Monday, April 18, 2016

DANG, I'VE RUINED MY DOG


Yep, I've ruined my dog. Callie has been a way above average dog. She is very smart, obedient to a fault, loving to the point of being needy and has dispatched her share of moles and voles. She is also fun and entertaining, thus basically perfect.

Callie is also a dog that craved being outside.  Her days in captivity at the Humane Society made freedom to run her greatest priority. She is very high energy and usually spent most of the day outside running hard and happy.  

I have not allowed her on my bed and she has never asked.  It has just been an unwritten rule. I blissfully sleep alone. She was very happy with the couch and a lovely, over sized dog bed in the living room.

Then recently when I was feeling a bit puny with a nasty cold and needing a bit of distraction from my miseries during the daytime, I made a mistake and invited her onto my bed.  It took a lot of coaxing and I eventually had to lift her to get her onto the bed. This is a dog that can vertically leap four feet with ease but couldn't figure out the 3 foot high bed. She would  jump half way up with a guilty, uncertain expression then slide off.

It was as if we humans were told as adults that it is now OK to pee our pants. Our inhibitions and training would not let it happen. She couldn't wrap her head around the sudden permission to do a forbidden thing.  Her mind would not let her muscles work. Thus I had to help her. 

Eventually she  understood this was now permitted and would pounce on the bed eagerly to support me in my misery. Oddly for the longest time she didn't snuggle but instead, she and the cat stood side by side at my shoulder, staring down at my face as if checking to make sure I was still breathing. It was a bit eerie but also amusing, thus they stayed. Any diversion is good when you feel yucky.

However, now that I am well, my bed during daylight hours has become her only goal in life besides food.  She now only goes out to do her business and then wants right back inside. No more running around outside chasing bunnies or trying to dig up moles. After just a few minutes of accomplishing her toilet, she wants right back inside. Now when I open the door she runs right past me (Patti who?) to leap upon the bed where she quickly stretches out and inflates from a 20 pounder into a heifer.

Night times remain off limits for both pets in the bedroom. I do have a door. Yes, I could simply close the door in the daytime also but that would banish the cat who has always had bed privileges during the day. It is about the cat's only entertainment outside of a window seat.  Besides, this is giving Callie such a HUGE amount of pleasure. So for now, she is allowed. I do worry when summer comes and Callie rolls in something dead outside then leaps upon the bed. Ewww.   Retraining will happen then. She is smart-- she will learn.

One definite plus is that I can now sit on the couch watching my baseball games totally unmolested as I am no longer of interest to either pet. Ahh.

Yeah--- I like orange.
For now,  we are good.  Stinky dead stuff is somewhere in the future. As Scarlett O'Hara would say,"I'll think about that tomorrow----after all---tomorrow is another day." 

Have you ever broken a rule for a child or pet only to realize you might have created a monster?  Did you withdraw the privilege or were you the one to adjust?  Guess who is adjusting here?

48 comments :

  1. I just loved the image of dog and cat staring at your face, checking for signs of life. I guess there are worse adjustments that one could need to make in life.

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    1. Olga,
      It really was bizarre but highly amusing. I guess they thought if that cardinal rule was broken, I must be dying.

      Delete
  2. You made me laugh this morning, and it's the first time since I have barely recovered from this nasty stomach flu. My temperature is normal this morning, and I thank you for your concern. You are such a good writer, Patti, your fur babies came right to life through your words. :-)

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    1. Djan,
      I am so happy I gave you a chuckle but am even happier that you are finally around the bend and healing. Aren't you glad you weren't on a cruise ship?

      Delete
  3. Your story is my story. Slim was not allowed on the bed and never questioned it. After Ron died I decided to allow her on the bed and needless to say she was in shock at the offer. It took several weeks for her to finally give in and now I have created a similar monster to Callie. What were we thinking Patti? Laughed all through your wonderful telling.

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    1. Annie,
      So glad you enjoyed and I am also glad I am not alone. Sometimes I guess we should not make such decisions when we are either physically ill or emotionally stressed:)) Got a feeling we are both adjusting.

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  4. So funny. You know you will suffer for this. The retraining will break your heart.

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    1. Gail,
      You know me well. No one can guilt trip better than a pet.

      Delete
  5. I am totally unable to maintain control of my pets. Instead I become their pet. I believe you understated your love for orange! I love calico kitties. I miss a dog so bad I can hardly stand it. Keep a sheet or something easy to wash spread over your bed for the time Callie rolls in something yucky. Your situation sounds like heaven to me.

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    1. Linda,
      Yep, I really do like my orange and that orange throw in the picture is what protects the spread. I wash it every week or as needed.
      Perhaps you could become dog walker at your Humane Society to get your doggy fix. Carefully though, that was how I met Callie.

      Delete
  6. This is so funny. I think you are stuck, it would be so confusing for poor Callie to suspend bed resting privlidge. I would close the bedroom door when she comes inside and confirm she did not get into anything yucky before opening that door.

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    1. Joeh,
      Thanks. That is a great idea Cranky to have an inspection point before allowing her on the bed. I will do that.

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  7. I love this story, Patti. It's so interesting to wonder why Callie has gotten so attached to that bed. She must really love all that wonderful comfort.

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    1. robin,
      Thank you. It has surprised me also since she is normally a high energy dog. I'm hoping this is a passing phase and she will soon get bored.

      Delete
  8. Oh, Callie has now discovered the most comfy place to nap...she likes it because you sleep there and Minnie gets to sleep there. Some people say animals don't show emotions but believe me they do and they get jealous. Chancy allows me to sleep with him in MY bed. Pooh sleeps off and on through the night on top of me at my waist. She has to sneak up there though or Chancy chases her off. Where I have ruined Chancy is not making him go outside without me. I feel so sorry for him when we have thunderstorms, because he is terrified of thunder and lightening. I started going out with him to do his business when it is stormy and now he won't go out without me unless it is day with bright sunshine and no wind. Hugs for you and nose kisses for Callie and Minnie

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    1. Maggie,
      You may have a point and Callie has probably been jealous of Minnie all this time and is enjoying her elevation to cat status:)
      Thanks. I will be careful with Callie and insist she go out by her self when it is stormy.

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  9. For many years we lived with a Corgi. We wanted her up on our bed at night but she didn't like being on the bed or other furniture and always preferred the floor.

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    1. Stephen,
      Some dogs do prefer the natural feel. I wish Callie had a bit of Corgi in her:)
      They are really cool looking dogs.

      Delete
  10. Love this story as it shows I'm not alone. All dogs prior to Samson and Faith knew what go pee meant and would do it before coming in for the night. Not these two. When they finally caught on one lovely evening, I gave them each a dog biscuit. Now Faith, who is extremely smart, thinks that she will get a biscuit every time she goes outside. So she goes to the door, since I don't know if she needs to do some business, I have to get up and let her out. She turns around, comes right back in, goes to the kitchen and longingly looks up at the cookie cabinet. On and on it goes.

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    1. Inger,
      Boy does she have you trained. You learned quickly. How funny.
      I've always said if you want a peaceful time with a dog, pick a dumb one. A smart one can not only problem solve but are whizzes at training humans.

      Delete
  11. Oh, I loved the story. Callie definitely has a cushy life. I'm trying to think of a rule that I broke for Bob that I later regretted, but I have to say I've kept a pretty tight rein for nearly 50 years!

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    1. Barb,
      Thank you. She is a bit spoiled but she had a hard life before me. What ever you are doing with Bob, it must be working. Congrats on a long and happy marriage.

      Delete
  12. Oh how funny.... Callie is a smart one for sure. I guess it is good that she doesn't claw at your door at nights --so that you can get some quality sleep...

    The worst thing I did when we had Duchess (Cocker Spaniel) was to give her table scraps/food --and/or feed her from the table. BIG MISTAKE... She would always sit there and BED ---and when we'd have company, I'd have to put her in another room and close the door...

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Betsy,
      Oh, I hope she didn't hear that:) Scratching at the door at night would be awful.
      Wanting table scraps is almost impossible to break. No one can beg as pitifully yet fiercely as a dog.

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  13. Well done at getting the sofa to yourself, such a tiny dog anyway.
    My story. I have a 30kg baby. At my last house bedrooms and bathroom were upstairs and she was blocked as a puppy from going up, for safety, but then she never tried as an adult. I moved to a shoebox recently and the rule was no dog in bedroom. Well she got around that one and now sleeps on a sheepskin rug at the end of the bed. So, the bathroom was a definite no go. Guess what?

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    1. Molly M
      Welcome to TNS and thanks for commenting. I had to look up the conversion--that was one big dog. Looks like she has you properly trained. What chance do we have?

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  14. Funny story! Callie is obviously a very smart dog.

    I've only had one dog in my life, he was a Giant Pyrenees who weighed 60 lbs. He was rarely indoors but when he was he loved to lay on the bed. At his size he pretty got his own way.

    Since then I've only had cats. In my experience the saying, dogs have people, cats have staff is true. These guys rule the roost and I know it.

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    1. Eileen,
      They are really great looking, HUGE dogs. Surprised you had any bed left. What a change of pace going to cats. And yes, we are at their service.

      Delete
  15. Smart Callie has your number. Never had a dog that was in the bedroom, much less the bed... til Wee Willie. He has moved in and resides under the duvet...

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    1. Brighid,
      I can see why you broke the rule with Willie. He is adorable and small enough to leave you most of the bed.

      Delete
  16. I am waiting for the post where you admit you now have both animals on the bed AT NIGHT.

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    1. Linda M,
      Probably won't happen, Mainly because Minnie is the cat from Hell in the bed.She is determined to smother me.

      Delete
  17. I wonder if she identifies as a person now and wants to imitate you? I sometimes thought that was what happened with a dog we rescued from the Humane Society pound -- so prim, sweet and quiet there with all the other dogs jumping and barking. Once we got her home her neurotic attributes began to emerge. I would have returned her but had told the kids I thought she might have been abused by some well-meaning owner trying to train her into being a bird dog, so we just needed to give her lots of love. She was too big to be a lap dog, but once we held her some imaginary barrier was broken. Not a lot changed with her after that all those years we kept her until her death. She was jealous, too. She, too, had loved to run outside, but still would if she got loose.

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    1. joared,
      I think our dogs were the reverse of eachother. Callie was nuts at the Humane Society. I adopted her for I thought no one else would she was so screwy. Once here and was allowed to burn off all that energy, she became the perfect dog.
      How wonderful that you kept and worked with your dog instead of just returning her as most would. Kudos to you. I'm sorry you lost her but happy it was you who gave her a loving home.

      Delete
  18. Gosh! I can't remember...
    I sure hope it will be easy for you to untrain the pets. This is too funny. Interesting that both cat and dog have the same coloring. Too cool!

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    1. Kay,
      I really didn't notice I had a calico dog till someone pointed it out. They are a matched set.

      Delete
  19. I just saw you over on Troutbirder and I live in North Central Arkansas. I live in Horseshoe Bend, where do you live? Loved your story about "the bed" and the dog...i have 2 dogs and 2 cats and it's like having toddlers again! What a schedule they leep me on. Yours are darling!

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    1. Sam I AM,
      Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I am not sure exactly where Horseshoe Bend is but think it isn't far. I live in the country about 15 miles from Mountain View. Love Arkansas.

      Delete
  20. My husband was the one who stuck to whatever he proposed for the kids. They could wangle anything from me and they knew it ! As for dogs, once again my husband was the one who made the rules for them & they actually obeyed him.

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    1. Ginnie,
      Ah it is so nice not to have to be the disciplinarian. Wish I had the option sometimes.

      Delete
  21. I have changed rules for my cat, concerning the bed. She seems to be able to go with the flow, whatever my feelings are for that night or week, or month. She punishes me though...by pouncing on the counter at night to indulge in any crumbs or left over dishes that might be in the sink. I can almost hear her laughing at me sometimes. LOL

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    1. Terri,
      Ha ha, cats are masters at getting even while looking cool.

      Delete
  22. Oh, cute. They are both the same color. My bed room is always off-limits to pets. Do they wonder, "what's behind
    the closed door?"

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    1. Belva,
      Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I hadn't thought about it that way but you are probably right. They have to wonder.

      Delete

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