How Do You Greet Your Doodle?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Recently, Jane (Jane, Guinness & Murphy) wrote a discussion about "Our Energy."  She talked about how her DH would get her dogs so excited before taking them for a walk that they did not listen. All through her discussion, I was thinking about when I return home and saying to myself, "I do that...yep, that too...uh oh, I do that." My husband has long said that I contribute to the "excitement" level in our house.  Several times he has said that he thinks loud noises are contributing to the dog's energy levels.  The last time he said it, I had to stop singing long enough to ask him what were the loud noises he kept mentioning and all he said was, "I wonder."  Now, I have read tons of dog training books and I know what I am not supposed to be doing, but I just can't help myself.

 

We are homebodies, my DH and I, and most of the time when I travel, I start wishing I had Dorothy's red shoes that I could click together and get back home faster. One of the first things you see when you walk in my house is a large sign that reads It is good to be home.  My dogs are a big part of this feeling and here is the way I see it. My DH and I are in our 50's. Fudge and Vern might be the last dogs we have....our kids are grown and I don't have to set any examples. When I walk through the door, I am happy to see my dogs and I guess sometimes I do sing loudly or dance a bit, but Fudge and Vern are really the only audience I have that appreciates my dance moves and my renditions of Play that Funky Music White Dog or Sugar, Sugar, Fudgie Wudgie.

 

Truthfully, is there anyone else in your life that greets you as warmly as your dog does? When you come home, how do you greet your dog??

 

Waiting and Watching for Visitors:

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well I'm guessing you all know how I greet the Doods.....I don't (at least for a few minutes).  They know the sound of my car now, and they can tell when I come around the corner.  They each get up and take their places in one of the front windows.  They watch the car pull into the garage and then they go wait by the garage door.  When I come in I usually don't say a word for a few minutes.  They both know they have to sit and be calm....they do that in the foyer and wait.  That's when they get their "I missed you greeting".  I had to get to this point of "cold, boring, unfeeling" homecomings because Guinness had started peeing as soon as I walked into the house.  Since we're gone to our new "system" that has stopped.  If I 'm being totally honest I'll admit that I kind of hate it....I'd LOVE to come home and give them "lots of lovin", but for my guys it's not the best thing.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, You are a great doodle mama!

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

I love this!!! "Play that Funky Music White Dog"....I laughed pretty hard reading that!!!! DH and I like to break out into dance in the kitchen sometimes (silly dance like the can-can!), and Lola gets really riled up! So funny! Also, when I get home, I run to her as fast as she runs to me, and we hug, jump around and give each other kisses!! DH is more of a "wait until she calms down before giving her attention" kind of guy....I just can't wait that long!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sue, I think you are my kind of gal...LOL!! Your DH sounds like mine. My DH loves all the calm greeting responses and he is stopping just short of saying, "I told you so!"

[F, Calla & Luca]

My two are in their crates if I'm out for more than a couple of minutes. I come in to silence and say, "Hi guys, I'm home or something like that. If I take more than a minute to let them out they whine a bit. But usually they're happy but not crazy. Calla never waits to maneuver around her crate door but scoots under a dining room chair. Then I usually let them out in the yard. If I've been gone longer than usual they may get a bit overexcited. And forget it if I come home with someone they didn't expect, they do get overexcited.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

F, Who is this someone they didn't expect........LOL!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Antonio, with a Big Medallion :)    ?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I was thinking along those same lines...LOL! Matteo with the Italian Baugette!

 

[Jennifer and Jack]

I did the same thing as a few other people, I knew from what I read that you should not make a big deal about leaving or coming home, I never say good bye to Jack when I leave, I just turn the TV on, shut whatever doors I don't want him in and I leave, When I come home, I always try to ignore him for the first minute, if he is excited and he jumps on me ( which often happens) I firmly tell him to get off. I wait until he is settled and then I give him hugs, pets and scratches.

 

Believe me, having Jack to come home to is amazing and I want to sing and dance that I am home with him, but I am afraid it will make him have anxiety when we are not together. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jennifer, I was sure you would start to dance when you saw that beautiful Jack :)

[cheryl & oliver]

Oliver and Renny know that when the garage door opens, Mom is home...They both sit by the door in the kitchen that goes to the garage, and wait for me to come in.  I usually just say hi guys, or how are my boys doing.? Were u good boys?   and they both just look at me... (why does she ask us that every time? is she nuts?)I then ask them if they want to go out, and they run to the door, we then go for our walks and to do their business, then it is back in the house, they wait by their treat jar, I give them their treat, and we go from there...I do not crate them, when I go out, they are not destructive, and I think they really sleep most of the time I am gone...Oliver thinks when I say Mom has to go bye bye, that it means ok, I am coming with you, and he tries to get to the door to the car.  I say no just Mommy has to go, and he backs off.  I always say I will be back soon, and I leave...I always see Oliver looking out the window in my office as I leave, but so far I have not come home to any bad surprizes....And yes I sing to them, and Oliver loves to dance with me to old time Rock & Roll, he loves The Four Seasons, lol and Frankie Valli, lol.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Oliver, Do you like Michael Buble?  He is very good in concert...LOL!