So, we weren’t left completely alone when our children flew the nest. We were left with the dogs!
My husband likes to remind everyone that I’m not really a dog person—and if not being a dog person means I don’t see the fun in finding dog hairs in strange places, or finally giving up the fight for space in the bed and just getting up—then he’s right, I’m not a dog person.
Our most recent four-legged family member was purchased at a time of extreme mom guilt. It was getting close to my daughter’s 17th birthday, and I had no rare and exotic gift to present her with. The way I remember it, I had asked for weeks about planning a party or getting something special she really wanted.
I knew she was looking at it a bit differently when she stated, “You never get me any good stuff for my birthday.”
Well, I just couldn’t let that be true now, could I? The next few things that were said and done would change our lives forever.
It all began when she said, “I’ve never picked my own dog. I really want a puppy.”
And we were off . . . determined to find the cutest darn puppy available!
It quickly became clear our ideas of what was the perfect dog were not the same. I pictured a little, short-haired dog. One you can hold on your lap and carry around in a bag—maybe event push in a stroller—and in hindsight I’m glad I didn’t go down that path. You must admit, pushing a dog in a stroller is crossing the line, and more than a little ridiculous. My daughter had an entirely different picture of the perfect dog. In her vision, the dog was big and full of energy. The dog would travel to the stables with her and run alongside her horse in the field. Guess who won?
On December 4th, we became the proud owners of Jade, one black and tan Coon Hound. Never having seen a Coon Hound, it seemed innocent enough to my unknowing eyes. She was an awfully cute puppy. Her feet and ears were too big for her little puppy body, and she seemed to always be smiling. All these factors should have caused a lightbulb to go off BEFORE I agreed to this particular puppy. She grew into those big ears and feet of course, and that smile? It was a sign of how mischievous she would turn out to be.
The final count after the first year was something like 15 pairs of shoes, countless pairs of glasses and pens, one imported chair from Africa one custom upholstered ottoman, two antique dining chairs, and four table lamps. Remember that vision my daughter had of her new dog running alongside her through the fields?
Well, the running part was true. It turns out Coon Hounds love to run. This dog has set up a racetrack through the house from one living room couch to the next. She takes a flying leap across the coffee table, banks around the top of one couch, flies across to the loveseat, over the end table, through the kitchen to the living room normally reserved for guests, and completes the circle. Round and round she goes. We can estimate the number of laps when we return home to find the couches smashed up against the walls, and sofa tables and lamps toppled over.
All of that may cause some people to rethink things —and maybe even get rid of the dog. The kids are no longer home, why would we want to keep such a destructive force? Well, you know what? She also happens to be the sweetest, most loving dog we’ve ever had. Could it be this dog is filling some sort of hole or vacancy?
Or maybe . . . (could it be true?) . . . I really am a dog person after all.