I mean, don't get me wrong, we've had repeated issues with things being stolen out of cabinets and off of counters- not to mention the day I found Odie shredding a shoe box for no particular reason. All told though, we've been light on excitement (and crimes) recently. Despite moments of wondering why I ever brought these insane creatures into my home, in general they've been behaving reasonably well.
I'm not used to this.... relative calm. It makes me edgy. I'm just waiting for the next thing to happen where I want to set them free. It'll come around eventually, I'm sure, it always does, but for now we seem to be in a lull of sorts.
This has given me the opportunity to take a moment and look at this motley crew of a family we have going for us right now. Talk about a mis-mash of shapes and sizes! It's really quite the funny family portrait. What does strike me though- it has become a family. We are all bonding with each other and getting used to each other and realizing that this grouping of creatures is now a unit. It takes a long time for new dogs to really feel like they belong in your house. I think people tend to underestimate how long it really takes. At least I did.
When we lost Toby last year I thought it would be ages until I was ready for another dog. While I will never claim that I was ready when Odie showed up- I was far from ready for him or all the chaos he brought with him. I can say that now, a year later, with 2 new dogs in the house, I'm ok with it. I realize that neither one of the new kids have stolen Toby's place in my heart, and no matter how long I live, and how many dogs come and go over that time, each one will be different, and mean something individual to me. Toby was my first real dog that was just mine (the dog I grew up with was clearly my mothers dog, despite any labeling we put on him about being mine. And that is just fine, that is how it was meant to be) and we taught each other a lot. Although he was part of a 3 person family, I spent so much time with him alone over the years, that I felt like I knew him on an individual level- as I'm sure my husband does too. I will never have another dog like him, despite all my desires.
I started with a Professor of life (as we called Toby) and now I have a Clown and a Worshipper. Each one has their quirks and strengths. Each one brings something new to the family tableau. Each one has taught me more about these strange animals that we've domesticated and brought into the home. Without these new criminals in my house, I wouldn't know certain behaviors or transitions were common. Odie taught me just HOW dramatic a change can be when you get a dog fixed- and how great that is. Piper taught me to never fully trust the dog you meet in the shelter to have exactly the same personality when you break them out. They've both taught me about having multiple dogs and the pluses and minuses that come along with their collective, collusive craziness. I know more about the spectrum of dogs, and their personalities. I know more about just how friggin creative they can be about getting into trouble, and how fast it can happen. I just know more.
I appreciate what life threw at me, even when I wasn't ready for it. Then again, when does life ever throw you something the moment you're ready? Never. That never happens. It was a hard transition for me, and the dogs suffered through it just as much as I did. I know the first few weeks in the house the dogs were as unsettled as I was, because none of us were very certain of the other. Somehow we all muddled through, and at this point it seems we've made it out the other side.
As I said, I'm sure more calamities will ensue, more crimes will be committed, more punishments doled out, and more adult beverages partaken in. Right now, there's just enough of a respite for me to be able to say all these nice things about the criminals. Speaking of which- if you tell them I said this stuff, I will send them to your house to deal with- so choose wisely.
