I am not sure how it happened, but we have a new puppy that wants nothing to do with me. Stanley, our new dog, wants me to leave. And he’s the second dog in our family to feel this way.
Let me explain. One of the most heartbreaking things that happened this year was when our golden retriever Riley died. Riley came to us via a school auction, where he was purchased for far too much money—and no, I was not drunk. Riley and I had a great relationship. She was a lazy dog. She didn’t want to be walked, was happy to be let out of the house twice a day and occasionally wanted her ears rubbed. She didn’t swim in the pool, she floated on the raft. She was one cool cat, or in this case, dog.
Then we adopted Stella about two years ago, and let me just say, things haven’t exactly worked out the way I planned. I’ve walked her 100 miles, sent her to obedience school and day care, and tried a variety of other ways to make her be more like Riley. But she can’t help herself. She’s a mixed breed of Husky and Australian Shepherd, both considered working dogs. She needs to be pulling a sled across the Arctic, not hanging out with me in Clayton. Then with the passing of Riley, it seemed that Stella got even more hyper. We concluded she was lonely and missed her doggie friend.
Now, this is where I feel like I am a woman on the TLC show, I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant, when she goes into labor and says, “I had no idea I was expecting a baby even though my pants were so tight I couldn’t breathe and I gained 30 pounds.” I should have known this was going to happen. Family chatter started in the summer about getting a second dog. Stella was lonely. If we got another dog, Stella wouldn’t be so needy. Stella looked sad when her brother Stevie couldn’t come over for a play date. Stella needed a companion. Oh, look at this puppy on this website. What about this puppy? And then, bam! My daughter completed an application with Gateway Pet Guardians, we’re approved, and next thing you know, a puppy is coming over for a ‘trial’ visit.
Stanley arrived while I was out of town. I immediately started getting pictures of the golden retriever/shepherd mix, and I knew it was all over. Stanley was snuggled into my husband’s arms, gazing at him with big brown eyes. My daughter was smitten, and the next thing I knew, the puppy was in the car when the family got me at the airport. When I picked Stanley up to introduce myself, he twisted his head away, and I swear I heard him say, “You are too late. They belong to me now, back off.” And it hasn’t gotten any better.
Stanley gets all the attention. He needs to be walked, fed, bathed, combed and fluffed. Stanley is cute and can run fast without needing to stop and catch his breath. It is Stanley all the time, and since Stanley won’t allow me to care for him, it means he occupies my husband’s time. Yes, I have been replaced by a dog. A dog who stares at me and whispers : “I won. Back off, lady.” So, if I suddenly go missing, just know the dog did it.
Contact Patty at phannum@townandstyle.com.