Wednesday, October 17, 2007 @ 2:05 am
spoiled rotten6
I am having a hard time believing that there can be so many comments surrounding/alluding to/regarding Jackson. If I didn’t adore him so much, I might actually be a bit jealous.
I have to admit that when I thought of getting a puppy I thought of only the really positive things. I would sit and day dream about a little white puff of fur sitting next to me while I drove around – pressing his cute little puppy dog face to the window and charming passerbys. I also thought about carrying him around (yes – I admit it – I did) in a little carry bag – where he would peek his little puppy nose out of from time to time and then cuddle back in the bag (designer of course) where he would remain – quiet – until I decided to take him out. The best dreams I had about Jackson were the ones in my bed – where he would cuddle next to me and sleep under the covers and his soft puppy fur would warm my body (or at least 5 inches of a thigh…) and we would wake up in the morning and eat breakfast together over the morning paper. Ok – that last part was exaggerated. I really did believe the other parts though.
Jackson is nothing like this.
Granted he is still a baby. And his brain is probably the size of a pea (says the good “doc”) – but man… I had NO idea parenthood would be so challenging. I really did not. So when Jackson decided at 15 weeks to refuse sleep until he had his daily and nightly romps around the house – living room – etc. I felt unprepared. I placed him in his crate at the foot of my bed like I always do – and he started the most horrible whining I have ever heard. At first I ignored it. He had already peed, he had had his treats, his dinner, his wine, etc. There was no reason for the crying and carrying around that he was doing. But he was persistant – and finally I had to let him out – which I guess only further trained him into believing that if he wailed enough Momma would let him out and he could have the run of the house.
I don’t think it was his dramatic thrashing and crying in his crate that made me do it. The spoiling came much earlier. There were the clothes – and the food (I bought at least 3 different kinds of kibble before deciding on the one I would use!) and then there were the snacks. Jackson has taken over the coffee table. The coffee table has these 6 compartments that hold 12 baskets (6 on each side of the table… get it?) and Jackson has taken over 1/2 of the table (the 1/2 that faces the couch.) It’s out of control. His clothes fill one basket. His shampoo and conditioner (because I didn’t know what kind to buy – I basically bought every kind the store carried) are in another. Then his grooming supplies (nail clippers, detangler spray, and about 3 different brushes/slickers/combs) are in another basket. He has plastic toys (another basket) and then there are his snacks (still another basket), his leashes fill another (blue and red collars complete with leads) and the final basket is just filled with extra stuff that doesn’t go anywhere else. I think his dog charms for his collar are in that basket along with a few other trinkets. It doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
that’s because I haven’t gotten to the other containers in the house that house Jackson shit. Like the basket in the corner of the living room that has every toy imaginable. You thought the toys were in the basket in the coffee table? Oh no. Those toys are PLASTIC squeak toys – the toys in the basket in the corner of the living room are his rope toys, his plush toys (like his gf Mrs. Zebra) and the balls he plays with. Yeah – I needed a separate basket for those. Even though Jackson sleeps in a crate at the foot of my bed – he also has a crate that he eats and travels in. Well, he’s suppose to travel in it while in my car, that was until I bought a car seat specially for him – which he also (surprise surprise) hates. Then there is the soft carry crate that he hates – but unfortunately he didn’t tell me that before I bought that one. Then there is the carry bag that now serves as his “diaper” bag – you know – the bag I put all his little things in when we go traveling and that I carry with me in the car in case we are stuck in it for a week or something and can’t get to civilization. There is a tiny water bottle in that diaper bag, along with 7 days worth of food, toys, a bone or two, a pee pad, and a few other items. Oh – and Jackson also has 2 beds. One in his little kitchen pen (consisting of two babygates that I also purchased) – and then another bed in the living room – JUST IN CASE he gets tired and wants to rest there. As If.
I am mentioning this knowing that I have a problem. I know that I have to admit to the problem (and that I am powerless over spoiling a 3 lb dog) before true healing can take place. I am now going cold turkey. Jackson has every treat he needs and I don’t need to get him any more. But you can, if you wish. He also has every toy he could possibly need to chew, hump, and attempt to eat – but if you wish you can buy him more. He also has enough beds, crates, and blankets – but again… I will not be purchasing one more book, one more toy, one more treat, one more anything for that doggy for the next month. Enough is enough (is enough.) I can’t go on like this much longer. I will be in debt because of him – and there are other things I could be spending my money on. But again…if YOU want to spoil him … go right ahead. He won’t stop you – he sure as hell didn’t stop me.
Comment by MJ
October 17, 2007 @ 2:43 am
I cant remember laughing so hard in a long time. You have got it bad. Do you actually think you can go 30 days without spoiling him? I dont see that happening. Believe me, I understand. I think you can really start to understand the addiction your callers have to you.(ok I wont speak for anyone else). The addiction I feel towards you. It would be impossible for me to go 30 days without you.(heck 30 seconds of not thinking of you is impossible).
The good times will come be patient. Jackson is still a puppy. Just remember after his classes he should be a completely different puppy. One that minds you like I do lol.
Not sure why you should be jealous. Do you actually think that if Jackson belonged to anyone other than you that he would get posted on? I/We are jealous cause he gets to spend more time with you than we/I can. We are posting(there I go again). I post about Jackson because he is as important to you as you are to me. I hope this will help you fend off that little green monster. Also if you look back at most of your recent posts you will find a majority are about Jackson. So wouldn’t it make sense that we/I would want to talk about what you are talking about. Just a thought.