Another big change that has happened during our extended hiatus is that, on 23 October, 2011, my husband and I adopted a dog.
We did it all wrong. We did not really research the kind of dog we wanted, or search for a specific dog through local shelters, or any of that. Neither of us had ever had a dog before. We visited Pet Smart on the weekend, when there are always dogs from all the local shelters there, and we walked one dog. When we went back the next week, he was no longer there, but I refused to go home without a dog. We had been talking about getting a dog since we first got married, and this was over a year later.
I asked to walk a sweet-looking dog; he met our only criteria: he was an older dog, and already house trained. He was totally licking himself while he was in his crate, and he pulled something fierce while we were walking him. Then an ambulance arrived, and he cowered on the sidewalk with me the whole time the engine was on. I was smitten with this adorable fellow. Then the shelter staff told me he had a bite history. He seemed so sweet and meek, and I pride myself so much in being tolerant and open-minded, that I refused to believe this would be an issue. So we paid our fees, bought him dog bowls and a toy, got him the all-inclusive “spa” package, and took our clean new dog home. We only changed the spelling of his name, and gave him a middle name, but even now we only ever call him Alfie. Or Alfie-Walfie.
The day after we got him bathed, the little so-and-so dove into a pile of the wettest, stinkiest poop I have ever had to come in close contact with. I was still a little nervous about this biting issue, so I very carefully dabbed at him with pet wipes for about three hours. It was disgusting, and I gagged several times. But other than that bump in the road, we thought we were doing ok with this new member of the family. He seemed to be less nervous with us, he let us pet him, and we were getting his health issues under control (mostly itchy skin and some butt stuff) . He did nip at us a few times, but we were in a training class, and we felt we had things under control.
Then one night, about two days before we left to visit my parents for Christmas, while he was dead asleep next to be on the couch, I leaned over him, and he bit me on the nose, breaking the skin, and then bit me a few more times on the arm for good measure. I absolutely believe it was entirely my fault; we weren’t familiar enough with dogs in general, and we were trying too hard with Alfie too soon, and he was still way more nervous with us than we were able to see. And he is very good at defending himself. Because the cut on my nose was sort of deep we spent an hour or so in the emergency room getting it cleaned and getting an antibiotics prescription, and the incident had to be reported to animal control. Ira called the shelter, and I sobbed for an hour thinking he was going to make me give up this dog.
But we didn’t. We have worked at establishing a trusting relationship with Alfie, and he is much less nervous, and much less easily startled now. He is pretty awesome at WAITing and crawling in exchange for treats. He is also awesome at sleeping in awkward poses, and looking freaking adorable in a sweater.
He still has some skin issues, which we treat with weekly soothing baths, fish oil, allergy pills, and, for when his butt is bothering him, some Caladryl on the bum. Sometimes he has to wear a cone. He is good at looking sulky about it.
Alfie was the impetus for making a family holiday card last year.
SUPER professional looking, I know. I am trying to think of a good look for this year’s card. Any ideas?
Effects on that first photo done using Instagram, and collaged using GIMP.
