You know how dog-lovers always wholeheartedly believe that their dog is the best dog in the world? I think that after you read this post, you will have to agree that our dogs are the best dogs ever. Our dogs are smart(ish), beautiful and FUN.
Some of the dogs can sit, stay and do other somewhat amazing tricks. They chase kids and balls all over the yard. They let the kids chase them, lay on them, pull on them. They let Hutton lead them around (and around and around) the yard on a leash until they're sooo tired....
One of the dogs will even lick peanut butter off your finger. Gross (especially if you then accidentally lick your finger), but still cool. Each dog has his/her own unique personality. Some are high-energy; one is soooo mellow. I understand that some of you will read this and think-- after the initial I can't believe SHE has dogs! -- yeah, big deal. So your dogs are cute and do some tricks. Yeah, they're nice to your kids. But, you're still not convinced, are you? Well, let me just add the kicker, the thing that puts our dogs over the edge, that makes them the absolute best...THEY'RE NOT OUR DOGS!!! That's right, we "borrow" our dogs from our neighborhood friends and (mostly) from my brother who has THREE really cool dogs. Our boys have begged for a dog for years, but because they have the meanest parents in the world, it hasn't happened for them. So, how great is it that my brother will bring a dog over and let us "borrow" for a few hours?! My bro has hired Hutton to be his on-call dog sitter and Hutt takes his job very seriously. He has his own leash, doggie toy, and water dish (my tupperware bowls keep disappearing from the cupboard...). He is trying to teach the English Mastiff puppy (who outweighs Hutton by about 10 pounds) to "shake". These dogs keep all of my dog-loving boys entertained for hours, then they go home! AND...when they poop, my brother does the clean-up (thanks, bro!). Seriously, does it get any better? If I'm being honest, I will admit that, sometimes, when I watch my boys with these dogs, I do feel a little maybe-WE-should-get-a-dog twinge. I mean, Hutton doesn't talk to that many people outside the family, but, to the dogs, he chatters and bosses all day long. The Brothers are all so happy when the dogs are around (big sister? not so much. she has declared that she only likes one of the dogs. so there. sniff.) that I start getting that loving feeling, but, then I come to my senses (for now) and thank my lucky stars for the dog-owners in our life that are willing to share.
melted my heart. love this post. mom
Posted by: judy | August 19, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Amen Sister, lets here it for mean parents who won't give in, (even though our kids beg, and we do love our kids)I love people who will share with my dog loving kids, so that I don't have to. KSA
Posted by: Kristi | August 19, 2008 at 08:09 AM
what? ric has a mastiff now? that man is crazy!
Posted by: mars | August 19, 2008 at 01:09 PM
hilarious!
yeah, dogs are like boats and other people's children--best enjoyed when someone else does the dirty work.
cute pics!
Posted by: on-hand modern | August 20, 2008 at 05:37 PM