Observations by a first time doodle owner

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I have always loved dogs, but until recently, the situation did not allow me to have my own dog. I did not know what to expect and had no idea how much better life can be with a dog...let alone a DOODLE. Monty turned 2 in March and it got me contemplating about our two years together. Here is a handful of things every new doodle owner should expect to happen:

 

1. You will never shower alone...and I mean EVER again. So get used to stepping out of your shower finding an "extra bath rug" laying on the bathroom floor. And get used to freezing your butt off, literally, since the bathroom door will be wide open. You can try and close the door before you take your nice relaxing shower, but I'm afraid you won't be able to relax due to the howling and whining that would be coming from behind the closed door. So yes, you will step out of the shower all soaped up, just to crack the door open to allow the howling intruder in. And eventually, you will learn to keep the door ajar before you step into the shower. By the way, this also affects any other business you might want to try to conduct in your bathroom. You are never alone.

 

2. You become invisible and nameless. When you are out and around with your doodle, somehow you completely disappear from other people's views. All they see is your doodle. Not only that, some even know his/her name. I would walk into Monty's daycare with him and the front desk ladies would squeel: "Hi Monty! Are you coming to play?" That's all. Do they know my name? I doubt it. The other day I was dropping off Monty at his groomer. She opened a second location and I've never seen these new assistants before. Yet, we walked in and one of the assistants already bathing a different dog looked up and yelled: "Monty is here!"  Well, I was there too, but I don't think anyone actually noticed. So get ready: people will notice your dog. You are just an accessory.

 

3. Many adult human beings fall righ down to the level of their kidswhen they meet your doodle. I especially love this one. On our morning walks, we periodically cross paths with two new moms pushing their infant kids in strollers. Even though I already know I'm invisible, I still try to be polite and greet them good morning. All I get as a reply is a  "doggy doggy" in a childish squeeky voice from BOTH of them. Consistently. Every. Time. We. Meet.  It actually makes my day.

 

4.  Even if adults are speaking in a normal voice and you might think they are actually talking to you, snap out of it. They are NOT talking to you. I have to state here that I'm happily married. But still, every female walking her doodle and passing a male who suddenly says "You are gorgeous!" would want to think the remark belonged to her. Married or not. Oh well, get over yourself. He is talking to your doodle. You should know by now.

 

So there you have it. These are my two cents for the new doodle owners. What other insights would you have?

 

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

This is great Jarka! Especially #2 I think my DH likes to walk Chloe alone because he she gets so much attention! I don't think too many of our neighbors even know our names! We've been here 9 years and before Chloe we weren't around much. Now it's a daily thing. One little girl always jumps up and down and yells "CLEO, I love you!" I yell back CHLOE loves you too! So funny, there's a Cleo down the block from her. All the kids say that's the dancing dog! The ones who know her name yell it across the street and she stands up on her back legs to see which of her peeps it is!

It goes both ways though-when we talk in our house we are like Cleo's dad or Bella's mom otherwise we don't know who we are talking about. Too funny. Yes-we are invisible! Cute blog!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

LOL - "Doodar" !! I totally have one of those. I have been seen chasing down inocent doodles from a far for a chance to say hello.

[Leslie and Halas]

You will spend way more money on your doodle's grooming appointments, grooming supplies, etc. than you do on your own grooming.

If your doodle is like Halas, you will start keeping everything exactly where it belongs.  If anything is out of place, Halas lets me know about it.  Usually with a growl and a woof at the offending object.

That reminds me, I switched to a slightly bigger office a couple of weeks ago, and I brought Halas to work with me yesterday afternoon.  He doesn't like it when something in a room is out of place, so I shouldn't have been surprised that he was upset about an entire room being out of place.  He was very unsettled all afternoon because we weren't in the right spot.

You also develop a doodar (radar for doodles).  When I'm without Halas, especially in a big city like Chicago or New York, my doodle senses may tell me that there's a doodle around.  I'll take a look around, and I'll usually see one.  You can just sort of feel their presence.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

And for anyone who thinks of adopting a doodle, be prepared to spend ridiculous amounts of time talking about poop, examining poop, and poking through vomit. :)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I would like to add that I agree completely with what Jane said below. I used to be a travel junkie. But so long as there are doodles in my life I will never enjoy travel again unless said doodles are by my side.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

@ Karen, yes, poop is very important. As well as making sure your dog likes his food. ;-)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Laurie, we know Vern loves you, but perhaps he can't figure out the floating head in the bathtub. I need to try that. I don't think I had a bubble bath ever since we got Monty. How pitiful.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Sherri, good one about the house. Unfortunately, we got Monty after we got our house. I would have done it totally differently now. And so true about the people not recognizing you without your doodles.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Lori, definitely true about the scheduling, LOL. Everything evolves around the dog's schedule. As for the photographs, I have no kids, but I definitely have million pictures of Monty. And he has his own 95-page photo book. He is only 2...

Jane, see, I forgot about the car. We did get a bigger car to accommodate Monty and his future sister.

I can't stop laughing. Nancy, that's just too funny to tell your daughter not to attend her brother's graduation.

[Carol and Banjo]

Great post Jarka.   One of the best things about having Banjo in our lives is the many, many people we've met because of him!   Last winter we stayed on the beach in Florida and met so many great people.  One afternoon we visited a nearby city and while walking down the sidewalk we heard someone behind us call out "Banjo, hello!".   We turned to see who called and didn't recognize the couple.  At that point the wife said "Well hello again!   We met you you the beach a few days ago!"   They, of course remembered Banjo's name but none of us remembered each others names....LOL!