOOR. I have tried. I have taught. I have bribed. I have begged. I have pulled. AND pushed.

Guess who is NOT absolutely calm in this situation after the first hour. After the first week. After many weeks.

ME!

I do not know how to get that darn dog (Yes, I still adore everything about her...) to go THROUGH the door. Does she not know the freedom that knowing how to open and go through the doggy door allows her. It allows her FREE ...WITHOUT ASKING...access to the backyard: to sniffing at one's own poop, tearing branches from the trees, digging holes (even though I have told her many times to stop), and even lounging in the sun. OHHHH, but no. Lilly will not have it.

Nope, she hates that door. Hate is a strong word, but I couldn't find anything stronger. Because she does not like it and it does not like her, and they will never touch. NEVER. Not even if the finest slab of fresh bacon is sitting on the other side. Or the largest, juiciest treat was propped on the other side. That girl is not budging in her resistence to the horrid doggy door.

Okay, so I can teach humans. I can teach the damn dog to sit, but I can't make it walk through a door. WHAT am I to do?! It's not like the extra steps are killing me...THAT is not the point. Point: FREEDOM for the dog!

...maybe this one works: enjoy!

Enjoy the journey, enjoy ever moment, and quit worrying about winning and losing. --Matt Biondi, e-mailed from www.charityfocus.org or www.dailygood.org.

Two smiles and a frown

I've already discovered that I'm attached to this cute little...ummm medium thing hanging out with us all the time.

Since it's extremely late, but I wanted to write something, I'm make a sweet little list.

Things I'm not so sure that I like about my Lilly right now:

1. pooping in the house--trained but doesn't know how to "tell" us she has to go
2. feeling like I have to give directions to the other roommates cause she's "mine."
3. 5 a.m. *see #4*
4. leaving her all day
5. her picky stomach
6. the pricey dog food they got her attached to

Things that I absolutely love about Lilly:

1. she's always excited to see me
2. she's helping me get into shape
3. she's such a good dog to train
4. that even after we get up at 5 to go to the bathroom, she'll go back to sleep
5. she makes me happy
6. she's trained to sleep in her dog bed and not in my bed
7. walking with her and watching her discover the world around us
8. she cuddles with me on the couch
9. she still loves me even if I scold her or tell her no

...she's so great-I'll keep working on the list, but if you note the time, I really should sleep right now, rather than type.

Introductions are in order...

While everyone is getting married or having babies, I've taken a big step in my life also and that's adopting the most well behaved, lovable, adorable companion. My very first, all on my own (well, along with my roommates--before, my Dad was the keeper and care-taker of all things dogs), dog!

Introducing Lilly:

She's absolutely, positively adorable. She's a mutt, of course. But, what we do know that's in her is American Staffordshire Terrier and a bit pit bull...other than that, I have no clue. My roommate, J and I went to an adoption fair fully intending to look at the baby puppies. After inspecting almost all the dogs in the room, we thought we found some cute ones that might fit our house. We spoke with the lady from Underdog Rescue and she asked us about our jobs and our lives. After noting that we weren't in our house during the day very often, she suggested a bit older dog--still with the same relaxed personality as the two puppies we had found. Her foster dad walked her over and instantly, I knew this was the dog! She was pleasant and not distracted by the many dogs that were around us. She was cuddly and nice with both people and other dogs.
J and I went to get breakfast and discussed. Later that day, I nervously put in my million page application to become Lilly's new fam.

Such excitement when I got the call saying that my application was approved and that I was to get to set up some meeting with Lilly!

We adore her!