Friday, March 25, 2011

Why My Pets Hate Me

It's a good thing dogs don't hold grudges. If they did, I'd be in big trouble. Last night was my first night at the new house. I took Remi with me, but my husband Dave won the coin toss for Noelle and she is staying with him at the old house. Okay, we didn't really toss a coin. We had a grown-up rational discussion, where nothing was decided, until I finally acknowledged it was his turn to win a fight so I gave in. She's always been his dog, since the moment they met. I still get visiting rights, but the only thing Noelle knows is that I've abandoned her. Fortunately, she's a pit bull - one of the most loyal breeds there is - and when I come visit her this evening, she's not going to hold a grudge. She'll instantly forgive me and shower me with kisses. Of course that'll make me feel even more awful when I leave her behind again.

But then I get to go home to Remi, who doesn't have a reason to be angry with me. Oh other than the fact that I took him away from his home and brought him to this strange house that he hates. Dave installed all new laminate flooring throughout the house, and it's very slick. Have you ever seen a giraffe trying to walk on ice? If you can imagine that, you can imagine Remi trying to walk on laminate floors. It's not a pretty sight. But Remi doesn't hold grudges, so it's safe for me to return home. I think. Even if he is angry, it's pretty easy to outrun him inside the house.

Tomorrow I get to go to an adoption event and the boot camp instructor dog rehabilitator is going to bring Ziggy by to see us. I am so excited and nervous. Because if any dog were ever to hold a grudge, I'd imagine it would be Ziggy. When I see him, I want to just bend down to his level and wave at him and say Hi Ziggy!! and then throw my arms around him and give him a big hug. Which of course is exactly the wrong thing to do. I didn't say I'll do it. But I really want to. Hopefully Ziggy is not holding a grudge for me sending him to boot camp. If he behaves himself I may even be able to take him home soon!

And then there's Merlin. Merlin has been living a life of contentment and luxury at my parents' house for several months. But I miss him, and my parents are not begging me to keep him, so I'm going to be bringing him to the new house in the next few days. And one thing that is different about cats and dogs - I think cats do hold a grudge. So Merlin may never speak to me again, after I bring him to the new house. At least the dogs won't be able to chase him very easily on the new flooring. With enough canned food and cat treats, I might even be able to convince him that life with me isn't so bad after all.

Have you ever done anything so awful that your pet held a grudge? Tell me your worst stories, and help me stop feeling so guilty for making all of my pets miserable!

17 comments:

Of Pit Bulls and Patience said...

Here's one for you: about a month after adopting Parker (4 months after he came to live with me) my landlord told me that she didn't want me to own a dog. I could foster them, but no one stays permanently. It didn't make sense, but I couldn't argue the point. So Parker went to live with my Dad for 4 months while I finished up school and moved back home. It was awful, more for me than him, but it still changed our relationship. Luckily, he still loves me all the same. I'm sure yours will feel the same way!

JacksDad said...

Yep, you're in trouble!! You might as well break out the extra cookies! :)

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

I do believe dogs hold grudges, they're just not as good at it as cats. Cats are the experts when it comes to a grudge.

Anonymous said...

Um, I don't think us dogs are very good at the grudge-thing but the kittehs...well...let me just say this...Cap'n Ripley holds a grudge if you feed him two minutes late. Or pet him the wrong way. Or breathe too loud. So, yeah...good luck with Merlin.

And I sure do understand where Remi is coming from. It took me MONTHS to figure out how to walk on our hardwood floors. But I bet he'll figure it out and be doing zoomies in no time.

I can hardly wait to hear how it goes when you see Ziggy on Saturday! Is this like him being on shore leave or something?

Wiggles & wags,
mayzie

Mollie Jo and Bobo said...

When we first got Mollie from the breeder (she was three and "useless" to the breeder after having a hard labor) we continued to take her back there to be groomed (we didn't know of any other groomers in the area). Well she would not look at me, listen to me, come near me, for 2 weeks. We finally figured out that the groomer drank and the smell of alchol and being back in a place where she was abused was torturing her. It wasn't till after that realization we figured out and started looking at what kind of breeding operation this person had. She is a puppy mill plain and simple and the thought that I kept returning her every 8 weeks to a place where she was abused still makes me feel bad. Back to grudges yes dogs can have grudges but at the end of the day we still feed them so they in turn love us. LOL Gotta do what ya gotta do...They bounce back pretty easily.

Tucker The Crestie said...

I'm pretty sure you'll be forgiven! Dogs are terrible at holding a grudge. Cats on the other hand ... you might have to do some major sucking up!

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

I (Frankie Furter) insist on holding a grudge for 12 hours. Especially if it is DAD who was BAD.

Casey Jones' Mom said...

My experience with both is that dogs have no idea if you have gone out to get the mail or have been gone 5 days, they are at the door wagging their rears off when you return. Cats on the other hand make you look for them. Death is your first thought, but then, on their own time, they stroll out of the woodwork walk past you and look into their food bowl.

Unknown said...

All of my dogs have never held a grudge, even when I'm in a bad mood and grumpy with them. They seem to have never ending forgiveness. Cats are a whole other bucket of worms that is for sure!

Sue said...

Dogs are so wonderfully forgiving. Cats are another story altogether. Merlin will make you pay for years to come.

meowmeowmans said...

Hang in there! They all know you love them, so I'm pretty sure they will forgive you. :)

Cats may show their displeasure with you a little more at first, but even they will come around. It may take a little longer, but they will. :)

meowmeowmans said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sightless said...

I studied abroad for three months and then traveled Europe for another two (all in the same trip) and left Charlie in the care of my mother.

When I came home, he was huge, she had overfed him to the brink of obesity (which I'm sure he loved).

I was the longest I'd ever been away from him.

When I saw him, he flew at me, jumped into my arms, and was a wriggling ball of licky, mushy goodness. And then refused to leave my side.

I fed the cat an hour late last week and she refused to go near me for the rest of the day, and tipped over all the garbage cans.

ForPetsSake said...

We've had some really big moves in our dogs' lives. First from Miami to Maine with Arwen, then from Maine to Texas with Arwen and Nyxie together. If there's one thing that dogs hate, it's change in the routine. But this is only temporary. The new quickly becomes the routine and all is well again. As long as the pack is together, they are merely "migrating".

It sucks. You feel bad. But they have you and that's what they REALLY care about...

Kari in Alaska said...

Congrats on finally being in the new house! We are still working on our drama...

Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com

Just Jess for now said...

Oh no. Don't worry, they will forgive you. Dogs are good that way, and cats will come around eventually. I have a lot of grudge stories, but the one that makes me laugh is when I used to put Jetta's winter boots on for the first time of the season and she would try to walk me into walls our first trip out with them on. She was so mad she had to wear boots, but she always forgave me. :)

Tucker said...

How to be forgiven.

1. Throw rugs for Remi
2. Bring treats to Noelle
3. Bring a carboard box to Ziggy
4. Give Merlin catnip

problem solved - hooman overthink everything.

woof - Tucker