{random stories} :: 9 months-old

 

and here we are one month later. i am sure that this does not qualifies for the most interesting post ever, but as many of you understand, having a dog in our lives is a huge thing and i need to make a statement… so i have decided to make a tribute to all the animals that, unlike mr kobe, are a bit alone in this world. it is interesting because you can find a lot of people that, though liking (and notice the use of like, instead of love) animals, do not understand the main concerns, victories and joys that those who love animals experience. missing your dog terribly is something that these folks, for example, will not understand. celebrating the fact that your dog does not squat anymore when going outside, is something that many would not even care about. but if you have a male living with you, this is probably like celebrating the fact that your baby son already uses the toilet alone. different situations… different kinds of joy… still, a joy for those who experience it.

as i work from home, i am with my dog all day long. we know each other well, i try my very best to alternate between loving master and demanding one, so that he knows who is in charge, growing up as a happy and balanced dog. {cesar millan} would not agree with many of my attitudes, like hugging… (yes, i hug my dog a lot!), but he would be very proud that often with just one look, my dog does what i want him to.

having a dog, or any pet for all i know, is a huge responsibility, and i feel shocked several times for the horrible things i read… that people do to their own pets. and often choose not to read… because it is like reading what negligent and abusive parents do to their children every day as well! i feel shocked, mainly, because often these wouldn’t be things they would do to their families… (i think!), and though we all know that a dog is not a person and should not be treated as one, just as children don’t ask to born, he didn’t ask to be taken from where he was to that home. therefore, if that choice was made, you need to do your very best to cope with that change in your household. mr. kobe is a part of our family. our family of three. and he has his friend, mr zaire, 6 years older than him. and he has his second family, zaire’s. his beach house. his garden. his city house. his balcony. he is one happy dog.

sometimes it is not easy to deal with him, because he is growing and he does things that doesn’t always make me the happiest person on earth. this month he chewed my reading glasses (so far, nothing has happened to his stomach). the couch needs a deep deep washbecause he sleeps there (i am actually trying to teach him to sleep on the floor) & has one arm less, my wallet was chewed, along with my id and 5€ (thank goodness i am not a louis-vuitton-wallet-kind-of-lady, nor i carry 50€ on my wallet!), the living-room carpet is chewed around (again, thanks ikea for 30€ good-looking carpets… and i guess, also very delicious!)… he challenges me and questions my authority. but if i keep doing my job as his master, this will pass and he will keep growing as an healthy and happy dog.

when deciding to have a dog, i wish everyone would considered and give carefull thought to this decision. having a dog is not always about joyful and happy moments. it is not also about petting your dog whenever you want to and forget about the rest. and definitely it is not about having a  cute puppy to show around and when the cute puppy turns into a large dog, leave him on his own. having a dog is a long-term commitment. not as much as having a child… but i would think about at least 15 years of your life. 15 years is 180 months. this dog here eats 14kg of dog food every month, that costs us 76€. now that will be 13,500€. that equals a car. you should consider this. you should consider that as any other being in this world, he will get sick eventually. and he will need treatment. proper treatment. he will need attention. he will need you. he will need you to be his master. he will need you to be the leader of his pack. everyday you need to be there, because that animal is your responsibility. so, if you do not have all this to offer (and i know that all this is a lot!), then reconsider your decision. because once you make that decision, for your sake and mostly for that animal’s sake, there is no turning back. but yes, he will be your friend, if you are his. he will give everything and will not ask anything in return. he will make you laugh. he will make you forget about whatever bad is happening. if you are a good leader, he will be with you for the rest of his life.