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Thursday, 08 June 2006

Comments

dee

Here here! Though my list of acceptable dogs is much shorter. Number one would do it. It's not that I hate dogs. Other peoples dogs are great...I just don't want to have to care for them.

Oh...and that little coo video...ohh man almost makes me want another little one. almost.

Mark

I must add this one:

Any dog that is not a cat and does not act like a cat.

marian

To me any dog whose poop I need have nothing to do with is a good dog.

I would recommend removing #17 from your list because really, if you think a jack russell is a lot of work, you'd be sorely disappointed by an arctic sled dog.

Have you made a decision, dog-wise?

Paul

I think your entire list can be summed up by #23:"Dogs that are born perfectly obedient and trained." This reveals that you, when it comes to the concept of dogs at least, are living in a fantasy land of your own creation. Anyone who gets a dog without realising that it entails a commitment not unlike that of having a child needs to take a class, or something. In fact, after three or so years, you get to stop cleaning up your kids' poop. You get to keep cleaning up after your dogs' piles of steaming doo-doo for as long as they live.

Your #2:"Dogs that frolic in open fields and then, on being summoned, return to their owner while cavorting in such a manner as to display their undying love and obedience for him" represents a significant undertaking of training and discipline. Shadow behaves like that in a field, unless there is another dog around...or bunnies...or skunks...or butterflies...or some other, possibly imaginary distraction. We're still working on it.

Simon

Paul - 'twas from inside that fantasy world that we bought the second dog. I've been struggling in vain to justapose that with reality for about a year now. I sometimes surprise myself with how stubborn I can be.

Marian - arctic sled dogs are, perforce, generally to be found in the arctic and therefore not in my house. If one were further south, it would be an 'arctic sled dog in Alberta', which category I thankfully did not add to the list.

And I doubt we'll be getting rid of either of them. I think the task will be up to me to align my preferences with the harsh, bright light of reality.

Paul

I was serious about taking a class. Enrolling in dog training classes was extremely valuable to our family. Of course, it is important to recognise going in that the dog training classes are for the benefit of the owners, not the dogs.

Simon

Oh, we did do a 6-week class, Paul. And I was aware going in that it was for the owners and not the dogs. Don't get me wrong, that class helped immensely. The biggest part of my problem stems not from their training but from my reticence to form any sort of emotional bonds with either dog. Like I mentioned, I find them inconvenient. And that's MY problem.

Paul

Ah...well...erm...I see. And Amy would be upset if they mysteriously disappeared one day...

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