I have no two-legged children, but do have three four-legged ones, plus the boss' dog who comes to the office every day and stays with me most of the time. (That's Sweet Pea on her bed in my office.) He bought a sign for me that says, "My dog isn't spoiled, I'm just well trained" because he says I am neurotic about my dogs. I guess, as is the case with all parents, it's at least partly the truth. They sneeze too many times in a row or throw up more than once and I'm on the phone to the vet's office. :-) Often turns out I was right to call, but, then, sometimes...like the time right after my oldest had been neutered and I thought there was a problem at the infection site because I saw a lump...well, um, the vet said he was just glad to see me . Or the time I insisted that the boss let me take his husky to the vet because it looked like she was losing a lot of weight in her belly and hindquarters. Um, and, well, she was blowing her coat and just hadn't shed around her shoulders yet. What silly things we've done because of our dogs. I let them sleep anywhere. On the couch, the bed, my clothes in the washbasket. Refuse to leave them out in the back yard unless I'm home. Make sure the oldest one is fed and gets treats first so he doesn't feel displaced. Make sure the littlest one gets extra pats so she doesn't feel shut out by the bigger ones. Make sure the middle one gets to sit right next to me so he doesn't feel insecure. I scissor cut the long-haired boy myself because he was traumatized by the first groomer he went to and runs at the sound of a razor buzzing. Sometimes leave the television on Animal Planet when I'm at work to keep them company...I don't see any of that as overly indulgent (except possibly the TV, LOL), but maybe others might. What do you do for your dog that someone else might not see as you do?
