Dog Envy

There I admit it. I have dog envy. I want a dog. A big dog. My neighbors have a miniature toy poodle (is that like a toy-toy?) that is small enough to fit in one hand, and she is full grown. Her name is Polly (isn't that cute?) When she is yapping and nipping at my ankles I have to fight the urge to shove her in my coat pocket and zip it. Why do people want little pocket puppies? If you want a tiny pet get a hamster or a guinea pig at least those you don't have to take outside every few hours. I have nothing against people with tiny dogs, I just don't understand it. If you want a dog, get "real" dog.

My sons best friend has a golden retriever. His name is Bubba. He is a real dog. He wanders around with a tennis ball in his mouth waiting for someone to play with him. He ambles over whenever we are outside and sits on my porch. Everywhere my sons friend goes, he is there. They are pals, constant companions. I think every boy should have a dog, yard permitting. We live by a lake we have park trails and woods in our back yard. I have visions of our dog and my son going off on adventures through the woods and if Son falls and sprains his ankle our furry friend will race home to get us so we can rescue him.

I want a big black lab and I want to name him Moses.

My husband say we can not have a dog. I know, I know. Why does my husband get to make all the rules? Well I can't very well force him to accept something he doesn't like. He grew up with dogs. Little kick-me dogs, they raised Chihuahua's. Then they moved on to slightly bigger dogs that always had bladder problems. More than once I sat on his moms carpet in a big puddle of dog pee. His mom sees her dogs as her children that have left the nest. Her new charge, a cairn terrier, is her baby, she feeds him with a spoon, she makes sweaters and booties for him so he won't get cold in the winter when he goes outside. Sometimes I am not sure she realizes he is a dog. My husbands past experience with dogs does not bode well for the future of a canine in my home. The older he gets the less he likes dogs, unless they belong to other people.

He says "Dogs are a lot of work" to which I replied. "So are kids but we had one of those". He says "You can't just leave a dog with food and water and go out of town for the weekend" to which I replied "You can't do that with a kid either, and we had one of those" My logic escapes him.

We have cats, I love cats. I have always had cats, I intend to always have cats. They are intregal to my personality, my lifestyle. At least my husband is a cat person too. I have never had a dog. I want to be dog person too. I want to have to go home straight after work (assuming I work again) so I can let the dog out. I want that unconditonal love with tail wagging when I come through the door at night. I want a big shaggy head on my feet as I watch TV. I want to throw slimy tennis balls until my arm is weak. I want my son to live in Mayberry and walk down long, dusty country lanes with a fishing pole and sandwiches with pickles tied up in a red bandana, with Moses at his side.

I want a big black lab and I want to name him Moses.

I have dog envy.