Since I was little I have always wanted a dog, thankfully when I was around 11, my parents got Jessie (boxer-mutt). She is now turning 13 and becoming an ‘old pup’ as A. says.
For the past couple of months my brother, A. and I have been taking care of Jessie, while my parents are going on various motorcycle vacations. Mid-August, when they are done their vacation, they may take Jessie back to Markham.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve been going through the ‘dog faze’. Where every second word is “dog” and it’s all I can think about. Kind of like A. and his Camaro. Convincing A. and the rest of my family to allow me to get a dog is kind of my biggest challenge right now. Here are my plus and minus:
On the positive side:
- I love dogs
- I can afford a dog
- I will save money, by not going to a bar after work and heading straight home to make my own dinner.
- It will be fun to train a new dog and have fun doing it.
- I’ll get it as a puppy and puppies are cute.
- I will get exercise from walking it.
- If we get a golden doodle, they are said to shed less.
- I want a dog, because they make me happy. (Doesn’t that count?)
- I don’t live in a basement apartment and will have a lot of room to let the dog run around.
On the negative side:
- Family doesn’t want me to get a dog because Jessie will still be alive.
- I will have to come home straight after work to let the dog out and not go straight to Patty Boland’s for a Ploughman’s Platter and a pitcher of beer.
- I will have to pick up its do-dos.
- I will have dog hair everywhere and will need help cleaning it, if we get a golden retriever.
- Will have to hire a dog sitter if I decided to go on vacation.
- Potty training is always a challenge. I don’t want my apartment to smell like dog pee.
You know what the most depressing part of making this list is? It’s true. I am still young and like to travel. I’ll admit it, it may not be the right time to get a dog, but when is there a good time?
Tonight, A. and I are going to visit a Doodle, just to see what they look like young and old. I am not going to buy one; I’m going to go to be educated on the breed.
I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I really want one, but everyone else may be right. What do you think?
- j.
Edit: It’s like as if someone was listening.
“Family doesn’t want me to get a dog because Jessie will still be alive.”
I find this reason weird.
Training a puppy is hard especially when you are at work all day. The easiest way to do this is crate training but it can also be sad.
On the plus side, you can go home, take the dog out THEN go to Patty B’s and feel good about it.
By: Tiana on August 2, 2007
at 2:57 pm
“Family doesn’t want me to get a dog because Jessie will still be alive.” – They say this because they don’t want ‘jessie’ to feel like she is going to be thrown out of the picture.
I don’t disagree with crate training. That’s how we trained Jessie. But I think I would rather leave newspaper all over my floor in the kitchen and leave the crate open. I’m not sure how I’m going to do this yet.
Maybe I can even bring the puppy with me to Patty B’s
Thanks for the comments
By: a. and j. on August 2, 2007
at 3:02 pm
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at 2:29 am