Saturday, April 3, 2010

Vintage Post #2 - My 30 Pound Frustration



Current mood:  listless
Category: Pets and Animals
In July, something possessed me to say okay to a puppy.  You would think that I would have had better judgment from our previous experience.  We got Moe in the summer of 1999.  Mikayla was born in Summer of 2000.  My comment, "Boy, having a baby is a lot easier than having a puppy!"


So this summer as I exercised one of my bad habits, going into a pet store "just to look," a pretty black lab puppy looked at us just the way puppies know how to look to get you to fall in love with them.  We were hooked on the 10 pound cutie.


We bought her and named her Reagan.
Reagan is actually a pretty good puppy.  I mean, as good as a black lab puppy can be.  She poops and pees and chews and barks and jumps up to the counter and bites, but that's all the things puppies do.  She can sit (when she wants to).  She can speak on command and does well on a leash.  Reagan can now go all day in her crate without making a mess, while we're at work.  (When J goes on 3rd shift in a few weeks, she won't have to go all day like that.)


My main frustration isn't even her fault.  It's mine/ours.  We've gotten used to going out and doing things - taking day trips and leading a very busy schedule.  Moe is older and has adjusted to it.  However we can't maintain the same schedule with a new puppy.  I feel guilty going out and leaving her at home.  Our schedule for the moment is now dictated by this little hound.


As the months go on, I know that she will be able to go longer without needing us at home.  I also hold the hope that one day she will settle down enough and be potty trained enough that she will be able to roam the house like Moe when we are gone.  Right now it's nice to know that she will not get hurt or ruin expensive items when we are away.


Oh yeah, and that 10 pound cutie... she's almost 30 pounds!

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