Sunday Musings

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

It seems like Riley has been a part of our family forever.  It's not even two weeks but in that time our lives have been turned upside in a wonderful way.  Our children want to visit and friends we haven't seen in ages are arriving on a daily basis and a new dimension has been added to our lives.  As you know I have prepared well for Riley.

During the week a young person posted that she had taken on too much when she got her puppy.  The discussion was written after  only after one day and she was agonising, but the reality was she couldn't adjust her life to meet the needs of her puppy.  I'm nearly 52 and I think I'm just about old enough and mature enough to own a Labradoodle now!.  I have had many dogs over the years, the ones I had as a child were in truth looked after by my parents, they had the major responsibility.  The dogs I had in the early years of my marriage were easy Maltese Terriers both of whom lived long and happy lives but in truth they were undemanding, didn't require the intensive training  that Riley does. 

I remembered that when Sophie was ten years old she started pestering me for a  Boxer Dog, she  thought they were the best looking dogs on the planet ( I begged to differ) and I couldn't shift her thinking.  My Mother In Law lived around the corner and beside her were a young family with a young Boxer dog who lived in their yard and who was totally untrained.  He spent the days sadly barking, bored out of his mind.  I came up with a plan.  I knocked on the door of the house and a woman answered.  "I 'd like to talk to you about your dog" I said.  "What's he done now?", she answered.  "Nothing", I said.  "My daughter and I would like to take him for a walk to the park, if that's ok with you?" " With pleasure", she said and went and got the dog.  A large Boxer dog who was walking on two legs soon appeared.  I told Sophie we were borrowing the Boxer to see if it was a dog she really wanted and we headed for the park.  I took the lead and was pulled along until we were inside the gates.  I turned to Sophie and said "You take the lead now".  Sophie was pulled hard but she bravely held on while I walked alongside, saying nothing.  The dog was very gentle just totally untrained and very strong.   Five minutes later Sophie turned to me and said "Mummy, I think you would have to be 15 to have a dog like this".  I stayed quiet.  Another few minutes later.  "Mummy, I think you would have to be about 20 to have a Boxer"  By now she was really struggling.  When she was being dragged into the duck pond and I came to the rescue Sophie turned to me and said. "Mummy I think you would have to be at least 30 years old to have a Boxer Dog".  We laughed a lot on the way home when I took the lead once again.

We returned the poor dog to his owners and I never heard a word about us getting a Boxer dog again.  I think in retrospect that what  I did was  a reality check on Sophie's obsessional want.  Lots of people get dogs based on an idea.  If more of them did some real observation or indeed did research based on the head rather than the heart then lots more dogs would have far happier homes.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Such a great idea-nice story and maybe every dog "wanter" needs to do this before entering the parenting role?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Great story and life lesson for your daughter. A real reality check. And that was just a WALK! That's one of the FUN things we do with a dog. I too am older and just now ready for the responsibility of a dog, so you are a wise wise woman.

On the same note, I did something similar to this when our daughter was a teenager. I am a Labor and Delivery nurse and having a beautiful teenage daughter, one of my fears was that she'd show up pregnant one day. And just like puppies, young people have NO idea what having a baby entails. From labor on it's a life changing event.

So I took my little 16 year old to work with me one day and had her visit patients with me and even attend a delivery. She was quiet and thoughtful during the day and at the end of my shift she said " I am NEVER going to do THAT!!!!"  Mission accomplished!!!! She is now 36 and pregnant with her first baby.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

That was a wonderful way to illustrate a point.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

What a great story Nicky!!!  I love that approach to teach a young person.  Too bad all my "young people" (grandchildren in Boston) don't live near me.  I could find ways to use your strategy on them often!  ha ha  I love that little Riley just fits right in like he has always been there.  What is so much fun about Doodles is that they keep you laughing all the time!  Hugs to the little man!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I just love Sundays now! Yay for Nicky!!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

You are a brilliant mum and a brilliant teacher.  What you did was a wonderful life lesson and sure beats the "because I said so" response most parents give.  Way to go, Nicky!!!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

So wise, so true...

[Pat and Traveler]

Beautifully done, Nicky!  You are indeed a wise and wonderful Mummy.  Love these Sunday Musings!  I figured I'd have to be retired before I could handle a puppy--and I'm SO glad I waited that long, and have been able to give my dog all the attention he deserves.

[Dori & Rua]

You are just an awesome "Mummy"!  What a wonderful life lesson you taught your daughter.  All without having to say No.  Beautiful Sunday Musing!  Thank you for sharing.  You have such a talent with painting a picture.  I could see Sophie being pulled into the duck pond by the boxer.  (I have to agree...not at all the best looking dog on the planet...not that I am partial, but Doodles are the best looking dog on the planet.)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Great story Niki. When I was thinking of getting a dog and people questioned whether or not I'd be happy with the way it would change my life I decided to test it out. I spent some time with a friends goldendoodle dog, and in doing so, I confirmed that there was nothing in the world that would make me happier, but that I would have a lot of learning to do. That made me go out and do a lot of research before bringing my Sophie home. By the way, Sophie is a great name isn't it?