Mom, it seems like you love dogs a lot more than you love your children, my daughter Sigrid said when, for who knows how many times, she saw me in deep conversation with a strange dog we had met by chance.
I refrained from answering, because who wants to agree with their 12-year-old daughter in such a claim? But I thought about the statement and after a short period of reflection came to the conclusion that there is something to it. In any case, I think it is a lot easier to get along with dogs than people.
The kids like to tell about the holiday trip where, while I was squatting down to pee, I spotted a couple of people with a dog that resembled a Schipperke, and therefore with their pants (almost) down to their heels and partially bare behind, and ran after them shouting to find out IF it really was a Schipperke. No, it wasn't!
It's not uncommon for me to strike up a conversation with a strange dog on the street, and thus its people. Usually, though, fully dressed. My kids find it EMBARRASSING.
When I met my husband, Birger, a few years ago, I had lived alone with my lovely German Shepherd, Donna, for seven years.
Donna was an amazing dog. She could pick up her toys from the floor and put them in her basket. I could ask her to fetch my hairbrush or the remote control, and she would promptly bring what I asked for - without complaining. There was a string on the door from the living room to the hallway that she could pull to open the door, and of course she would push the door back in when she came back to the living room. In the kitchen we had a drawer with dog treats that she would open and take out herself - WHEN SHE WAS ALLOWED!
She was rewarded for everything she did, and was therefore somewhat well-rounded. Despite her 11 years, she was still well-groomed, her fur beautiful and her eyes bright, which made Birger say, one of the first times he visited me, that he would like to be my next dog.
This is where all the disappointments began. While Donna had been super easy to train, Birger was a lot harder. After 18 years, you can still follow his trail around the house because his things are lying and floating everywhere. I have tried countless drawers and baskets, conceivable and unimaginable rewards, but NOTHING can get him to clean up after himself! When it comes to doors and the like, things are no better. Birger can't figure out how to close a door behind him. The same goes for cupboards and drawers.
The conclusion here has been: IT IS A LOT EASIER TO KEEP A DOG THAN IT IS TO KEEP A MAN.
As for the 12 and 14 year olds, I've come to roughly the same conclusion. They complain loudly if you ask them for help, and the box of chips and chocolate has to be moved regularly to make sure it doesn't disappear into the mouth of a hungry (pre)teen.
The dogs there wish they could help a lot more than they already do. Wherever I go and stand, they are always right nearby.
I just had a bout of the flu, the kind that borders on being a severe man flu. The dogs man-swept me in bed, and every time the family checked in on me, Audi sat up and made sure NO ONE had touched his mother.
A short time ago, I discovered a HUGE rat in my bird aviary. While daughter Sigrid took three steps back, Cookie acted quickly and broke the critter's neck.
Of course I love my family, but honestly I would rather walk the dogs than clean. The fact is that as a stay-at-home mom, I spend a lot more time with the dogs than the rest of the family.
It's no wonder they say, "A dog is man's best friend."
About this week's blogger:
Helene is an early retiree and spends a large part of her time with her animals. The animal team consists of 4 dogs, 1 cat, 15 free-range chickens, approx. 80 aviary birds and her daughter has three axolotls. And now she and Cookie can also call themselves a reading dog team.
She loves writing short stories, poems and stories from her everyday life and enjoys reading a good Scandinavian crime novel.
In addition to Helene and all the animals, the family consists of Birger 55 years old, Thor 12 years old and Sigrid 10 years old.
Crazy dog…..
Mom, it seems like you love dogs a lot more than you love your children, my daughter Sigrid said when, for who knows how many times, she saw me in deep conversation with a strange dog we had met by chance.
I refrained from answering, because who wants to agree with their 12-year-old daughter in such a claim? But I thought about the statement and after a short period of reflection came to the conclusion that there is something to it. In any case, I think it is a lot easier to get along with dogs than people.
The kids like to tell about the holiday trip where, while I was squatting down to pee, I spotted a couple of people with a dog that resembled a Schipperke, and therefore with their pants (almost) down to their heels and partially bare behind, and ran after them shouting to find out IF it really was a Schipperke. No, it wasn't!
It's not uncommon for me to strike up a conversation with a strange dog on the street, and thus its people. Usually, though, fully dressed. My kids find it EMBARRASSING.
When I met my husband, Birger, a few years ago, I had lived alone with my lovely German Shepherd, Donna, for seven years.
Donna was an amazing dog. She could pick up her toys from the floor and put them in her basket. I could ask her to fetch my hairbrush or the remote control, and she would promptly bring what I asked for - without complaining. There was a string on the door from the living room to the hallway that she could pull to open the door, and of course she would push the door back in when she came back to the living room. In the kitchen we had a drawer with dog treats that she would open and take out herself - WHEN SHE WAS ALLOWED!
She was rewarded for everything she did, and was therefore somewhat well-rounded. Despite her 11 years, she was still well-groomed, her fur beautiful and her eyes bright, which made Birger say, one of the first times he visited me, that he would like to be my next dog.
This is where all the disappointments began. While Donna had been super easy to train, Birger was a lot harder. After 18 years, you can still follow his trail around the house because his things are lying and floating everywhere. I have tried countless drawers and baskets, conceivable and unimaginable rewards, but NOTHING can get him to clean up after himself! When it comes to doors and the like, things are no better. Birger can't figure out how to close a door behind him. The same goes for cupboards and drawers.
The conclusion here has been: IT IS A LOT EASIER TO KEEP A DOG THAN IT IS TO KEEP A MAN.
As for the 12 and 14 year olds, I've come to roughly the same conclusion. They complain loudly if you ask them for help, and the box of chips and chocolate has to be moved regularly to make sure it doesn't disappear into the mouth of a hungry (pre)teen.
The dogs there wish they could help a lot more than they already do. Wherever I go and stand, they are always right nearby.
I just had a bout of the flu, the kind that borders on being a severe man flu. The dogs man-swept me in bed, and every time the family checked in on me, Audi sat up and made sure NO ONE had touched his mother.
A short time ago, I discovered a HUGE rat in my bird aviary. While daughter Sigrid took three steps back, Cookie acted quickly and broke the critter's neck.
Of course I love my family, but honestly I would rather walk the dogs than clean. The fact is that as a stay-at-home mom, I spend a lot more time with the dogs than the rest of the family.
It's no wonder they say, "A dog is man's best friend."
About this week's blogger:
Helene is an early retiree and spends a large part of her time with her animals. The animal team consists of 4 dogs, 1 cat, 15 free-range chickens, approx. 80 aviary birds and her daughter has three axolotls. And now she and Cookie can also call themselves a reading dog team.
She loves writing short stories, poems and stories from her everyday life and enjoys reading a good Scandinavian crime novel.
In addition to Helene and all the animals, the family consists of Birger 55 years old, Thor 12 years old and Sigrid 10 years old.