Of course it was a bad decision! I mean, why would any sane person get a dog when you could do so much more with your time!
He came home in a small picnic basket, yelping in excitement and wagging his tail. When I took the lid off and found him staring at me with his gorgeous puppy eyes, I knew it was a bad decision.
I mean, why would a cleanliness freak invite puddles of pee all over her house? The last few months have only been about running after him, cleaning up after him, feeding him, playing with him, juggling work and home to ensure neither suffer.
Did we need more stress? Did we really need a dog with the kind of lifestyles we lead and the working hours we have? Did we really need a butterball of an alarm clock in the house? Of course not, like I said, it was a bad decision.
Many told us it’s not going to work, some of them wished us luck and some were really happy that we got a pup. Unfortunately, nobody told us that even as a small puppy, he will sense when you’re upset and sit by your side licking your feet. Nobody warned us that if you leave him home alone for one hour, he will greet you with so much excitement and love that you will feel nothing but guilt. Clearly nobody ever mentioned that during an argument, he wouldn’t know which side to pick so he will crawl under the bed and not come out till you both go and get him.
He is a dog after all. Greedy and hyper. And very, very strong. But then no one told me that this greedy, hyper and strong creature will get so scared on being scolded that he will curl up in a corner and not move until you go get him.
Yes they did mention that most of our shoes will be his chew toys and everything on the floor, his food. But I wasn’t told how much he will love his car drives – asleep or otherwise.
They didn’t say that flying butterflies and pigeons will fascinate him and that he would want to hug every single person on the road. I wasn’t told that I will be followed around the house like a shadow. I wasn’t told that his toys will be fun only when you play with them. Nobody mentioned that you will wake up in the middle of the night to find him asleep on his back with his forelegs in the air and hind legs crossed like a human baby. Nobody told me that after a tiring day at work, one wagging tail will make you forget everything. Everything else.
In hindsight, I haven’t cleaned up after anything as much as I have after him. I haven’t ever left work at a set time four times a week. I haven’t had as many sleepless nights as I have because he had an upset tummy or a little fever. I can’t remember the last time I went for a movie, or a late night dinner. I can’t remember the last time I had a conversation which did not mention him. And the worst – I have met and conversed with so many new people – mostly pet owners and/or lovers, without inhibitions or judgement.
Darn, I am missing out on so much in life thanks to this little fawn-coloured creature who knows nothing but to eat, play and love!
This one’s for you, Jäger – the bad, bad decision of my life.
thestraightcurvethatsmylife 