I learned a lot in the time that I had Vinz,and in the time I had Xoie, about raising puppies, qualities I should look for in a dog, my own shortcomings, and so on and so forth. I learned about not letting the “dogs are for life” people and their mentality get to me when I realize that sometimes, you’re doing a dog a dis-service by keeping it, because some dogs need different things than what I can give them, no matter now much I wish I could. Vinz flat out needed a yard and some kids to chase. I didn’t have a yard, or the energy to run around for hours on end (or the time). Xoie needed way more devotion and attention than I had to spare, and somebody that she respected (which was totally not me). So, I did what needed to be done. I found them the right home. Didn’t take the easy way out and leave them at a shelter – I gave them what they needed, and I feel I did the right thing for everyone involved.
Which, however, left me without a furry friend, which is a very sad position to be in.
But I learned a few things from it all for my next attempt. First, I evidently can’t raise a puppy. I am horrible at housebreaking, and horrible at making sure that the puppy knows what’s okay to chew on and what’s not. Second, small dogs are brats. Like, really. They’re cute, but they’re brats, and they don’t listen very well. So I went a different route this time.
I’ve adopted a golden retriever/chow chow mix. He’s about 8 months old, so past the initial puppy stage, but still a young dog. I adopted him from a shelter, instead of a breeder. I didn’t realize how awesome shelter dogs can be! This dog (his name is Toby and he’s AWESOME) seems to be the perfect match for Pod and I. He’s remarkably well behaved, he’s well socialized, we haven’t had any accidents in the house so he appears to be housebroken already, and he knows Sit and Shake. Oh, and he’s adorable.
He’s still adjusting to home life, though. He hasn’t really eaten a whole lot yet, and he follows us where-ever we go or whines if he’s left alone in another room. Today he’s been wandering to the kitchen alone though, so I think he’ll get past that soon.
It also doesn’t seem like he ever learned how to play with toys. He’s pretty disinterested in his rope toy, his plushie toy, the tennis ball.. like he just doesn’t know what to do with them. He also doesn’t seem very amused by treats, though he’s just discovered how great rawhide bones with little meaty-bits in them are. And Greenies.. honestly, I think all dogs love Greenies. But we’re working on the playing.. last night, I heard a Squeak in the other room, which means he at least put the sun plushie in his mouth. Progress! But he seems content to just lay by my feet and have his ears scratched. I loves him. I think I found the right dog for me this time.
