Friday, February 13, 2009

Mister Harumph!

I want to get a puppy.

There, I said it. I want to get a puppy! What? I have my reasons. Our lab Anna, you see, is getting up there in years. She's getting gimpy. Hey, don't look at me like that! It's not like I'm looking to replace her... NO SIREE! What I'd like to do is introduce some youthful exuberance into her life. I also worry that someday (hopefully many years from now) when she eventually leaves us for that big giant field in the sky, where she can run completely unleased to her hearts content, yeah, that place up there known as doggie heaven... Well, I know the void she leaves will be unbearable. I purpose another dog might be able to fill a small space in that void. Not only that, but I think a new pup will add a whole new element of love to our lives.

I want this new family member to be a small puppy for a few reasons.
  1. I believe Anna will be more accepting of a pup. She's an alpha-female when she gets around other dogs and I definitly want another female. If she can establish herself as the alpha-female with a pup, who isn't old enough to challenge that, then I feel the transition will go much more smoothly.
  2. Puppies are easier to train. Anna had the bad habit of running away when we got her at 10 months old from the SPCA and whatever traumas she encountered before she came to us, created a deep neurosis in her we've never been able to break through. With a new pup we can be fully responsible for any traumas we create.
  3. I'm home, I've got time, energy and patience enough to do the whole pup training thing.
  4. The kids really want a pup (yeah, I know... Big surprise.)
  5. Puppies are so damn cute!
Enter my husband, Mr. Harumph! "Why would you want to introduce an unknown factor into this house?" "Who knows what kind of damage a puppy will do?" "What, who, why, where?"

We had a family meeting in where we discussed all the possibilities we could think of which might make for this being a good or a bad decision. I've spoken with our cousin who is the 'Canine Specialist' in the family. I've been doing some reading on integrating a new pet into a family with an elder dog... And I've got a call into our vet to get her opinion and to ask if she could keep her eyes open for any lab/retriever pups that might need a good home. We're not AKC people. We're save a mutt people. We just like to be sure the mutt is of a breed mix we've found to be the most amiable to our lifestyle.

Mr. Harumph! hasn't really given his approval. He just gave the same answer he gave me when we got our first dogs (2 lab/spaniel mix puppies from the pound... I should note we were there looking for one adult dog.) and that answer was, "Well, I guess it's up to you... but you know how I feel.... harumph!" I hate when he does that because it always leaves me feeling that tinge of guilt and anytime there's a tinge of guilt associated with any of my decisions, I can never feel 100% good about them. Besides, I think he gives me that answer just so he can reserve the right to say, "I told you so." whenever he sees fit.

Mr. Harumph, ineed!

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6 Comments:

Blogger Chris said...

For the first time in my life, I have not had a dog for the past 4 years. Last weekend's glorious spring like weather brought all the dogs out to the park and I was so envious of their owners.

I want a dog too, but Mrs. Harumph lives here;)

4:04 AM, February 14, 2009  
Blogger Carrie said...

Hmm - I can say 2 things

1. It is 3 vs. 1 --- well 4 if you count me

2. If you are willing to do all of the hard work to train the puppy - then go for it. that is the hard part - and Mister Harumph will fall in love with her just as he has for Anna...just give him time :)

2:45 PM, February 14, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sounds like hubby is being manipulative. If he didn't give you a flat out "NO WAY", do what you want!!!

6:44 PM, February 14, 2009  
Blogger EmBee said...

Ahhh Chris, my sympathies go out to you as life WITHOUT a dog (to me) seem a little bit emptier.

Maybe Mrs. Harumph just needs to hold a puppy?

Hi Carrie,
4 to 1... Hmmmm, impressive odds I hadn't considered. However, even though he likes you, I don't think my husband is going to count your vote. In fact he might like you a little less since you're voting against him.
:-)

Anon,
And I'm quite sure my husband wouldn't like you at all.
Sorry!
:-(

9:28 AM, February 16, 2009  
Blogger Whiskeymarie said...

You'll get over the guilt- get the dog!!

But you'll probably still get an "I told you so" at one point or another. Is there maybe a particular type of dog he has a soft spot for that you could get?

1:06 PM, February 16, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Baby steps, baby steps. Mr. Harumph is just fearful of change and with a Democrat in the White House, he may not be able to handle any more upheaval in his world right now. Give him time to get used to the idea and he may surprise you. Besides, Anna Banana is the bestest dog in the world, well, the world north of Florida. Don't give up your quest for a dog, life without a dog is just..................well, not as good as life with a dog (OK, it's not creative or quippy, but it's true.

5:07 PM, February 16, 2009  

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