Just One More

The poem below represents the madness that is within dog lovers. I am not sure who the author is, but he/she captures the thoughts of many of us in the words.

Interestingly,I was just talking with Himself about this yesterday -- we can handle just one more - hehe. Please enjoy!


One Dog Is No Trouble And Two Are So Funny

The Third One Is Easy, The Fourth One's A Honey

The Fifth Is Delightful, The Sixth One's A Breeze

You Find You Can Live With A Housefly With Ease

So How 'Bout Another? Would You Really Dare?

They're Really Quite Easy, But Oh Lord, The Hair!

With Dogs On The Sofa And Dogs On The Bed

And Crates In The Kitchen, It's No Bother You Said

They're Really No Trouble, Their Manners Are Great

What's Just One More Dog And One More Little Crate?

The Sofa Is Hairy, The Windows Are Crusty

The Floor Is All Footprints, The Furniture's Dusty

The Housekeeping Suffers But What Do You Care?

Who Minds A Few Nose prints And A Little More Hair?

So Let's Keep A Puppy, You Can Always Find Room

And A Little More Time For The Dust Cloth And Broom

There's Hardly A Limit To The Dogs You Can Add

The Thought Of A Cutback Sure Makes You Feel Sad

Each One Is Special, So Useful, So Funny

The Food Bill Grows Larger, You Owe The Vet Money

Your Folks Never Visit, Few Friends Come To Stay

Except Other Dog Folks Who Live The Same Way

Your Lawn Has Now Died And Our Shrubs Are Dead Too

Your Weekends Are Busy, You're Off With Your Crew

There's Dog Food And Vitamins, Training And Shots

And Entries And Travel And Motels Which Cost Lots

Is It Worth It You Wonder? Are You Caught In A Trap?

Then That Favorite Comes Up And Climbs In Your Lap

His Look Says You're Special And You Know That You Will

Keep All The Critters In Spite Of The Bill

Winter Is A Hassle But The Dogs Love It True

And They Must Have Their Walks Tho' You Are Numb And Blue

Late Evening Is Awful, You Scream And You Shout

At The Dogs On The Sofa Who Refuse To Go Out

The Dogs And The Dog Shows, The Travel, The Thrills

The Work And The Worry, The Pressure, The Bills

The Whole Thing Seems Worth It, The Dogs Are Your Life

They're Charming And Funny And Offset The Strife

Your Lifestyle Has Changed, Things Just Won't Be The Same

Yes Those Dogs Are Addictive And So's The Dog Game!

The Couch

In the not so distant past Himself and I decided it was time to buy a new couch. Our sons had moved out on their own, and it seemed that much of our furniture moved with them. We found ourselves with only 2 recliners to our names and no place for guests to sit when visiting but worse yet, no place for the dogs to be either. It was barbarism to have them lying on the floor for Pete's sake!

Buying a couch seems simply enough - go the the various furniture stores, find one you like, and buy it. Not so when you live with three large dogs! Because they are part of our family and live with us, they share space on our furniture as well. So we had to think about what type of couch, what fabric would suit them and be easily cleanable (for the slingers!), how high off the ground it sat to ensure that they would not have to jump up and possibly harm their joints or bones ... I could go on with our considerations, but I think you get the point. It wasn't a simply task after all.

After much investigation we decided to buy a leather couch. Leather is easily cleanable, their nails don't easily penetrate the softer leather, and it is cool to their skin. Aha! We had a plan for the couch!! Notice here that not once did we give consideration to our own tastes, the decor of our home, or our possible guests comfort -- it really was all about the dogs.

So, one special order and many weeks and dollars later, we had a beautiful new leather couch! Pru, Brin and Neo loved it- they pranced around it like they knew it was just for them, sniffing every inch and giving it a lick or two as well. Himself and I were so proud! We had made our dogs so very happy!!

And happy they were and are. So where's the story in that? Well, remember the reference to guests? That's where we have the problem. When we have guests, they naturally move to sit on 'the couch.' It is a natural behavior for humans to sit on couches - we have been trained to do so. But in our home, 'the couch' belongs to the dogs.

It goes something like this: The humans will sit on the couch and Pru, Brin and Neo become very confused. They begin to pace back and forth across the floor; they walk over to the humans to push on their legs as if to move them out of the way; they turn and look at Himself and I with eyes that say 'what's this all about?' Neo will try to climb up on the guests to find a spot for himself in the spaces between them - he's only 82 pounds after all. Brin will lay her huge head on any open spot and stare up at the human visitors and sigh. And Pru ... Well Pru is a bit more verbal. She will snort at the humans and then go over to lie on the floor and whine audibly. This whining is low, but drawn out and continues until the humans remove themselves from the couch.

The three lie in wait. Should one of the humans move from his/her spot on the couch
that spot is immediately filled by one of the dogs. Typically Pru is on it first, but I have seen Brin move very quickly in order to take the opportunity to reclaim her rightful throne. Neo at this point is typically on Himself's lap, so he rarely needs to run to the open space.

And there is no gaining back that spot for the human either. Guests take restroom breaks or get up for any reason, they have simply lost their spot. Pru and Brin will not relinquish that which they have conquered. Himself and I have ordered firmly, cajoled them softly and sweetly, and tried physically to move them, to no avail. They are firmly planted and planted they will stay! It is usually with very embarrassed and defeated faces that Himself and I lead our guests to the dining room table for the rest of the visit.

I know what you must be thinking- but these three dogs really are trained. They do obey us every single time they feel like it - and that is very consistent behavior from them. So, they do have really good control over us -lol.

The couch - such a simple piece of furniture. Unless you are owned by dogs...