10 Reasons why I think I might be a dog person
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I've been a "cat person" all my life, and I've never understood "dog people" who traipse around with their smelly, slobbery, barking, poop machines and call their dogs "friends". Now, as I close in on the two-year aniversary of the most random impulse I've ever acted on, I fear I'm slipping over to the "dark side" of pet ownership. Here are 10 reasons why:
- When strangers fall in love with my dog, Avi, at first sight, I always hand them the leash and say "Good, he's yours," but I hardly ever mean it anymore.
- I pick up poop from an 80-pound Chow/Golden mix twice a day, and I don't really mind it. In fact, I have this cute little lavender-colored poop bag holder that looks like a bone and spits out lavender-colored poop bags.
- Other people's dogs are a lot less annoying than they used to be. Their kids are still a pain in the *ss though, so I'm safe on that front.
- I taught my dog commands, and he almost always listens! He plays dead (ok, he's wagging his tail, but he still does it)! You can't train a cat like that. I've tried.
- When Avi is off-leash at the barn, he runs around, chases squirrel tracks, checks out the creek, and then... comes back. And lies down next to my desk. Just to... be with me. With all that adventure out there, he chooses to hang with his mom. Wow.
- Avi is a total man-magnet, and he loves Harley's. Yeah.
- I actually spend more quality time with my cats, Nikki and Leo, now. Guilt is a powerful motivator. Plus, they get exercise when Avi chases them around thinking they're squirrels.
- I walk a heck of a lot more than I used to. Since Avi and I worked so hard on heeling nicely, walks are pleasant and good for both of our moods. More important, I can talk to myself in public and everyone thinks I'm just talking to the dog.
- Avi loves road trips just as much as I do. I feel safer at truck stops knowing he's with me, and he gets to pee on new stuff every time he hops out of the car.
- Avi's energetic, and he sheds alot, and he slobbers on people, and sometimes when I take him all the way downstairs at midnight to pee he doesn't, and he barks at repairmen, and some people look at him and say "Ugh, is that a Chow?" like it's some kind of disease, and my poor cats hate him, and if I get up to get a glass of water he has to wake up, follow me, and bounce around for 10 minutes, and he goos up all my car windows, and he steals my throw-blankets off the couch... and I still love him. If that's not proof of my doggie conversion, what is?
I always envisioned myself growing old and becoming the neighborhood cat lady with a herd of kitties snuggling all over my fragile old-lady legs, tripping me up, and sending me to my broken-hipped doom. Now, thanks to Avi, there just might be a beat-up old hairy mutt in the fray, as well.
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Yeay! If I have to fall, I'm glad I'll be taking you with me - then neither of us will be alone in our insanity!
LOL, what can I say! You two are priceless! Enjoyed your hub Anne, and I suppose, if I think about it, I'm sure I can share some animal/pet stories.
Sally, I KNOW how proud you are of Anne :)
Keep em coming! always enjoy reading your hubs!
Yep, you're a goner.
It is always a pleasure to read anything you write. You should try a really terrible topic and see if you can make us love it.
Rhym, thank you so much! I really appreciate the compliment. I'll have to consider this "terrible topic" idea of yours... sounds like a fun challenge!
This was great! I'm not sure which is more classic, the talking to yourself line or the overall hilarity of number ten. Absolutely a delightful read (even if I still ain't gonna own a dog, lol. I don't even like getting up to take MYSELF for a pee at mindnight, damn sure ain't gonna be motivated for a mutt).
Thank you so much for the comments Shadesbreath - from someone with your skill with words, they are powerful compliments (who am I kidding, I'll take praise wherever I can find it). I dream of the day when I own my own home with a fenced backyard... no shoes... no stairs... just an open door and a shove...
I am so glad to read you have found the love of your dog. I am a dog person myself. Maybe I will try the other way and allow a cat into my home. Maybe, either way loved your hub.
Your fan.
Mon.
Great hub! Gotta get me one of those lavender poop bag holders. They should make it smell like lavender too, so that it also has a calming effect on dogs :-) I love Chows and am hoping to get one at some point. Only thing is that they really push up your home insurance rates.
Mon, thank you for your comments! I do indeed love the doggie. Maybe someday a special cat will get you hooked to the "other" kind of pet!
Shiba, thanks for stopping by! I'm enjoying reading all of your resources. There are scented bags out there, but I just couldn't take that kind of leap. Maybe if I ever get a little pocket-sized yipper dog... YEAH RIGHT!
I had no idea the breed of your dog could effect home insurance rates! Good thing I rent, right? I was very sceptical when I took Avi, because he had so much energy, and he was protective of his personal space with dogs and some men. I know I've lucked out with a sweet dog and an excellent trainer.
I don't want to consider myself a dog or a cat person...I'm a man. I love both of my animals and leave it at that. Nice hub on your animals.
Another great Hub! Now that I am a hubber, I am looking at your hubs!:) You are the only other Hubber I know of right now;) When I am more experianced with Hub, I will explore the vaster hub world;)
I am also a dog person, and a cat person. But, most of all, I am a horse person. I only own a cat though, he is mine. I am looking to buy my favourite horse, but I need to save more money. I am not spending any right now.
Have a great day,
Miriam
Welcome to Hubpages, Miriam! You'll have lots of fun exploring, I'm sure!
This is really funny, especially #4. Thanks.
I'm glad you liked it, Journey! #5 is my personal fave. Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoyed your hub..Avi is a nice looking dog.
Thanks, moonlake! Yup, Avi's cuteness is basically his most redeeming quality. :P
Great hub. I think I too am slowly being converted. ;)
It's a sad, sad disease... Have fun with it!!
A very well written hub. This is the first of yours that I am reading, Anne. The two on horses were tempting - and I will go to them later - but the title on this had me proclaiming, "Oh, that's me!"
Except for your love of cats, I can empathise with all you say. The bit about Avi playing dead brought our first cocker to mind. A real smarty pants, he would sit, down, stay, beg, fetch ball, bring in the morning paper, and even play dead (absolutely still, on his back, flexed legs in the air, eyes closed) when told to "Die for your country." That was always a real hit with guests, as a grand finale to any social evening at our Army home.
# 5 must rank as my favourite too. A dog really treats his master/mistress as God.
Which is most unlike cats. Not withstanding that, I have tried to make friends with some felines but not one has ever allowed me to come close. You are lucky they like you! :)
Thanks, Jaspal! I hope you like my other hubs, as well.
Your cocker spaniel's tricks had me covering my mouth to stifle my laughter at work. "Die for your country!" Love it! Avi's command to play dead is to "shoot" him and say "bang bang", but since he ignores his command so much, the trick is actually "the incredible bullet-proof dog".
I'm sorry that you've never found a cat to love. They are a little more aloof, yes, but they're also a lot less work emotionally. Cats are like... the fast food of pet love. Having a dog seems more like having to cook your own meal all the time, with all the training and attention you have to give them so they don't freak out and destroy your life.
I like having the balance of Avi, who pays attention to everything I do and is my constant car companion, and the kitties, who jump up to say "hello" and purr and are sweet, but who don't mind when I shoo them away for some quiet time. There is no shooing Avi, he won't allow it!
I really enjoyed reading your hub on golf, and I can't wait to see what else is up your sleeve!
Oh yes Anne, dogs do need looking after. They remain like little babies throughout their lives. But just one adoring look from their soft warm moist eyes, or the welcome-home bark and furious wagging of the tail are enough to get anyone hooked.
I did not know that cats too can jump up and purr to say hullo.
Your are truly blessed to have both types of love. :)
Beautiful hub,annemaeve! I enjoy my dogs,Jerry and Brownie as well.Can't do without them.
Thanks for reading, Purple! Doggies are indeed awesome. Except, it's raining now, and the poop monster doesn't use the litter box... *sighs*
Loved this hub - so witty and true. Number 5 is the real gist of dog love: they absolutely adore you. What a grand treat! When I was a single dog-mom I moved from a house with a fenced yard into a condo and had to walk my 88 pound puppy. Yep, tons of jokes about who was walking whom. She liked to play crack the whip, me being the whip. These days I tell my dogs "let's go do some Hubbing!" and they run into the computer room and lay down where my feet should go. All great fun. Write more. I love your little Avi - so cute.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Peg! That's awesome that your dogs love to hang while you work at the computer! Mine is sometimes a good ottoman, but he jumps up and overturns me a little too often...
This can almost turn me into a dog person :)
That'll make one of us! :P
Sally's Trove 4 years ago
Another beautiful hub, annemaeve!
I used to feel the same way about dogs, as you know, until Avi. I learned so much from you as the two of you worked together with the trainer, and as you began to fall hopelessly in love with him. If it had not been for the exceptional work the two of you accomplished, I never would have agreed to take Cinnie.
I believe I am on my way to a doggie conversion as well!