What a difference a new family dog makes

Pat is pictured with her new grand-puppy Emma. Photo provided by Pat Van Dyke

We had a dog, once, in 1970, 50 years ago, for eight months in Michigan during the winter with piles of snow! It was a disaster! We swore never to have a dog again. During the past 49 years, we have had cats, fish and birds, but no dogs.

A cat is a totally independent with an attitude. They all remind me of a teenager with an attitude.

Fish are entertaining. They don’t bark, scratch, or shed. They float and eat; however, if you look closely, you can see them mouth their name “Bob.”

Birds give you a reason to vacuum your carpet, every week, every day and every hour. They sing and they squawk and some even can repeat what you say and how you say it, especially when the pastor visits your home.

But dogs are a different story. We have been told that they have personalities. They are humorous. They can understand what you are saying. They offer great companionship. These are all good reasons to have a dog, but Pastor Pete and I opted out of being a dog’s parent or grandparent.

However, a week before Christmas, we folded and bought a puppy for our daughter. Note that I said puppy! Not a dog, but a puppy. We failed to read the fine print about the difference between a dog and a puppy.

Her name is Emma, a name that was considered carefully five years ago when we visited an Amish farm in Pennsylvania and our daughter fell in love with the puppies. We were still in a “no dog frame of mind” and the idea was quickly forgotten until last month when we visited with some friends who had a dog, a calm little dog with perfect manners.

Both Pastor Pete and I fell quickly for the entire package and the next morning we asked our daughter if she wanted a dog for Christmas. Her eyes grew wide and she had a startled, unbelieving look on her face. We had been told that a therapy dog would help her in amazing ways but I think it was just as much for us as it was for her.

We soon found ourselves surrounded by puppies and Alice picked the perfect one. A calm little dog with perfect manners caught Alice’s eye and she was instantly in love.

Pastor Pete and I looked at each other and agreed because this puppy fit the bill of the type of dog that we would allow in our house.

We were right for three days. Emma was shy, quiet and pleasant. But on the fourth day, it all changed. Emma took over our house! She ran around our feet. She barked fiercely whenever she wanted our attention. We knew that we needed help.

I decided to do some research.

I sprayed “No Go” on the carpet, but Emma interpreted it as saying, “Here’s the spot!” Every 30 minutes one of us would be running to the door carrying Emma and telling her to “hold it.”

Research told me to spray vinegar on places that the dog may chew or lick. I sprayed the windows and Emma licked it off. I sprayed our shoes, pant legs and socks. Emma just jumped higher. The only thing that was accomplished was that my family’s wardrobe now smells like an Italian salad.

When we now walk through the den in the middle of the night, it’s deadlier than a game of Battleship. I’m sure that Emma strategically places her chew bones in the path that she knows we will be walking. Stepping on a half-chewed dog bone is deadlier than a Lego.

I did find some very useful information that would have helped me years ago. There was a description of a “De-Skunk Solution” that the Internet suggested that dog owners have on hand.

I wish I had discovered how to make the solution years ago when a skunk greeted Pastor Pete on the top of the stairs between the chapel and gymnasium at church. In a short time, Pastor Pete was covered with skunk spray and watched the skunk walk proudly away.

For several days, Pastor Pete kept asking me, “Do you smell the skunk?” I do have to admit that he did, but I didn’t tell him the truth until five days later. The moral of the story is “A dog or pastor should never scare a skunk!”

Research also told me that Bingo is the name of the dog on the box of Cracker Jacks. This is totally useless information but I did find it interesting. I didn’t even realize there was a dog on the Cracker Jacks box but when I looked it up, I found that Bingo looks like Emma and who wouldn’t love the Cracker Jack dog!

Our grand-puppy Emma is now a source of constant joy and laughter in our home. She has her “grandpa playtime” every morning and night. I don’t know who enjoys it the most, Emma or grandpa.

It only proves that when you say “never” you are limiting yourself to many good things that are waiting to come your way. Emma may not be a calm little dog with perfect manners, but all that matters is that she is perfect for our family.