I just finished sending a message to my folks. I have had a dog for 5 years now and aside from my girlfriend he’s the best thing that ever happened to me. He is my rock. I don’t have a doubt in my mind that dog would give his very life to make me the slightest bit happier.
I walk him a mile in the morning, a mile at lunch, and a mile before bed. I may miss one, perhaps even two, but never all three. And by miss I mean that he only gets a quarter mile to stretch his legs.
Aside from walks he gets his 2 square’s a day, with wet food whenever he seems a little lack luster for dinner.
Lately, despite all the attention I give him, he seems lonely. He strives to be with other dogs on walks. I have been wanting another dog but about another year, but had been holding off for all the wrong reasons.
I know that my girlfriend’s folks are going to be pissed if I get another dog, and my folks are too. Today, I sent them both a message of my intent to get another dog. I kept it simple and sweet: I am getting another dog this week. I realize you don’t think it’s a good idea, but it is my choice, and I’m making it. I know you don’t approve, but I wanted you to know before all the facebook fanfare I’m sure my girlfriend will post.
It is so exhausting - it’s supposed to be an exciting and momentous occasion, not something I have to defend and begrudge. So I’m putting my foot down: I don’t care. I truly don’t. I’m casting off my regard for their opinion on the matter.
So…
I’M GETTING ANOTHER DOG!
He looks a LOT like my current dog, a 50lb Australian Cattle Dog, and he was found on the side of the road by my girlfriend’s friends. The resemblance is unreal, my dog could be his father, if he hadn’t been fixed years back. I’ll get him his shots, get him fixed, and the two seem to get along.
I don’t need it, I’m 26 - your call on the adult title. I have a good relationship with both families, I just wish they would be happy for me instead of scolding and trivial.
I guess I just get real sick of the attitude of misery - like they harp on the negatives as if THEY would have to be the ones picking up after the dog.
What’s your living situation? Do you live with your parents? If not, I don’t see why you should give a shit what they think.
Getting a 2nd dog is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Sure - career, getting married and other things are certainly higher, but Toby impacts my (and my other dog’s) life on a daily basis. Total net benefit for everyone involved. Neither dog relies on me for their primary source of entertainment, they occupy each other while I’m at work, and they each keep each other updated on the current squirrel situation should one of them not want to monitor the window for whatever reason.
Now, I don’t recommend a 3rd. My wife came with a dog, and three? Three is too many dogs. At least for us.
Yes, I think you should get our approval, the anonymous millions on a message board, lest you make a mistake here. I’m sure your parents and your future in-laws (you are marrying the girl, aren’t you?) are only thinking of your welfare and happiness.
Or maybe not.
Anyway, this is one of those cases where I hope you come back in 6 months and tell us how it went with two dogs instead of one. Is it exactly twice as much expense and trouble, or more, or less? Is it twice as much fun and happiness? I hope so. Let us know.
Roddy
I’m delighted for you! Congrats on a new pup! And congrats on being a great owner from the sounds of things!
Don’t let the grumps get you down. Completely ignore all reactions. All. (They are invisible, you are deaf to ill words or opinions!) Just live in your own joy, let it spill out all over.
And cut them some slack, it sounds like they are still struggling to understand you are beyond their command, and their opinion matters only to them. Parenting is hard. They’ll get it hopefully.
But, if not, who cares? You’re getting a new dog! Yay!
I’ve got two dogs - they keep each other company. When I lost a dog and only had the one she got morose and hung out under the house a lot. My friends brought a dog over to see if they’d get along - withing seconds they were tearing around the garden together.
I normally do accept their opinions and advice, but they are so stubborn on this one!
They disapprove because they think the new pup will teach the old dog new bad habits, and they will be a lot more to handle together. Walking two dogs will be no different - it’s a sniff and piss party for Slater already. Another dog won’t change that. The cost of food is laughable…I buy expensive dog food already and it’s not even a dent on the budget. I live with my girlfriend in a studio apartment - it isn’t HUGE but we easily manage. There ARE benefits to a small apartment
No one dog sits for me currently - Slater goes everywhere I go. Except for work. I haven’t figured out how to get him there…yet! If I rent a hotel room to go on vacation he stays in the room. On the RARE occasion I go somewhere without my dog/s I can always have my sister watch them. She is close by and has a fenced backyard. She LOVES dogs but her husband prefers cats and that’s how they settled, so she is excited at the opportunity to watch Slater (and the new dog). I always compensate well for dog sitting when I have had to.
Getting back to the new dog - my current is all black, except a white streak on his chest, the very tip of his tail, and 2 hairs between his eyes. The new dog has the same white streak on his chest, but the only other white is his paws, like socks. I think I’m going to call him Rocky if my girlfriend approves. Nope, not after the movie, but after a stuffie I had as a kid. Silly I know, but my grandfather gave it to me weeks before death.
Well, you know what they say, you can lead a camel to water… Wait, no. Um… Curiosity killed the cat! No… If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck… Shit, that’s not it either. Hang on, I’m going to have to look this one up.
Yep, it was the elephant never forgets! Never forgets to get in the butter in your fridge, right?
And yes, he isn’t a pure bread and I believe the mark is a watered-down hold-over of a Bentley mark. Very observant owner, you are! For some reason phrased that like Yoda, I did.
I think the only reason that either sets of parents would get to have a say is a) you are living in one of their homes; b) you owe either of them money; c) you neglect your current dog; d) you neglect taking care of yourself or your girlfriend and are not responsible enough to have another dog; e) they end up taking car of the dog(s); f) any combination of the above.
If none of those conditions are in play, then they can all STFU.
Once upon a time, I had two rescued cats and a rescued dog. A friend sent me a picture from Petfinders of this adorable little boy in dire need of rescuing. The minute I saw his picture, I said to myself, “Damn. I have another dog.”
I was talking about this with my staff – I had a staff at the time. One woman (who has a friend who rescues dogs but then doesn’t really know how to raise dogs or train them very well, and it always ends badly) told me, “It’s your funeral.”
I shut up about it and went and adopted my dog. He was awesome. Fit right in with the rest of the critters. No regrets at all.
