I have a tiny dog and I'm proud of it. People like to hate on tiny dogs but I don't care. Sadie is fantastic. She is also so quirky that sometimes I think she may really be from outer space. Which is just one more sign we are meant to be together.
From day one Sadie had full cuddle and furniture privileges with me. In my mind half the reason for having a dog is cuddling. Sadie and I have spent many long hours in a warm heap on the couch or all curled up in the bed. It would be clear to the most casual observer that we each provide the other with considerable comfort. I even let her sleep under the covers. Not under the sheet, where I was sleeping. But under the comforter. She would sleep smushed up against my leg, as if her life depended on having as much of her little body pressed hard against mine as possible.
Then Frandz and I got together. He said no dogs on the couch no dogs in the bed. He is from the dogs-should-work-or-they-are-useless camp and dogs-are-animals-not-people camp (duh, dogs aren't people they're beoble). His family used to breed and train hunting dogs. We just see the whole dog thing from different angles. I have worked creatively to demonstrate that Sadie is a "working" dog. She cleans the floor, kills bugs and is an effective alarm system. None the less I gave in to the no dogs on the bed thing. He said that dog hair in the bed was just gross. Fair enough. As much as I love to cuddle that tiny dog I love to cuddle people more. Especially Frandz. And not letting the dog in the bed also means the dog never barfing in the bed again either. Win!
I did continue to allow the dogs on the couch, with a blanket beneath them, since "the hairs are itchy" until I got about 700 billion chigger bites this summer. Never again.
Frandz had won the dog-free furniture feud and was not about to let go of an inch of human-only territory. The dogs learned quickly that even attempting to get on the couch equaled bellowing.
I complied with this cuddlelessness for months. Honestly cuddling on the floor is not where it's at. I swear I could see the hurt in Sadie's tiny, buggy, brown eyes as I denied her couch cuddles again and again. She was confused too. I could hear her doggie voice asking me "what ever have I done to fall from your warm, cuddle graces?"
So one recent chilly night, as I watched my tiny dog sit pitifully at my feet, shivering despite wearing her adorable tiny hoodie, I decided to take a stand. Why was I letting Frandz dictate my relationship with my dog? Surely a compromise could be found. I got out a blanket and invited Sadie onto the couch, protecting the seat from little itchy hairs. She timidly yet enthusiastically leapt into my arms, clearly unsure whether or not she was really allowed but overjoyed to cuddle and be warm. She curled up next to me, shoving herself up against me as hard as she could. Maximum power cudds.
When Frandz came home he grumbled but I was able to state my case and stand my ground effectively. To Sadie's credit she seems to understand that she is only allowed on the couch with me and with the blanket. I'm pretty sure she would hear and recognize the sound of the unfolding the blanket from Bangladesh and be sitting excitedly at my feet, waiting for my invitational pat, before I could get the blanket completely spread out.
And here we sit together now, warm and snug. One of her ears draped over the edge of my laptop. As we should be.
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