The Curse of Cute

I think we should have gotten an ugly dog.  You know those stuffy modern neighborhoods where the kids don't ever play outside?  This isn't one of them.  And they've all figured out where we live.

Being only three pounds, Andy's not a huge fan of strangers, let alone loud excitable ones.  But every time we take her out to poop there's a chorus of screams and a swarm of bicycles comes over the hill.  

"Can we pet your dog?!"  "Does he bite?!"  "What's his name?!"  "Is he boy or girl?!"  "HE LICKED ME!!!!!!!!"  "Put him down!"  "Can I walk him?!"  "Can I hold him?!"  "What kind of dog is that?!"  "Can he run fast?!"  "Will he run away?!"  "OOO, I SAW HIS TEETH!!!"

By this point, she has usually jumped into my arms, climbed onto my shoulder, and seems to be contemplating a flying leap in the other direction.  Pooping has been entirely forgotten.  Eventually we escape into the apartment, and she poops on the floor.

Now they've actually started following us home, inviting themselves inside, and peering through the sliding glass when the other door is locked.

"Hey, I know where you live!"  "I see her cage!"  "Is that where she sleeps?"  "Is she shy?"  "Will she bite?"

I think I'm going to start saying she does bite.  We've started checking through the blinds before going out to do her business.   Her new favorite position for walks is hanging around my neck like some kind of Cruella de Vil fashion accessory, keeping an eye out in all directions.  Maybe we'll just get a litter box.

Thranduil Update

Ok, I will admit I do rather enjoy that voice.  Kudos to Lee Pace for that.  Leaving aside the CGI and the canned one-liners, the Mirkwood Elves look rather interesting as well.  We shall see.




Also, I've found a new favorite piece of fan art.   I like this one because it's an uncanny composite of the movie version and my own mental image.

Andy

After years of fawning over small furry animals to an almost unhealthy degree, and ignoring all sound fiscal reason, we have finally taken the plunge and acquired a puppy.

Meet Lady Dulcinea Andromache.  We call her Andy, by my sister's recommendation.  She's a three-month-old purebred miniature poodle, but will probably only reach toy size.  She's a money pit already, but she's exactly what we wanted - an intelligent, hypoallergenic, non-shedding portable dog.  It's hard to find a rescue when we're that particular.

We've had her since Saturday afternoon, and since then we've made considerable progress in house-breaking, crate training, and leash walking.  We finally got some treats today, and within a few minutes she had grasped the basic concept of "sit."  She literally never barks.  She sleeps during car rides.  Did I mention she was non-shedding?  Grooming will be an issue, though, as she has a real problem with standing still.  All in all, she seems like she definitely has the potential to become the clean, mannerly, unobjectionable canine companion we had in mind.  How can you object to a dog who doesn't bark, jump, shed, smell, or soil the carpet?  Well, we're still working on the carpet part.  But three accidents in as many days isn't bad for a baby like her.

She's a keeper.