Big Sister

Our pets often become our children, especially when we are sorely lacking in that department. And so, whether we intend or not, we have a tendency to anthropomorphize our pets. It gets harder when your pet really does think she is a human. Cooper looks at me as if I have just said something funny when I remind her that she is a dog.

I think, however, that there ought to be some understanding for us poor besotted fools who tend to make our pets our children because well... they act like children.

For the last four years in which I've had Cooper she's been an only child and she liked it. She tolerated the cats but I am her mommy and only her mommy and I may be no one else's mommy. She doesn't like to share. And she's never had to. Things were easy because if she wanted attention from me, there was no competition. Things are not exactly the same with her cousins.

Don't get me wrong, she likes having her cousins about. She plays with them and they are helping her explore her inner dog, something that has been sorely lacking. And she gets more help than she really wants from Roxie.

Now, Roxie is a big sister and like all big sisters, she feels as if she must keep her sister in check. On more than one occasion I'll have let the girls outside to go potty before bed. If Kai has seen a cat then she will stay outside to watch for the elusive feline. This usually requires me calling her two or three times before she finally listens. And this is where Roxie reminds me of every big sister I have ever known.

Big sisters feel as if they must take on the role of parent. Why, I dunno. I know that, on more than one occasion my own sister felt as if she needed to become the parent for whatever reason. It drove my brother and me crazy. Roxie does the same thing. If I have called Kai to come inside Roxie will go out and try and bring Kai back in. I can almost hear her yelling at Kai to come in because Aunty said so. And in true little sister fashion, Kai ignored her sister and argues with her the entire way in.

What is really amusing to me is when I tell Kai it's time to come in and Roxie goes outside, tries to grab Kai's neck to bring her in and only when she's shepherded her sister back inside will she look up at me as if to say, See Aunty, I brought her in for you. Silly Roxie. I always thank her but tell her I don't need her to boss her sister around.

What really makes me laugh is when Roxie tries to get Cooper to follow my orders. Now, Cooper's a good dog and we have an understanding. If I call for her in a certain tone she can elect to come or not. It might be her loss but hey, a warm bed all by one's self is a warm bed without anyone to bother her. Sometimes I call her and it's an order, others I call her because she's in big trouble. She usually hides when I use the MOM tone. But Roxie, being a big sister, will sometimes go and fetch her cousin.

Like sisters, I can almost hear the two cousins arguing. Roxie will try and herd Cooper towards me but Coops won't suffer that. So they argue. Loudly. Incessantly. And then I have to yell at the both of them to be quiet. I sometimes threaten to beat them with the biggest stick they can find but they don't seem too concerned.

At bed time Kai will instigate play time with Cooper. She tried with Roxie but she just ignores her little sister. Cooper and Kai snarl and growl and make all sorts of mock fighting noises as they dance and jump and prance and make general nuisance of themselves. Which makes me yell at them to stop it! I'm usually yelling at Coops since she is the elder of the two. At times I yell at them to get off the bed.

Roxie will hold herself very still as if to say, look at me, I'm a good girl. And because she is, she gets to stay up. I don't think either Coops or Kai notice. Kai will jump back up into the bed and race towards me as I am base. Cooper is a step behind her waiting for her to get away from me where she can continue her assault. And Roxie just sits there as if she can show them proper behavior.

Silly girl. I often think that she would love to rough house with Coops and Kai but she's too busy trying to be the good and proper child, to set the standard of behavior by which all other siblings will be measured. And even as I pet her and tell her she's a good girl I laugh. She's definitely a big sister all right.

Iron Constitution & Paper Towels

When it comes to canine children, I think I have it fairly easy. All things considered. My Cooper is properly house trained and she loves her mommy and, after 3 solid years of rearing, she is a good girl I have no problem letting her off leash even at a friend's house. I can also give her just about anything and she'll eat it. My baby isn't exactly a picky eater.

She also has an iron constitution.

Many pet parents have strict diets for their children. I have good friends who have a kitty who requires a very strict diet. I can feed Cooper anything. Though she doesn't like it, she is able to eat the cheapest dog food or the most expensive stuff on the market. Sure, she would love to have fresh meat for each meal but I don't have the money for that. She didn't exactly pick a rich mommy. Several years ago she even ate all but a few slices of a large salami and pepperoni pizza.

Many people supposed that she would toss it up. She didn't. I have never seen her throw up anything she has eaten.

Unlike her cousins.

My sister and I ordered some chinese food the other day. Last night I took the rest of the meat and allowed the dogs to help themselves to the remaining vegetables. They gobbled it up in appreciation. The food didn't agree with them. Both Roxie and Kai rejected their meal. Just about the same time. Roxie threw up in three different locations, including mom's $130 Ikea couch. Kai just chose to soil a blanket that happened to have been on mom's other $130 Ikea couch. Yes Mom, they've been cleaned up.

Only once I have seen to the girls did I run upstairs to check on Cooper who was curled up under the blankets on my bed. She wasn't exactly pleased to have me disturb her.

She also has shown no signs of rejecting her treat from last night.

But, a half roll of paper towels and a load of laundry later, all three girls are now curled up recharging. Roxie is on the floor at my feet, Coops is on the Lazy Boy and Kai is tucked up under my arm.

I am just glad I didn't need to clean up after myself. After all, I am not exactly known for my iron constitution.

Three Dog Night

I always wanted three kids. As in human children. I have none. But I do have a dog, Cooper. And boy it took a lot of time, effort and emotion getting her to be a solid citizen and my work still isn't done-not by half. She can always improve her manners.

Recently I have sort of become the caretaker for my aunt's two dogs: Roxie and Kai. Roxie is a redhead and dumb as a brick but sweet. She's always really bad about putting her nose where it does not belong. I'm constantly having to yell at her to get away from food. And then there's Kai who is a 6 month old chihuahua mix and has a bladder problem. More like, she has no concept that all peeing and pooping is something to be done outside and only outside. She drives me crazy, especially when I come from being gone all day long and find that she's peed on my bed. She's lucky I haven't killed her yet. And both dogs shred anything. Kleenex, paper towels, boxes, books. Yes, books.

They're both lucky I have not killed them yet.

But because of Roxie Cooper is acting more like a dog. She's fetched 4 times now! And we're so proud. She plays with other dogs. Granted Kai has become her favorite toy but... she's playing.

I always did want three children. Mainly because of the great sibling dynamics it creates but now I have a better appreciation for parents of 1 kid... it's easier... might not be as challenging as 2 or 3 but (depending on the child) easier.

I have often asked how dogs and toddlers are different and the prime difference i can think of is that toddlers grow up... dogs don't. You also don't have to change a dog's diaper. However, like toddlers, my dogs do have regular nap time. They will play until about 2 when they all just lie down and nap. No matter what they are doing, all three of them lie down for a nice nap all on their own accord. They sleep for about an hour then get up and do whatever. And then, about 8PM they go down for another nap. They sleep for about an hour and then it's time to pee and they come back in, play a bit and settle down for bed by 10.

It is a bright and beautiful day today and if I can get the gumption to get up maybe Libbie and I can take the girls to the dog park. We have three balls, three dogs and a ball launcher. Could be fun.

A New Year

A New Year has arrived and with it a new decade. I am sure the usual has already been said and all the same resolutions that no one plans on keeping past February have already been made and some of them already broken.

I know that I have a few resolutions myself and, believe it or not, I actually intend on keeping them. Happily for me, mine don't require me to get up at 0 dark 30 and pretend I enjoy running. Nah, I know me better than that-when it comes to exercise I'm not capable of kicking my own ass and need someone to do it for me. But, like many out there, it is my intent on loosing some of the weight I have managed to add and get into some shape in the meantime. I have no interest in running a 5K, 10K, half or even full marathon and there mere idea of doing so makes me groan and whimper. I have done a 5K and my lovely sister didn't understand why I wasn't all juiced from it.

My second intent is to continue with my education. Of course, this was my plan last year but... things didn't quite work out. I have hopes to get to the UK in March but my CAS for the 2011/12 school year won't arrive until May. I nearly pulled all my hair out going through this process once... I just hope I don't loose my sanity going through it all a second time. It is, however, all for a good cause. And He of whom I speak know I am referring to him.

As for the rest, well, let's just say that I also intend on maintaining everything I planned on doing.