The humbling aspects of dog ownership

[Smilla]

Well, Lefty has been with us two months, and he's turning into a real joy. I could go on and on about what he does to make me smile, and how sweet and funny he can be, and what progress we've made on the dominance issue, etc. etc. But something else I've realized is that owning a dog can be rather humbling, often in (retrospectively) funny ways. For instance:

*We get to carry around their waste in little plastic bags. Also, when I'm bending down to pick up after him, he's often a foot or so away, kicking leaves all over me with his back legs.

*He goes trash can-digging during a certain time of the month. (We've since switched to a step-can!)

*He lunges and barks at big trucks in front of the SAME house painters each morning, who stop to watch the whole thing, grinning the entire time.

*Last night he did that whole lovely butt-dragging thing, under a street lamp, in full view of passersby.

*They don't care what you look like, but that includes when they want to be walked! I've been spotted walking him with bedhead, glasses and no makeup, and wearing bright red penguin-covered pajama pants. (Admittedly, I could be a little vain at times, so maybe he's doing me a favor?)

*Last but not least, the canine habit of sniffing folks in inappropriate spots. (Luckily, he's not too bad about that one.)

So, how have your beloved companions embarrassed you?

[Pam]

Very funny thread!! This should be interesting! My RB poodle, Ashley, once threw up right at the feet of one of my son's friends as he sat in my living room chair (missed his shoe by inches). What made it worse was this guy didn't particularly like animals, and I'm sure he liked them even less after that!

[tatsxxx11]

OMG! Too funny! I have to come back and reply after I stop laughing; I'm on the floor! Red penguin pajamas????

[dukedogsmom]

I guess the way Duke has embarrassed me the most is constantly trying to get romantic with KayAnn's Simba who is also a male. He's never acted like this before with any other dog, male or female. And I had to laugh about the red penguin pjs as well. Duke does that scratching out after a good potty. I think it's so funny. One time, he decided to do it when we'd had a good rain. Got muddy goo all over my pants.

[amoore]

Dogs are just too funny! You are so right. They don't care how we look,or how they look either! LOL! Red penguin pjs ?

Our babies are worth it!


Thanks, I love this thread!

[Kona & Oreo's mom]

Oreo has done most of the things on your list, too. She doesn't bark, but she lunges at people on the sidewalk as we're walking; she intends to give sloppy wet kisses, but all they see is a big black dog with her mouth open, which could look scary to a stranger!

[pitc9]

When we first adopted Sierra we took her to my in laws house for a visit, and we were still working on house training. So we made sure to keep an eye on her. Well.... she walked over to the door, and did not let us know she had to go potty, she just squated and peed! The funny thing was that she squated RIGHT over my father-in-laws boot, she peed in side his boot, not even a drop on the floor!!

[K9soul]

This is a wonderful thread, and definitely got me laughing, as well as blushing (thinking about similar things my pups have done). It is so incredibly embarrassing if/when they get ahold of a private feminine product, so I am extremely guarded about keeping the bathroom door blocked

One of the hardest things to try to explain if non-doggie people are over is if Tasha and Tommy happen to get comfortable enough to play, and they both occasionally get into the "play-humping" each other. Yes Tasha takes her turn too. It is purely a puppyish play thing but still... a bit hard to explain and quite embarrassing with company

[Corinna]

Ok Merlin hasn't done this for a long time. But when he was about 8 months old and just learning that boy doggies lift legs. the first time he did it , it was on the ups guys leg as I was talking to him.Thank God it wasn't the usual guy. Merlin came the closest ever to being a dead puppy as he ever has. I had to get in the house before I burst as I was actually auging with the guy about a package he left that had gotten damaged by rain. I guess Merlin just gave his opinion .

[Logan]

I am falling over, just laughing at all of your own embarrasing moments!!!

I remember one time (and I'm sure there have been many others) that my Yellow Lab, Chuck, embarrassed me terribly. We were going on a company retreat, and several of my co-workers were gathering at my house to leave together. Well, Charles, who was in training at the bank, came to the door, and Chuck got so excited that he didn't "pee", but did a "poop", right there on the floor! I about died!!! It was horrible, and was probably 15 years ago at least, but reading this, I remembered it like it was yesterday!!!!

[Smilla]

Some of these are just great! I did forget one that happened recently:

We have a sort of creepy neighbor whom my husband and I both try to avoid. Well, the other day I came around the corner with Lefty, and there the guy was, bent beneath the hood of his car (practically inside of it). I thought I could get around him quietly, but Lefty was feeling friendly and went up to the car to see what the guy found so interesting. I said, "No, Lefty; come on!" and the guy turned around at this and found Lefty's face an inch from his. He bolts straight up and tries to step back, but his feet are wedged between the curb and his car, and he starts making these sweeping motions with his arms in an attempt to stay upright but ends up on his rear end. The whole thing seemed to happen in slow motion. He seemed a little angry so I apologized profusely, and my cheeks felt very hot. He finally says it's okay and I go on my way, but I was still red-faced when I got home and reported the incident to my husband!

[Smilla]

Oh, geez, I just read the last few entries! Too funny!

Oh, and yes, I actually have TWO pairs of red pajama pants with penguins on them!

[Sevens]

Hey, I have those pajama pants too! LOL Most comfy ones I own!

Bailey is rather embarassing at times. She has two bad habits, which are sniffing private parts of people and going up skirts!

The going up skirts thing is probably my fault. I hardly ever wear skirts around her, so I think she's just puzzled as to what they are and what's under them. (My hubby used to think it was funny until I bought him his first Utili-kilt). The worst time was that we were in Petsmart and a little toddler girl ran up to pet her. The little girl was wearing a jumper, so Bailey started to go under it. Right as the girl looked down, Bailey flipped her head up and the jumper flipped right over the girl's head! I was so embarassed! Then the girl pushed down her skirt and shook her finger at Bailey and said "NAW-TEE!" I thought the girl's mom would pass out from laughing so hard!

[Pam]

Originally posted by Smilla
He bolts straight up and tries to step back, but his feet are wedged between the curb and his car, and he starts making these sweeping motions with his arms in an attempt to stay upright but ends up on his rear end. The whole thing seemed to happen in slow motion.

What an excellent description!!! I could picture the whole thing in my mind and can hardly stop laughing!

[bardolino]

Bandit had an excitable pee problem and would piddel on any visitor that came to the door. It was a very embarasing thing.

Another time Bandit decided to run off while my oldest son was taking him out to do his business. We live up on a hill and not too many nieghbors can see what goes on in the back yard so its somewhat private. Our oldest noticed bandit running off down the hill and gave chase with his scooby-doo valentines boxers no sock and a coffee cup in his hand out to the front of our neighborhood where all can see.