Visit to my daughter's new house was a disaster!!!

[Pat and Traveler]

I took Trav to my daughter’s new house this afternoon, and it’s a good thing there wasn’t a video of this train wreck. First, this daughter is on Trav’s list of Most Beloved People, which means the best way for them to meet would include her wearing a suit of armour and holding a chair and whip to keep him at bay while he does the doggie equivalent of joyful back flips, somersaults and flying-Wallenda-like stunts involving available furniture. There are sound effects too–tiny whining expressions of extraordinary delight.

Oh yes–we’ve worked on appropriate at-the-door greeting, but obviously there haven’t been enough meetings done enough times for a calm routine to have been established. Just to complicate matters, Trav has whole repertoire of greetings for different people. For my other daughter, son-in-law and me, greeting is friendly but calm. We are on his list of Most Beloved But Basically Boring people. The third major list is a simple one: Strangers. Strangers are greeted calmly and from a safe distance, and are assessed with an unwavering and sometimes unnerving stare. Many strangers are quickly elevated to the Most Beloved category, especially if they are delivering pizza, others will apparently always be strangers, like a previous next-door neighbor.

The first pitfall at my daughter’s house was the pregnant stray cat that has adopted her. It was quite comfy on the doorstep, not at all inclined to give up this spot for a mere dog. Trav was taken aback by this behavior and after a moment of shocked hesitation, he started barking. As it happens, my daughter had gone off to do an errand and her new boyfriend was the only person at home. We hadn’t met, and were trying to say hello as the cat sighed, heaved herself to her feet and strolled away and Trav upped the decibel level of his barking and tried to follow her, any leash training but a distant memory. Boyfriend, dog and I somehow managed to get inside the front door. I could almost see him thinking ‘...so this is what will become of the beautiful woman I’ve so recently added to my life...’

Once inside the door, I made one of those inexplicable bad decisions that just happen sometimes. I took Trav off leash. He was already thrilled about the cat, the new environment, and a Beloved Person’s scent, and instantly launched into a version of the zoomies. The new house is small and crammed with packing boxes, stacked furniture, all the debris of a recent move. Trav leaped onto the nearest couch, jumped from there to another couch, or maybe a chair or stack of boxes–things mercifully became a blur there for a while. Of course, my daughter showed up then, so along with the zoomies there were the ecstatic greeting routines reserved for Beloved People, generously expanded this time to include some contact sport with boyfriend.

Trav and I were pretty tired when we got home, and had to take a nap.

[Pat and Traveler]

I do recall Trav's breeder looking at my thoughtfully and saying, 'he's probably the most active pup of the litter...'  LOL...  We're heading out now to get some dog food and then sit at one of the outside tables at Starbuck's.  I sincerely hope this isn't a really, really bad idea...

[Bonnie and Kona]

Trav sounds like a wonderful, life-loving delight. Hope the boyfriend turns out to be also. ;o)

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

I love your description of Trav's exuberance!!!  Get used to it boyfriend, Trav is part of the family package.

[Pat and Traveler]

Whew...I sure wouldn't have chosen this event as an introduction to the family!  Needless to say, I didn't get much chance to talk to the boyfriend.  I wasn't expecting anybody to be there except my daughter, who wasn't even there for most of the time!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Yep - I agree - let the boyfriend see the family at it's worst.  If he sticks around then you know that he is a keeper!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Oh boy, you have described that scene so vividly I was playing it in my mind as I was reading it.  All will be forgiven. Boyfriends should put up with all these things otherwise they aren't worth it LOL : )

[Jennifer and Jack]

Somehow are babies know when we really, really, want them to behave and make a good impression, and somehow they do the opposite, Now to worry, I think that is a fine introduction into the family for your daughters boyfriend!!!