Living With Dogs

I know this post isn’t for everybody, but those of us who love and live with our dogs, well we are all in the same boat. I decided to do this piece because I recently lost a very good friend two months ago, my beloved Charlie, a German shepherd, aged Nine ( Nicknamed scooby doo because he ate everything and got into trouble all the time).

Charlie out for a walk, he was such a happy dog, he always looked like he was laughing. 

It didn’t help matters that I went to the cinema to watch Marley & Me the other day, my partner had to practically peel me off the floor, I didn’t cry, I roared crying, in the cinema (how embarrassing) and the whole way home and then I continued to cry myself to sleep. I know I shouldn’t have went, I knew the storyline before I did but I am a glutton for punishment, it nearly did me in.

 

So I dedicate this post to Charlie & Me.

If you have time please read Charlie’s Story (believe me Marley wouldn’t have a look in)

Nine years ago myself and my partner decided, why not get a dog, we are both animal lovers and I grew up with dogs, cats, hamsters and a gold fish. We visited the pet shop on a Saturday morning, there were several dogs in a cage all brothers and sisters, but one got so excited when we went up to the cage, jumping around like a lunatic, I thought he really likes us (but he really just wanted to get out of the cage). He was black with brown ears and the most beautiful chocolate eyes, I was hooked, I didn’t even know he was a German Shepherd. So off we went with our new adorable puppy  Charlie, to welcome him into our home.

Boy were we in for a shock, we kept him in a small utility room were he slept at night and if we went out, it all started within a week, the nightmare. I got up one morning to let him out and realised I had left my handbag on the counter in the room, he didn’t come bouncing out as usual but staggered, as if drunk, banging into walls and falling over. When I looked into the utility room there was my bag in pieces, money, cards all its contents destroyed but worse, my bottle of ponstan tablets (painkillers) lying empty on the floor, he had eaten about 20 ponstan. We rushed him to the vet, with me in the car crying that I had killed the dog, he was in the vets for two days, he had to get his stomach pumped, I know.

After a few weeks the utility room had a complete makeover, the thick lino on the floor was gone, chewed to pieces, the rubber inside the washing machine was all gone, seriously he must have ate it cause I never found it and as for the clothes that were in the machine, destroyed and for afters he decided to chew on the cupboards. So plan B, we let him sleep and stay in the kitchen, dinning room area, that didn’t go to well, we went away for the day to Dublin and came back to five kitchen chairs with the legs chewed to bits. So plan C, we put him in the bathroom, I mean what damage could he do there, besides chewing the skirting, the floor and the toilet seat. So plan D, we left him in the hall, because we knew he had a passion for chewing he was always left with a variety of toys and chews but that wasn’t good enough for Charlie. There was nothing in the hall for him to damage as all furniture was removed, what damage could he do there, until I went to make a phone call and realised he had eaten the phone wires connect to the phone box.

Life was not dull with Charlie he was nuts, sorry but he was, we have chased him around the streets for hours when he broke free, he would run and keep on running, away from us. He once swiped an ice cream off a little boy when passing him, seriously. We couldn’t go away on holidays, when we finally did, the kennels he was staying at told us not to come back, he howled the place down and chewed up his bed and even the wire fencing. We once had to go to Sligo for a day, a 3 hour drive and had to take him with us, god he never sat for the whole trip.

He wasn’t the type of dog that would sit and you could pet him he never stop moving, even when he went to sleep if you were in the same room and got up, he was up like a shot. He slept on a piece of mat cause any dog beds I give him, well he ate them. So if you have seen the film Marley & Me and think its a bit over the top all the damage he done, believe me its true cause Charlie was the same.

Now he is gone even though I still have two other dogs, German Shepherds

Molly & Shannon. Shannon on the left aka Big Bear loves to sing and Molly on the right would lick you to death. If you are considering getting a dog, visited your nearest dog rescue center, the dogs there really need a home. I got my dogs at Carrick Dog Shelter.

There’s a void in our lives, I think because he was such a menace we loved him even more, we miss him everyday. Still waiting for him to come bouncing over and knock me down, I have less bruises now.

 

Living with Dogs 

Sometimes I think I would rather live with dogs than people but not everyone is going to love your dogs as you do. Luckily, there are ways to keep the house looking neat and tidy while you pets make themselves at home ( unless you own a dog like Charlie, I’m afraid there’s no hope). Needless to say, its essential to keep your dogs clean. 

Have a look at this before you leave your dog on its own, in your house.

 

I’m not a believer in sacrificing your own style for the sake of your dog. I stick to my guns (including cream curtains), make sure that all fabrics and surfaces are easy to clean, and wash everything as needed (which is frequently, I admit). One of the best lines of defence is protection. If you’re stuck with an expensive sofa or chair fabric, use a co-ordinating throw in a washable, heavy fabric (preferably cotton). I keep an assortment of throws in a basket for when I do invite them to sit with me on the sofa.

If dog hairs are forever adorning your curtains and tablecloths, opt for blinds and a bare table instead – but only if it works with the feel of your home, and if you can bear to deprive your dog of its comforts!

Dining with dogs, of course dogs have to eat and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t dine out of something visually pleasing.

 

Luxury Pet Department  Dinning set, contemporary style.

Also from Luxury Pet DepartmentDining with attitude, match your red kitchen?

 

 For the prim princess, to match the kitchen seat covers, soft pink?

The fun bowl ( Charlie would have destroyed this, trying to get the bones).

For the coffe lover, to go with your white delph.

 

Why not get him a real bed?

 

For the monochrome, black and white theme.

 

Match the blue curtains maybe? blending colours together.The colourful candy strip look.

The country look.

Or go for some funky looking throws.

Heres a few Irish websites that sell dog products, Petsfunclub online shop,  Galliel in kildare and will deliver, good prices. Zooplus this is a great site they sell a very good section of dog beds, they delivery all over Europe and its on 4.90 for delivery to Ireland. TK Maxx is great for dog beds, try your nearest store. The Pet Centre in Linenhall Street, Dundalk, Co Louth have a very good variety of beds for dogs.

 

Its the best feeling in the world, being loved by a dog.

I talk to him when I’m lonesome like; and I’m sure he understands.  When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat.  For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that.  ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth.

Love this video.