WOOF WOOF BARK, or was it BARK BARK WOOF

[orange_crushed]

I told my boss this morning that I am undergoing a kind of biological clock explosion: I suddenly want to be a household of three-

-no, no, not that. What I want is a dog.



I desperately want a dog. I miss getting nosed awake in the morning by a bright-eyed crazy thing and going on long walks in the freezing cold to watch him turn belly-up and make snow angels in total bliss. I miss throwing the stick thirty gajillion times. I miss the greetings, I miss rolling around on the rug and playing keep-away with the squeaky hot dog with the chewed-off face. I miss falling asleep on the couch with a dog curled up under my knees, I miss the happy dancing before dinner is served, and watching the annual birthday cheeseburger getting slobbered off a paper plate. I miss my dog, all the little rituals we kept, whose importance I never even truly recognized until they were all gone.

I know, whine whine whine. My life is great and I shouldn't complain. I just miss being around a dog.

It can't happen right this second, owing to our long workdays and the sad fact that our current apartment forbids dogs, but it's something Mr. Orange and I talk about all the time. To a level, you guys. We pick out names and talk about our differing pet-parenting styles, oh would we use a crate, oh would we go to obedience classes; and how it would be if we had two dogs, and what parks we'd take them to, and who would pet-sit if we had to go away, and how we'd work out our schedules to provide an afternoon walk, and oh they built a dog park two blocks away, and oh my co-worker knows a good vet and seriously, when we do get a dog, I wonder if we won't become helicopter dog parents, enrolling the poor thing in dog school and making it wear a tiny dog blazer and sit up straight and trying to get it to "achieve." Joke! But we are so overinvested in this imaginary dog, I have to lol at us.

Plus I should stop going on Petfinder and torturing myself. I can't help it. I even watched the Puppy Bowl (...twice) with the lunatic intensity of a six-year-old. I MUST FOCUS ON SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH SCHOOL IS NOT CUDDLY.


(...but no, I would not mind any cute animal pictures, gifs or youtube clips in the comments. It would probably make my day.)

Comments

[handsomespeck.livejournal.com]

HIS HEAD IS A CIRCLE.




DOGS RULE. :)

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD, I LOVE YOU

THAT FIRST SERIES IS LIKE AWWWWWWWWWW AND I CAN BARELY EVEN DEAL WITH IT.

PLUS, YAWN

A++++++ WOULD AWWW AGAIN

How much is that doggie in the window...

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

Re: How much is that doggie in the window...

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

The one with the waggly tail ?

Thank you. ♥

[lysanderpuck.livejournal.com]

http://www.ustream.tv/sfshiba

[genericzombie.livejournal.com]

I second this suggestion! It's been a blast watching these little [now big!] guys grow up. :)

[almostsophie.livejournal.com]

Ha! I have that open in another tab right now!

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhhhh adorable! You can actually watch them grow up ? Amazing. They are so cute, I can't even stand it...

...okay, I can stand it. At least for another five minutes of video. Damn, they're cute.

[lieutenants.livejournal.com]

AWWWW. Well even if it can't happen at this instant seriously do it asap, I bought a kitten when I moved to London 'cause I missed yelling at something at 4 in the morning to not chew on the flowers and waking up to a huge furry weight on my face, and I was nervous I wasn't gonna be able to spend enough time with her. Drama school hours are ridic, but we've managed so far and it's been more than worth it, I love her so much. Pets put so much light in your life. Go for it sweets!

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

LOL @ furry weight on your face. You are so right: pets bring so much joy and love, even with all their quirks. I am glad to hear you and your kitty are happy together. :D

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

having a cat, I think sometimes helps keep me 30% happier.

Dogs are wonderful... but at least if I ignore my cat a bit because I'm busy, I'm not REALLY neglecting him. and he sits in my lap and purs everymorning while I check my email. and greets me at the door when I get home. :)

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

It's so true! Pets keep your blood pressure and stuff down, according to... okay, I read it on the internet somewhere. ;) But they are theraputic. It always made me feel better to be caring for something, not just myself, like it meant more.

Aww, lap kitty. ♥ My best friend has a really good cat, and I've been visiting a lot lately (even though I'm allergic.) And it's true, they always do seem happy to see you!

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

AWWW. My general reaction to dogs is "omg no get it off meeeee," but I know how you feel. That is how I feel about kitties. <3

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

Cats and dogs, living together, mass hysteria! Hee. Pets are like the best thing in the world.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

They really are! I'm just sad that my apartment is too small to comfortably have one!

I COULD WATCH THIS ALL DAY:

[flinkkamingo3.livejournal.com]

My family occasionally talks about getting another dog, but I'm still not over my old puppy's death, even though it was like three years ago. I think it's been harder for me to get used to because I'm always at school, so I really only notice that he's gone when I go home and there is no one there as soon as I get out of the car, trying to jump me and bite the shoes of my feet.

I do miss having a dog, though. I have a cat but she's literally bonkers; dogs are more fun when it comes to wrestling and chasing the turkeys that nest in our front yard (which was always really hilarious to watch). Plus they're just so adorable and, okay, now you're making me convince myself that I need one.

Also, LOL at your imaginary prep school pup. Haha I am imagining a movie right now that's sort of like High School Musical except with dogs and would probably be a Nickelodeon production.

lol sorry I keep editing this I am having so many problems, haha

Re: I COULD WATCH THIS ALL DAY:

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

It's hard to get over something like that. I can't blame you for feeling that way, I want a dog incredibly much, but every now and then I feel like I'm being disloyal to Buddy.

Dogs really are ridiculous and get into so much trouble, but it's all in the service of the greater good, lol.

PREP SCHOOL FOR DOGS, ha ha. It would make a good Nickelodeon movie, and you should obviously write it and make a million dollars. :D

[roachpatrol.livejournal.com]

Word, man. I am totally like this with my imaginary cat that I have wanted for like three years now. I am at school right now but my SO isn't, and it's starting to become actually possible to get one and give it the attention it would deserve. And my SO adores cats to death, she loves that shit. She has photos of like, every cat she's ever owned, she's be great with a new cat.

Only then I think, well, I want to go to England this summer, our apartment is tiny and the cat would have to be an indoor cat and I pity indoor cats, and I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life, and I don't have so much financially, can I really provide a proper home environment for a cat? And then I am like wellll, it's a baby cat, not a baby human-- and some people manage to raise humans pretty sucessfuly on welfare, too, surely a cat would be easier, they're smaller and everything.

But then like, I don't think it's cool for people to have baby humans while they're on welfare and expect the government to cover the expense-- I probably shouldn't do the same thing with my cat! Doing something I think is not cool just a little is still, you know, doing something I think is not cool.

But I still want one! Scruples are so confusing. Cats are so confusing.

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

I worry about some of the same stuff- I'm going to school right now, and working, and it wouldn't be fair to have a dog at the moment. But someday! You guys sound like you'd be good cat-parents, you're thoughtful about that stuff. (Sometimes, too, I look at all the abandoned pets on Petfinder, and think about how their owners didn't understand what a commitment a pet is! It's a terrible shame.)

If you do get a cat, I'm sure you two will be happy with it. :) Hope you find the right one at the right time.

[erateini.livejournal.com]

Awww, you both sound like you'd make amazing owners. I hope it happens in the near future!

It's not a puppy but it's full of fluff!

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt327/erateini/persianginger.jpg

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

ADORABLE!

Well, we'd probably do okay. Even if we did put little bandannas around their necks for photos.... ;)

[nerves-patterns.livejournal.com]

I COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT OUR DOGS.

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

SO CUTE, THE NOSE-TOUCHING!!! Awww. They are both very pretty, and they looks like they have wonderful, happy personalities. :D

[nerves-patterns.livejournal.com]

I could gush for hours about their personalities. The puggle is George Orwell, and his whole purpose in life is to eat and bark, in that order. But he totally thinks he's a lapdog. (It's the pug in him.) Also he tries to howl like a beagle, but it's kind of a faily howl, which makes it even better.

The cocker spaniel is Virginia Woof, or Ginny, and she's the greatest fetch player in the world. She'll sort of half-heartedly play tug-of-war with us, because she's very gentle with people, but she jumps all over Orwell and kicks his butt when they play.

On a more useful note: having two dogs was a great choice for us. Both of ours are rescue dogs, and we started with Orwell by himself. But after about a year, and lots of research (time at the dog park, obedience school, new dogs visiting our house), we decided that getting a second dog would be a good choice for us. So we adopted Ginny, and it made a HUGE difference for Orwell. He became much happier, more mellow, and more active (because with the frequent food-stealing and treat-gobbling, he was a pound or two overweight - pudgy little puggle belly!). Because they have each other, they're also a lot calmer when we go places - like the vet, or my mom's house - and when they're home alone while we're at work.

In short: YAY DOGS.

[sea-shtick.livejournal.com]

You should definitely consider getting two! They get to keep each other company while you are at work. When my sister finally grew out of her dander allergy, we got two sisters from the same litter. I can't imagine just having one. And they still develop their own personalities/love people etc etc contrary to what some party poopers will tell you.

For the cuteness: an old picture of my sister and Lola!



Keza is my icon. DOGS. I can't wait to see them again in like, July.

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

Mr. Orange is really set on the two dogs thing, because his family has always had two. And they were both unique, wonderful dogs, I loved them a lot (they passed away a little over a year ago, about four months apart. Best friends.) The older one was like a responsible elder sister, and the younger one was a total cut-up and comedian. I think it's a great idea, especially if we had more room (or, you know, a yard... oh, city living, you have benefits, but space is not one of them.)

Your dogs are so lovely! They look really sweet and funny, the two perfect settings for dogs.

[(Anonymous)]

I totally know how you feel. Except with a cat, instead of a dog.

Being in residence, and my permanent living situation being so very up in the air, having a pet is just not feasible. But I miss my cat back in Canada. The pictures tacked up around my room (one being right above my laptop) just aren't enough.