Desperate Desires

OK - We all know that I love my 2 dogs very much ... but sometimes they can be such a burden... I mean, I feel like I got myself into something I really didn't realize would be so much work. I thought having a dog would be awesome and they're cute and great companions! But for crying out loud! It's so much harder when it's just YOU. Owning a dog(s) is so much easier when there are 2 people involved.

I have to be honest ... 9 out of 10 times, Ronny's the one getting yelled at and not Scooter. He probably thinks that I don't love him ... which just isn't true. I love that dog to death ... but he also whines me to death! I think Scooter understands me better which is probably why he doesn't get into nearly as much trouble as Ronny. He knows that I want to just be left alone sometimes and he's cool with it. Ronny on the other hand, can't handle being ignored and it's not that I'm really ignoring him ... I just want some time to myself without the dogs in my face! I work all day and I'm tired when I get home ... I just want to relax and it's hard with dogs jumping up and down and trying to slam their noses into your face, which is rather painful! And which also, by the way, after a long day of work and you come home and a dog hits you in the face with his nose and causes you much pain can also elicit quite an angry reaction from me. My patience has already been worn thin by the length of the day. I feel like Ronny just doesn't get that and he really "dogs" you when you get home. I usually will immediately retreat to my room and then he hangs right at the threshold of my room. He knows that he's not allowed into my room so he hangs around right at the threshold which I don't like. But I can't say anything because he "technically" is NOT in the room.

Scooter seems to almost intuitively know that once I retire into my room that it's just best to leave me alone. Sure, he hangs around the outside of the room but he's not right in front of the room, pacing back and forth and whining with that horrible windy nose whine, that Ronny is so famous for, ALL DAY LONG!!! It's so DARN IRRITATING!!! And then yesterday ... he was hanging outside the room like he usually does whining while I was watching Sex and the City and eating my dinner and I was just minding my own business when I suddenly feel something fuzzy brush my right leg (I was wearing shorts). I look down and lo, who do I see but Ronny staring up at me. Ronny must have seen the glint of danger flashing in my eyes coz the minute I opened up my mouth he took off like a bullet running out of the room (which also means that he realizes that he's done something wrong, so why do it right?). Naturally, I had to chase him out of the room and yell at him so that he would know that he'd done something wrong. If I didn't he would think that it's okay to continue that sort of behavior. I don't know how he managed to convince himself that it was okay to come into the room, even though I NEVER gave him permission. He just decided that it was all right and that sitting at my feet and begging was the right decision. I don't know how such a smart dog can be THAT silly sometimes! It's beyond my comprehension.

During this entire fiasco ... Scooter never once stepped inside my room because he knew he didn't have permission to do so. Either that or he was waiting to see what would happen to Ronny if he went in ... either way, he was definitely being the smarter of the two. The other thing that Ronny does that really just irritates the crap outta me is he barks like a maniac! He knows that he shouldn't be barking ... but it's like he'll stare right at you and bark ... even though you've already told him "NO!" I don't know what he's thinking ... but NO is NO. He still hasn't gotten it, the minute you tell Scooter to stop barking ... he quits. No questions. No ifs, ands or buts... he just quits. Not Ronny though ... he'll still try to bark on the low, in YOUR FACE, like he thinks you won't hear him just coz he brought down the volume, even though you're staring him dead in the eye!

Scooter is much more of an independent spirit and I think I appreciate that alot more than Ronny. Ronny is just too needy! I've never been able to deal well with overly needy people let alone a dog. I was walking the boys in the rain the other day and Scooter stops to pee and in that short amount of time (couldn't have been more than 10 seconds), that it takes for Scooter to pee Ronny starts whining!!! If you tell Scooter to go away, he goes away! If you tell Ronny to go away ... he hovers and circles, hoping that 5 seconds later you'll change your mind! The puppy store really must have done a number on him and his psyche ... granted I'm sure I spoiled and coddled him more than I really should have when he was a puppy, so I am also to blame for his current state of mind I'm sure. Whatever, I just had to complain about this because no sooner had I told Leslie (my roomie) and Michael (Leslie's boyfriend) about what Ronny did yesterday then when Mike got up from eating his dinner he turned around and caught Ronny with all FOUR PAWS in the room AGAIN!!!! I mean for crying out loud! I could understand ... hovering over the threshold, he could have lost his balance and 2 paws landed inside the room ... but all 4 paws?! THAT is in no way ... a coincidence ... he put himself in the room and contrary to his ridiculous logic, that is NOT logic, IT IS NOT OKAY!!!!!!!!

Ugh! Even as I type ... Ronny is hovering, pacing right outside my room ... waiting. It's horrifle, I tell ya ... he's like the stalker you have to let stalk you. It's infuriating ... you can't get him to quit and you can't get a restraining order. I just want Ronny to be more independent ... to stop looking to me for so much acceptance and acknowledgment. Scooter has a lot to learn from Ronny still ... but I think Ronny has just as much to learn from Scooter. Smooshed together, they would be the perfect dog. *sigh*