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A Dog's Life
Mar. 22nd, 2004 10:51 amSeriously?
We've only had this dog since Thursday? Because it feels like weeks already. He has now invaded all aspects of our routine, our brains, our relationships. He is a wildcard for the cat, a source of pride and confusion for the humans -- a presence to love, play with, fear, resent, tolerate and learn from.
And he's growing! Day by day! He'll double his current 10 lbs. in the next 4 to 5 weeks! In fact, I realized that one reason it feels like we've had him so long is that he is, practically speaking, living more than one day per day. In 16 hours, he can do a cycle of eat-shit-play-shit-sleep FOUR TIMES!
Mercifully, he can actually rest quietly and accident free in his crate at night for seven hours before he whines and then for another hour after I bark "Quiet!" at him. I'm not really rested, though, because I spend the last part of the night semi-listening for him. I will calm down after a few nights.
And sometimes, when I'm away from the madness and contemplating what we've done to ourselves, I think it was all a mistake. Then I pick him up and he kisses me all over and I'm in love. And then he manages to climb up a step that yesterday was too difficult and I'm so proud. Then he sits and stays under my hand calmly for up to 5 seconds and I know he'll be a great friend to live with.
This dog makes us conscious -- that is his true role. He turns us from consumers of fixed and disposable items to caretakers of a piece of nature. He reminds us of the rewards of patience and organization. He gives us the opportunity to practice love.
It's been two hours since I've seen him. I miss his smell.
We've only had this dog since Thursday? Because it feels like weeks already. He has now invaded all aspects of our routine, our brains, our relationships. He is a wildcard for the cat, a source of pride and confusion for the humans -- a presence to love, play with, fear, resent, tolerate and learn from.
And he's growing! Day by day! He'll double his current 10 lbs. in the next 4 to 5 weeks! In fact, I realized that one reason it feels like we've had him so long is that he is, practically speaking, living more than one day per day. In 16 hours, he can do a cycle of eat-shit-play-shit-sleep FOUR TIMES!
Mercifully, he can actually rest quietly and accident free in his crate at night for seven hours before he whines and then for another hour after I bark "Quiet!" at him. I'm not really rested, though, because I spend the last part of the night semi-listening for him. I will calm down after a few nights.
And sometimes, when I'm away from the madness and contemplating what we've done to ourselves, I think it was all a mistake. Then I pick him up and he kisses me all over and I'm in love. And then he manages to climb up a step that yesterday was too difficult and I'm so proud. Then he sits and stays under my hand calmly for up to 5 seconds and I know he'll be a great friend to live with.
This dog makes us conscious -- that is his true role. He turns us from consumers of fixed and disposable items to caretakers of a piece of nature. He reminds us of the rewards of patience and organization. He gives us the opportunity to practice love.
It's been two hours since I've seen him. I miss his smell.
