Article March 12, 2007 Issue

PUPPIES OR PERFECTIONISM? NO CONTEST

BY DEBI GUNTER

It never occurred to me on a November morning as my husband and I drove to pick up our new puggles (pug-beagle mixes) that I was in for some serious character reformation. I thought I was just getting two puppies.

My husband and I were the classic "DINKs"—meaning "double-income-no-kids." Our days were work driven, our home spotless, with nothing out of place. Then early that fall morning, our lives took a dramatic turn when we brought home Buc and Zoey—whom we've since referred to as "the babies."

We thought we were prepared. We'd purchased a crate, toys, treats, food, leashes, collars. We'd even done our homework on puppy training. But the first several weeks turned out to be much more challenging than either of us had imagined. Regardless of the number of trips outside in the cold weather with the puppies, they regularly relieved themselves in the house. The hourly trips outside brought a lot of dirt into the house and onto our white carpets. Our new couch was always covered in muddy paw prints. If we missed the spots where the dogs wet in the house, the wood floors would warp and the carpets would get stained. I was constantly washing soiled towels that we used for the puppies' bedding, and I was up at least once a night to take them outside.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

SNOWBOARDING WITH GOD