The girls are ruining my training!

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Before retirement I worked for the Hershey company in an Illinois plant, my job consisted of many things but one of the most consistent was years of leading GMP inspections.  That is the inspections that food companies use to make sure every thing is clean and healthy before any food product hits the equipment to mix, cook or package it for your consumption.  Because of all those years I was never actually a germaphobe but cleanliness has been a major in my life for many years.  Fast forward to retirement and finally ending up with Meg and Polly.  I am sure I don't have to tell you how often I use a pooper scooper, and wash my hands, pick up chewed up toys and bones, and wash my hands...you all know the drill.  Each morning after they both eat and get drinks they come in unison to lay their heads on my lap, which is mainly how they dry their beards, that's right, I am a human towel and then I continue wearing those pants used for a towel the rest of the day.  Those same girls roll all over the ground and floor and then flop on my lap for a nap at any opportunity, I have been known to roll on the floor with them. 

 

This morning after cleaning the yard and being used for a towel the thought entered my mind that all those employees that I issued cleaning lists to for inspections, pre-inspections and every day maintenance would die laughing if they saw this.  Then I thought nope, they probably have pets of their own and 'got it' long before I did.  I really don't mind being a human towel at all.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yup, right now the dogs are bringing in catkins and other debris. I overlook it until I have too much to ignore.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Our big issue right now is the dried up seeds from the Maple trees (whirlygigs).  Meg is like Teflon and nothing sticks to her and if it did that would be a hair she sheds.  Polly is Velcro and EVERYTHING sticks to her.  I have a bench and a brush outside the door to brush her down real quick before coming in but if they are out with my husband, well apparently he is losing his eyesight, doesn't seem to be aware there is a brush there.  I am learning to ignore a lot, after all the vacuum will get it when I get around to that.

[Sharon & Monty]

I learned the "cleaning lesson" after my daughter was born.  I worked a 60 hour week, driving 2 hours per day.  Of course we had a large yard and house and animals etc.  I used to be a clean freak, cleaned everything always.  That is until my daughter was born.  I learned a new mantra. When the cookie crumbs and dog hair reached my ankles, only then was it worth getting the vacuum out! lol

[Lynda Kamrath]

Well, I kind of learned a lesson also when my son was a baby.  He had a yeast infection and two weeks later I came down with a yeast infection (the only one I ever had).  I asked the doctor how could I get a vaginal yeast infection from my son.  He said, "Do you wash your hands every time you change a diaper?"  I had to admit that I did not and he said that was how I got it.  So I became much more diligent of washing my hands.  I wash my hands before I go to the bathroom as well as after.  I wash my hands every time I touch the dogs and before I touch any food.  It seems compulsive, but I got into the habit and have never stopped.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We all need this motto hanging on our walls:

"My home is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy."

[F, Calla & Luca]

I like that!

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

Me too!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I agree and the older I get the more tolerant of dust I have become!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

BD (Before Dogs) I had sparkling floors. Clean floors have always been my pet peeve. There was a time when I vacuumed every day due to the mess the 2 cockatoos made. Now, although I sweep every day, I only vacuum maybe once a week. Dogs definitely have changed my perspective on my standards of cleanliness. I still love clean floors, but rarely have them :)

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

I totally get this.  All of these years of being an OCD, germa-phobe went right out the door when our two puppies came in.  I can't help but think, it is a very good thing!

[jenn D]

We are beard towels here too. I'm glad I'm in such good company. :)

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

Gotta love those doodle beards!