Waiting to hear from the dog-sitter
Trouble with taking in a rescue dog, especially a neurotic older rescue dog, is that she hates kennels. She thinks she's been dumped again, she goes into a decline, she loses weight and fur, and for 3 days after I come home she leaps to her feet every time I move, won't let me out of her sight, and does the whole Camille bit when I go to work - paw to her forehead, sagging limply against the wall -Drama queen of note. Don't know where she gets it from. I blame the French bulldog side of her breeding. The other half is English bulldog, which means she looks French but twice the size - weighs 40 lbs and has a chest like an all-in wrestler.
So no more kennels. I have a dog-sitter who comes to the house instead. Well, I have a few in my little black book. People don't queue up to take care of a sweet little dog with unexpected steel jaws who has been known to bite first and ask questions afterwards when they enter the house. I've sent texts to them all and am waiting patiently for replies. So far one has a wedding (not her own, but she still doesn't want to cancel, I asked) one would have LOVED to but is painting her nails all next weekend, and one said no, that I had a cheek asking, and talking of cheek, the spot still hurts in cold weather and had I noticed how cold it has been lately?
Still waiting to hear from my dog's personal favourite, a strapping young lass with a crewcut, booming voice and tattoos. My dog adores her, and is adored in turn. Well, who wouldn't love that face?
Comments (77)
Okay she doesn't. But my cousin works for the dog shelter and asked me to take her because she was difficult to place. She hates dogs, children, and anyone who needs a walking stick. Oh, and skateboards, postmen, anyone who points and laughs, and, okay, the whole world. But she doesn't mind cats. I had a cat, no other dogs, no children, no-one in my life on a walking stick, never ride a skateboard, and was, my cousin said, perfect for her.
The camera suddenly loved me on Wednesday, I took about 12 selfies and only had to delete 4
Just taken....one shouldn't be without a dog.....
16 hours it took to drive up. She barked
the
whole
way
she insisted she needed the loo
the
whole
way
she flung herself to the limit of her safely belt
the
whole
way
She's not a good passenger.
These are our lads
Newbie is more anxious (never!) But she is improving too.
I make sure my dogs get used to the car by taking them out in it, even if I am only running up to the shop 3 minutes away. Because I am always on the road at weekends so they need to get comfortable with it.
She is going to hate your going away. But when you return - she'll realize you always will. Did work that way with mine. She even stopped biting me.
That was a joke, she only bit me once, we had words, never happened again
But I still think (hope) it will be good for her.
She has had a hard life, so I want her to feel secure and loved now.
She'll be closer than velcro when you get back but long run, it will be the best thing that she gets used to you vanishing occasionally.
Friend of mine has a Yorkie that hides under her pillow and howls from the time she leaves the house to the time she gets back. But Yorkies apparently are a little prone to stuff like that.
Hang on, wait just a minute. I'M a mother-in-law! (And yup, she bit him too, but almost a nibble. She likes him.)
They are too used to their home comforts anyway. They are both snoring in front of the fire (which I lit especially for them) now.
My older dog would hate it too. She is totally spoiled. But gorgeous
She has made people who were afraid of dogs turn into dog owners.
I wouldn't say she BIT me. As friends go I feel I got off lightly, the bruise was gone in less than a week.
Mine was 7 when I got her. All bad habits already in place, but she has mellowed under my benign influence
Boy, I am a catch!
But one of the ones I contacted has given me another name to try and says this woman is practically a dog whisperer, all dogs bow down and worship her. Sounds promising.
Yip, my man gets spoiled like my dogs. But I also insist on them being well behaved, loving and house trained
Anyway, SHE sometimes has to nudge ME. Two glasses of red wine and I can rattle the rafters. Which presents a dilemma, because without the red wine I'm far to shy to let anyone stay over, and after red wine I'm far too embarrassed to let them stay over.
Must be time to go to bed, I've started making the sort of personal comments I end up deleting in the morning