I have been quiet for a month or so and I apologize for that. I do have a legitimate excuse. I have adopted two young dogs within the last month and they are running me ragged, but in a good way.
Mosey is a 14-month old Great Dane who was available through an ad on Craig’s List. It was my first Craig’s List experience and to tell the truth, I half expected it to be the kind of experience that gets made into a cautionary TV movie, or even worse, an America’s Most Wanted special. Naturally, I took my husband Gruff with me. It all turned out beautifully and now I have an adolescent, 100-pound Great Dane pup.
If you’ve ever raised a puppy, you know how relentless they are in exploring. Now, imagine that same mischievous pup being tall enough to rest her chin on the kitchen counter, stand up and nose the upper cabinets open, and grab the dirty dishes out of the sink and take them off to lick them, preferably while reclining on something upholstered. How many times a day do I ask myself, “What was I thinking?”
The second pup is a seven-month old Belgian Malinois, a super intelligent and high energy breed that is favored by the military, police departments, and border patrol. A movie is coming out this summer, entitled Max, about a Malinois. I really hope this movie shows how much training and work is necessary to make these dogs into happy, productive dogs because you don’t want an intelligent dog bored and frustrated in your house. That doesn’t end well for anyone.
It would break my heart if this breed suffers from the “101 Dalmatians” syndrome. That’s an actual thing, where everyone enjoys a movie featuring a breed of dog and rushes out to get one, not understanding its exercise or training needs. One year later, the shelters are overrun with those dogs. If you marry the wrong person, you divorce them. If you get the wrong dog for your lifestyle and can’t make the effort to make it work, they end up in rescue, shelters, or worse. Don’t go through doggie divorce. Save yourself the guilt and pain.
Hold up, you say. Molly, you’re not exactly an athlete. You don’t even like to sweat. Why would you ever take on a Malinois after what you’ve just said? Good point. One, I have owned a Belgian breed before, a Belgian Tervuren. It was a great experience though he was an adult when I got him out of rescue and then spent lots of money and time training him properly. Two, I am training this dog as a service dog for myself so I needed a working breed. Thankfully, I work from home so I can spend several hours a day putting this pup through its paces. Between the training, and the Great Dane chasing her through the house and yard, she is exhausted. An exhausted dog is a well-mannered dog.
So this will forever be known in my diary as the Summer of the Pup. Wish me luck. I will need it. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
P.S. A great big shout out to my husband, Gruff, who suggested we get these two dogs. This man loves me, not in a flashy dozens of roses way, but in a more meaningful, everyday, makes me happy way. There is no one else for me than this man, who thinks of me, my comfort, and contentment constantly. I will love you always.
Less Than Ladylike 
Puppies are more better’n roses any day. Good Gruff.