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 BeBop! 2/21/2011 Bebop
Good grief!! Well, any hopes that I had of this last addition to our canine family being my dainty, little lap dog, sitting peacefully and quietly in my lap in my old age have been quickly disappointing. Bebop, so aptly named, is nothing but a D O G Dog! He is rough and tumble, has no idea that he is little, and likes to get as dirty as possible, always with a piece of pine straw, leaves, or just plain dirt hanging from the long straggly fur on his face. He smells. Not of the gentle perfume of his “Pampered Pet” doggie shampoo, but of garden dirt, where he is constantly digging up the dormant bulbs of my prized Hostas, Iris, and Daylilies, and of doggie spit due to his constant wrestling with the other, much bigger dogs. The floors are now strewn with an array of puppy toys, well pieces of them anyway, and shreds of sticks and pine cones that he has brought in to destroy. The bottom corners of our beloved Cherry Wood, king sized bed look like a beaver tried to use it for dam building. One of my favorite sneakers has fallen victim, as well as several newer throw rugs, my husband’s favorite baseball cap, and the wooden legs of our ottoman. He throws caution to the wind at dinner time, helping himself to the other dog’s dinner after he inhales his own, completely ignoring the warning growls and the fact that he has been rolled across the kitchen floor several times by a hungry dog just trying to enjoy his own dinner. He often gets caught up in the “stampede” of the bigger dogs chasing a squirrel and goes tumbling, only to land back on his feet and continue to chase what he has no idea he is chasing. The scabs on our hands, fore arms, and feet from needle sharp puppy teeth look as if we have been flogged with branches of sticker bushes, and the many tiny bruises made by little puppy pinch bites make me look as if I have been abused. The other dogs still look at me in disbelief and disgust when they are trying to nap and the puppy is climbing all over them, nipping at their ears, feet and tails. However….this little bundle of energy has brought new life and activity to our home. The bigger dogs have slowly given in to play time, each seem to be taking turns with the pup so the other can rest. The gentleness they are showing, even when I know they have had enough, is inspiring. They know, instinctively, that this critter is a puppy and needs to be taught the ways of the world. He follows them around all day, and has quickly learned that you go outside to potty, that you bark when the others bark, and that you jump all over Daddy when he gets home from work. When he is finally tired, he goes right into his open crate for “puppy nap time” and has even learned that phrase and what it means. When he is sleepy, he is an Angel, the cutest thing ever born, cuddly and soft, and almost “purrs” quietly when I snuggle him. Evidently, and to my surprise, he seems to be exactly what I wanted! I sure do love this little D O G Dog! heidy clark 2/21/2011 |
