Trade-offs

I like dogs. I've had at least one dog at a time most of my life, There have been brief exceptions for one reason or another, but I always wind up with a dog again because I like dogs. They fill a void like nothing else. When Henry and I got together I was in a dog-less phase but he had a dog so it all worked out. When that dog died unexpectedly, we were all heart-broken. I had thought that when he was gone I would be finished with dogs because he was a drooly one and he was inside all the time so there was fur floating around. Honestly those were the only two things that I didn't like about the dog. Oh, he had gas alot so that makes three. Anyway, aside from those things he was awesome. He was super affectionate but not in an annoying way and he loved to cuddle. He'd hang out with you on the couch until he was so hot that he had to force himself to get down. We all loved that dog. About a year after he died I finally convinced Henry to get another one. We talked about the options and decided to get the same breed because it just sort of fit with out lifestyle. I've mentioned it before, but he was not the same at all. He kinda looked the same, but his personality was way different. He drooled less but shed more. He was really friendly, but sometimes overly so. He wanted to play, but usually at the wrong time for us. He ate crumbs off the floor, but more times than not he left a huge slime line that was slippery and we all slipped in it more than once. He drove us nuts, but we loved him. We finally admitted that we didn't have the time to give him the attention that he deserved and that it would be better for everyone if we found him another home. We found a great couple with another dog which was the perfect scenario for him. He has a good time but I'm kinda miserable about half the time when I think about him. I don't have to deal with all of the annoying thing like the fur and the drool and the barking, but when things are quiet and you just need something to love on he's not here. Nothing is as relaxing as rubbing a dog. I've tried petting the kids, but they don't like it. I'm still glad that we found him another home because it was better for him. I keep reminding myself of the negatives when I think about him. I do it to talk myself off the ledge and to try to stop feeling bad. I still feel like we failed him, mostly me because he was my idea to get and my idea to relocate. Just when I think I'm ok I see one like him or I find myself in a cuddly mood when the little kids are asleep and everyone else is gone. The house is free from fur and drool but there are so many crumbs. I remembered the first dog and how lonely I felt without him, and that helped me be thankful for the second dog, but everything is a trade-off and sometime you just have to choose which thing you're willing to deal with. ~Kellie~