Since as early as I can remember, I have always had a strong bond and love for dogs. However, I have never been loyal to just one breed or partial to a particular size so over the years I have owned small, medium and or large dogs. Being raised in a family environment, dogs were always a part of our family and were treated as such. The first dog that I can remember sharing my home with was a Collie by the name of Lassie. Lassie behaved like a dog food. Lassie’s food and water containers were placed on the floor so he could eat throughout the day. He slept on the floor since he was never allowed on the furniture. Lassie stayed outside a lot even in the winter months and he was washed in the basement tub. I have owned my share of dogs to know that dogs are treated and behaved quite differently today. I sometime wonder are domesticated dogs becoming more and more like humans?
My large breed dogs included a white shepherd, Akita and an Alaskan malamute. First was the white Shepherd named Porcha. Porcha was all you could ever want in a dog. She was loyal, smart and loved children. But, there was something different about Porcha. See Porcha did not like to sleep on the floor, so she would always sleep on the couch no matter how many times she got yelled at. She was so smart she used the squeaky noise from the floor boards as her signal that it was time to get back on the floor. I guess to Porcha as long as she got a good night sleep she was okay with being yelled at. My Akita did not like cold food so before I gave her a hot dog or anything out the refrigerator I had to nuke it in the microwave. She was such a riot. I could never keep her in the yard. One time she got out the yard and walked straight into someone’s house. The guy was yelling from his porch the “a dog just walked into my home”. He opened his from door and she walked out like she was expecting me to be waiting. The last large dog I own still today is “Buddy”. Buddy is my Alaskan malamute. He’s smarter than a fifth grader. I made a police report because I thought someone tried to break into my home. As it turned out someone wasn’t trying to break in, Buddy was trying to break out. He climbed on top of the dryer and ate the screen. It wasn’t until it happened again that I realized it was Buddy.
My medium dog was an Australian Shepherd. I picked this puppy up as a gift for my niece and within three weeks my sister gave him back to me. This dog refused to walk on a leash so I had to carry him constantly. To add insult to injury he would never use the bathroom outside. I would take him out to do his business but he would never do anything. He hated being outside. He would bang on the door demanding entry. Even in 40 degree weather he acted like it was freezing out. He would shiver like Don Knotts so I would feel bad and let him back in the house. The minute I let him back in the house he would then decide it was time for him to go. I tried various training techniques but nothing seems to work. Finally I gave the dog away to a nice man that my father worked with.
My small breeds were a Shih Tzu and Lhasa apso. Today I own a Maltepoo. All three of these dogs have very different personalities. My Shih Tzu was like “Chicken Little” he wasn’t scared of anything. He would often slip under my neighbor’s fence just to harass his pit-bull. My Lhasa apso on the other hand was scared of everything. He barked constantly at his own shadow or me, his owner. They were the complete opposite but off-set each other perfectly. My Shih Tzu was very independent and my Lhasa apso wanted and craved my attention just like my Maltepoo who thinks she’s a baby. Every morning she cries at the corner of the baby gate so I can pick her up. I find myself doing things I never thought I would be doing as a small dog owner. Once a month my dogs are at the groomer and they have their own beds. I now find myself shopping for dog clothing as well. I think their clothes are so cute so I really can’t help myself.
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