Dog sitting

Happy Thanksgiving!  I am either too busy being thankful that I a) work in a non-Black Friday danger zone, b) am recovering from a healthy dose of tryptophan or c) am sad to have left the pups we got to borrow for the week.

We really have enjoyed our week with Ben the dog.

Day 1: In which a dog with anxiety greets us at our new home.
Me: He chewed on my sister's favorite chair again.
Man: Ugh.
Me: And peed all over the floor when he got scolded for it.
Man:  Ugh.
Me: This is why we are giving him pills in his food.
Man: Gotcha.
Me: Yup.  Puppy Prozac.

Poster pup for anxiety meds, right?

Day 2: In which Man realizes why parents have two kids.
Man: I think we need to get two dogs.
Me:  ....why?
Man: So they won't be lonely while we're working.  And then won't be insane when we get home.
Me: How about we get a house first?

total backseat driver

Day 3: In which we discuss having a white picket fence and 1.5 dogs.
Man: How do you feel about getting a big dog and a little dog?
Me: Why a little dog?  Why not two big dogs?
Man: Well, little dogs are easier to take care of.
Me: Right.

Day 4: In which the 6:30 am wake up becomes a reality.
Man: We need to retrain the pups, to stop this 6:30 wake up call.
Me: What?
Man: It's too early.
Me: Well, he has to pee...
Man: I know but why does our schedule have to revolve around his?
Me:  That's what helpless critters do.  You have to take care of them and do it on their schedule.
Man:  Oh.
Me: [laughing] You are so not ready for kids.

Sleep can happen anywhere.  Except between 6 and 8 am.

Day 5: In which Ben has a puppy play date.
Me: So we took Ben to our friend's house.  He and their dog wrestled off and on for a good two hours while we ate dinner and hung out.
Brother-in-law: He actually wrestled?
Me: Well.. he didn't really have a choice.  He wanted to chew their dog's bone.  Their dog wanted to wrestle him for it.  And as such, wrestling ensued.

Day 6: In which Ben insists on playing with the slimy sticky tennis ball
Man and I gingerly picked up the grossest tennis ball ever about 30 times.  We tried to switch to a clean tennis ball we found in the field, but Ben remained unconvinced.  So we threw the slimeball another twenty or so times.

who needs superglue when dog drool adheres so well?

Day 6: In which Ben stares intently at nothing at all.
Me: We both have a 1 for 10 record of seeing the things Ben stops to look at.
Hon:  This just proves there are lots of scary unrecognizable things in the 'burbs.
Me: [laughing] Oh, I think it means that the pups has hallucination problems to go with his anxiety.

Day 7: In which we part ways, leaving a very sad pup.
Our week of pupsitting has come to a close.  I would be lying to say that Hon and I would miss the early morning wake up calls and frantic greetings after work.  But still, that tumbling ball of energy definitely has a permanent place in our hearts.  Especially when he so adorably tries to keep Man from leaving..