In my life as a stay-at-home-mother I wear many hats. I love the chef's hat. I am proud to occasionally wear the nurse hat. Every day I don the jaunty cap of a chauffer. And then there are the hats that I wear for a moment or two now and then. Sometimes I wear the school volunteer hat, the crossing guard hat, the police man hat, the judge's gown (hey- the judges need hats!) and so many others. The one hat that I have to wear (and in all fairness make my kids wear as well) is door man to the Devil Dog hat. SInce Devil Dog loves being outside and loves being inside equally as much she spends a great deal of time undecided between the two venues and she likes to go back and forth making sure she isn't missing out on anything. This is all fine and dandy in the 2 or three weeks a year when we can confidently throw the doors open with out fear of heat stroke, frostbite or west nile virus, during this time Devil Dog can satisfy her needs by lying half in and half out, but during the other 50 weeks a year someone has to get off their butt off the couch and actually let the Devil in or out. We are all getting a wee bit tired of that hat.
So, I took the plunge. I actually contacted the internet dog door selling place I have been stalking for months and ordered a doggie door. I am comfortable that Devil Dog will, in no time at all, get the hang of the dog door. I know she uses one when she goes to the dog sitter. I have only a small hesitation or two. The first is that Devil Dog might decide to stand half in and half out while preventing the doggie door flap from re-closing and allowing all the frigid air we are supposed to soon be experiencing (after all they say it is actually winter) here in the -up until tonight- balmy Northeast into the house. The other and more serious concern is the frequency and potency of skunk odor I have been noticing around here since last May. Yes, folks, I do suspect that a skunk has taken up residency in my next door neighbor's never used and heavily treed back yard. Have you ever noticed that when you get a whiff a skunk from far away you think to yourself "Hmmm ... smells like skunk" but when the little fuzzy critter has blasted it's butt juice anywhere within a mile radius of where you are standing the thought immediately following scent identification goes more like "(GAG)Holy Shit, (dry heave) there's a @#$%^&* skunk (wretch) around here!! CLOSE THE WINDOWS! CLOSE THE WINDOWS!" I have said that about once a month since last May. Let me tell you people, if Flower gets into my house, I am never going to shut up about it. Honestly though, it makes me look forward to getting a doggie door. It's like a whole new adventure just opening up in front of us.
what is the internet doggie door company?
we are looking at adopting a rescue mut next month!
Posted by: dink(y) | January 17, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Look at that innocent face? How's the door working out?
Posted by: wordgirl | January 17, 2007 at 07:23 PM
The door has been ordered, I am eagerly (but by no stretch of the imagination patiently) awaiting it's arrival!
Posted by: clickmom | January 17, 2007 at 08:05 PM
what kind of dog is the devil dog?
Posted by: Laura | January 17, 2007 at 10:26 PM
flat coated retriever
she'd rather be hunting
Posted by: clickmom | January 17, 2007 at 10:32 PM
She's a beautiful dog, what a soulful face!
Is she the type of dog who'd like to bring you "gifts" via the dog door? Our Jack Russell/Chihuahua enjoyed bringing us treats of a dead rat, a live baby possum (which she let go in the house - EEEEEEK!) etc so I had to block off the dog door and we have resumed letting the dogs in and out 50 times per day.
Posted by: Elena | January 18, 2007 at 02:51 AM
Growing up we didn't have a dog but, I had a cat that did that constantly. He'd run in so fast we wouldn't see he had anything in his mouth until he was already in. He'd bring dead birds that he'd shaken to death and defeathered himself, and dead squirrels. He'd strut in all proud of himself and put them under the dining room table (prize of place) with a proud look on his face. He couldn't understand why instead of petting, cuddling and telling him what a fine hunter he is my mother would scream hysterically until my father removed the dead animals from under the dining room table.
Posted by: Laura | January 18, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Luckily the Devil Dog doesn't hunt actual woodland creatures, she prefers Matt's much more sanitary and lady like discarded beanie baby collection. She carries them around in her mouth, and offers them up as tokens of affection.
Posted by: clickmom | January 18, 2007 at 11:02 PM