2/5/09

My Irish Setter

Should I be alarmed that my puppy may stay a puppy for the next 4-5 years? (Just read that as I browsed through this book...) This could mean extended games of keep-away with valuable stuffed animals (valuable to the kids, not me) for 4-5 years, spiking levels of adrenaline coursing through my veins every few minutes for 4-5 years. YIKES.

On the positive side, I think this crazy energy is going to serve us well. I had such a great time with the pup this weekend, as she bounded through 2 feet of snow off the path we were following. Part of me was annoyed when she was snatching hats off of the kids and running off into the snow with them, but then part of me loved having the crazy little thing chasing us on the sled (and I took an evil sort of pleasure out of making her slide down the hill on a sled with us). It's good for the family to choose outside time, and active time, over sedentary time in the house - and the puppy is forcing us to do that. For if we don't, "a bored dog will find something to do, which often manifests itself in some type of destructive behavior." I don't think I want to figure out what that destructive behavior might be...

Anyway, here is my favorite sentence of the book: "The Irish Setter companion dog relates well to every member of his family, regardless of his or her age, and the dog's loyalty, especially to children, is absolute." Did you read that, Bill? She's going to be just perfect for us.

3 comments:

Amy said...

I think you need to either re-read, or re-write the last sentence...

pl said...

No, we do have 3 children...so she will be perfect for our family. Except right now I hate her.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the world of Weimeraner! Maggie is 4 1/2 and still tearing around like a maniac :)