I realized today that although I had introduced everyone in our family, I left out one important family member. I think I subconsciously did it because to me he is more of a pain in the ass than a family member at this point. His name is Spot. Carson and Hayden named him, and even though that is a very unoriginal name, and every time we tell someone what his name is they kind of chuckle in a that's-the-dumbest-name-I've-ever-heard sort of way, we felt it was important for our dog to be named Spot because Carson and Hayden were so proud of the name that THEY picked out on their very own because he has spots and it fits him so perfectly. His nickname is Spotty, according to the boys. I do feel guilty about not feeling all lovey-dovey about Spot, but he is a royal pain to deal with. I would love nothing more than to have him lay by me in bed (after he's had a bath, of course) and cuddle with me while I watch TV at night after the kids have gone to bed, but it's impossible. Believe me, I've tried on several occasions. This dog does not have an OFF button, except when he is in his crate. I really feel guilty when I look in his cute puppy face with those cute puppy eyes, until he jumps up and tries to gouge my eyes out with his sharp, razor-like puppy teeth. Of course, he's just playing, but it's not the kind of play I like.
Mike and I first got a dog in 1991, right after we bought our house. I wanted a dog before that, but Mike convinced me that it wasn't practical in an apartment and I finally agreed. Three months after we bought our house he adopted Sammie from the Humane Society. Of course, since we didn't have kids yet he was like our kid. We took him everywhere. He slept in our bed sometimes (after he'd had a bath). After we were married we even had arguments over who would get to keep Sammie if we ever got divorced. Sammie died in 2003 right before Thanksgiving. It was very sad. Carson was devastated. Hayden didn't care because he was too young. Ever since Sammie died I had thought of getting another dog, but it was kind of nice not having one since it eliminated a lot of work, especially with two kids also.
Last summer we went on a family reunion and Mike's cousin and his wife and kids brought their dog, Chance, along. Our kids loved that dog and wouldn't stay away from it. We decided it might be time to get a dog for the kids. I always had pets growing up and I think it is great for kids to have a dog to play with and take care of. I have great childhood memories with my pets. Anyway, we decided to get a dog for Christmas. We wanted to get one from the Humane Society, and we couldn't work out the logistics of having Santa Claus bring a dog for the kids, so Mike and I just went and found Spot and brought him home a few weeks before Christmas as an early present. He was four months old at the time.
The kids loved him, until he started biting them with his puppy teeth. Then they were scared of him. They got used to him and he started biting less and less. We just had to explain that he wasn't biting to be mean, it's just the way he played. Since then the kids and Spot get along great. He has calmed down a lot with them, even though he is still hyper. He has just learned not to jump and bite every second of the day.
For me getting used to him has been a little harder. For one thing, I am much more of a germ freak than I was when we had Sammie. I don't like Spot going out to go to the bathroom and then come and sit on the carpet, so he stays off the carpet mostly. Also he will go roll in the dirt and then I don't want to pet him because he is dirty. I would love to hug him and pet him and roll around with him, but a dog just seems so dirty to me. I wish there was a way to keep him sparkling clean every minute. I did see some dog wipes at the pet store that I want to get just to wipe him down every day. I was thinking about all of this today and decided I just need to suck it up and try not to be too paranoid about the germs.
Besides being dirty here is a list of other annoying things about Spot: he is a spaz, he still jumps on people, he still bites when he plays, he digs up our backyard, he chews up anything and everything he can find in our backyard, if we let him in the front yard off the leash he won't come when called, he is a total freak if we try to take him to Petco, he is a total freak when I take him to the vet, he is somewhat of a freak when he goes for walks, and I'm sure there are other things I just can't think of right now. He obviously needs obedience training, which I am looking into.
After I was thinking how guilty I feel about the lack of attention I give him, I gave him a bath today, which he really needed, and then I took him outside to play in the front yard with a very long leash. I brought a bunch of treats with me and was trying to make him mind. He did pretty good, although he did get out of control a few times. I worked on having him sit and come when I called. Of course I had the leash on him the whole time so he wouldn't take off. He was doing so well that I took the leash off and had him come when I called and when he did I gave him a treat. A couple of times he started running uncontrollably but when I called and showed him a treat he would come. After we played with the leash off for a few minutes he actually came to me and I put it back on and brought him inside.
Maybe all he needs is more attention from me, since I'm the one that sees him the most. Everyone else gives him a lot of attention, but I'm the person he is around the most. After today I feel a lot better about our relationship. I just need to set aside my fear of germs and give him lots of loves, even when he's a dirty, stinky mess.
