Dogs

Anyone that's owned a dog will tell you that they have personalities just like people. Having had six dogs (including Rilee) throughout my life, I can agree with that. They are each unique and endearing in their own way.

We had a little incident with Rilee last night that got me to thinking about some of the vivid memories the dogs in my life have given me...

Kippy - my first dog, a boy Miniature Schnauzer.

• I remember bringing him home in the car, this was before seat belts were required or kids had to be sitting in car seats. Kippy and I were both in the back seat. He would jump down on the floor of the car and I would follow. As soon as he got down on the floor he would jump back up on the back seat, and so would I. I think this continued for the entire ride home.
• I remember feeding him anything I didn't want to eat from my dinner plate when mom and dad weren't looking.
• I remember at Christmas his favorite place to sleep was under the tree.
• I remember whenever he was in trouble with mom (like having an accident in the house) I would call him and tell him to hide under my bed until mom cooled off. If mom asked me where he was, I pretended I didn't know.
• I remember I hated that my younger sister always tried to pull his tail... he had a short little stubby tail and she seemed to always be picking on him.
• I remember he loved the snow and would be covered in snowballs after being outside playing with my sister and I.
• I remember he ran off a lot and when he ran away during a family trip to Kentucky it broke my heart that we never found him.

Sara Lee - my second dog, a girl Cairn Terrier.

• I remember she fit in the palm of dad's hands when we brought her home.
• I remember dad named her Sara Lee, because as he said, "nobody doesn't like Sara Lee." A popular commercial at the time.
• I remember that she could "sit pretty" for a very long time and would do it anytime she wanted something... especially when I came home from school, she would "sit pretty" until I greeted her.
• I remember her being the first dog that ever slept with me.
• I remember you could let her out at night without a leash and never worry about her running away.
• I remember she would catch moles and put them up on the porch for us to see her "catch".
• I remember how much I missed her when I went to college.
• I remember the day we put her down was probably the first time I ever saw my dad cry.

Lilly - my third dog, a girl Cocker Spaniel.

• I remember after a break-up with Jack, my sister thought taking me to a pet store would make me feel better. My sister and I lived in an apartment together at the time and we ended up buying a dog. Later I would realize what a big mistake we'd made.
• I remember she was an adorable puppy.
• I remember she chewed on everything!
• I remember a piece of pantyhose she ate got stuck coming out the other end and I was the "lucky" one that got to help her get it out. Ugh!
• I remember she hated the sweeper, and one night when I was sweeping the apartment I caught her paw while she was trying to attack the sweeper. She was so shocked and scared, she sprayed the dining room wall with liquid poop! Ugh!
• I remember walks around the apartment complex were some of the best times I had with her.

Scruffy - my fourth dog, a boy Miniature Schnauzer.

• I remember him jumping into my lap the first time he saw me and having this "connection" with him that I'd never had with a dog.
• I remember he was the "perfect" dog... he settled into life with hubby and I without any problems or accidents.
• I remember he was our first dog as a married couple.
• I remember how he would flip your hand wanting you to pet him and that if both your hands were available than he wanted both hands petting him.
• I remember he was a cuddle bug in bed and would usually curl up against my lower back under the covers.
• I remember he wasn't much of a "boat" dog.
• I remember his happy trot when we took walks.
• I remember his interest in the horses across the street.
• I remember he ate a toad (without my knowledge) and threw it up later in the house.
• I remember he was the first dog I had "clothes" for.
• I remember him making the trip with me to move to Michigan.
• I remember the day we put him down, he gave me the signs I needed to ensure it really was time.

Nikki - my fifth dog, a girl Miniature Schnauzer.

• I remember the night hubby brought her home I thought Scruffy would kill her and that we'd made a mistake getting another dog.
• I remember she loved to eat the dirt in the flower beds.
• I remember she brought a grasshopper into the house one night and I woke hubby up to come get the BUG!!! Ugh!
• I remember she was a great "boat" dog.
• I remember she was "our tank", ate chocolate, etc. and didn't get sick.
• I remember coming home from work to find she had opened a present under the Christmas tree. The present was usually mine from hubby... so I got a Christmas gift early every year Nikki was around.
• I remember hubby and I thought she had the longest tongue... it always hung out of her mouth just a little bit.
• I remember she wasn't the most affectionate dog when we first got her, but the longer we had her the more loving and affectionate she became.
• I remember the decision to put her down was probably hardest because she was the first dog I had to make that decision for.

Rilee - my sixth dog, a girl Miniature Schnauzer.

• I'll remember holding her for the first time and being amazed at how small she was.
• I'll remember her chewing on the wood work... thank goodness we are in a rental!
• I'll remember how excited she gets about going to doggie day care.
• I'll remember that she loves to crawl all over me when I'm laying in bed.
• I'll remember she has a fancy little trot.
• I'll remember her as the toy terminator.
• I'll remember she likes her food with "gravy".
• I'll remember she has a little fussy "crying" noise she makes when she's upset.
• I'll remember she was the first dog that hubby and I took to obedience training.
• I'll remember finding she had thrown up on my treadmill track. Ugh.
• I'll remember that one night when she was tuckered out from being at doggie day care, she cuddled up under the covers in bed with me and peed the bed because she was too tired to get up! Ugh!

I'll have lots more memories of Rilee, as our life with her has just begun. I'm looking forward to all the adventures!