Luna & Teddy

There once were two dogs who spent the day with Ivy. The first dog’s name is Luna, and she is a female miniature Australian shepherd. Luna and I have a history together. I watched her when she was only a few months old on the fourth of July. Her playpen was set up on the screened-in porch outside, and my dad had requested that we stay outside with the dog because he didn’t want her to make a mess. We happily obliged until the fireworks started after dark. Luna did not like the fireworks, as most dogs do not. We went inside and waited for the rest of the family to return. I thought of sitting on the couch with her on my lap and watching TV. She proceeded to lick all over my face as the fireworks went off outside. I have spent more time with her at family functions as she is the dog belonging to my brother and his girlfriend. She is always excited to get into the car, her tail wagging and her eyes bright with anticipation, but as soon as the vehicle begins to move, she wants to get out of it. She cries until the vehicle stops, and she is let out. Once out of the car, she starts to wander off until she is scolded to return. If she were a human with an attachment style, I would say her attachment style is insecure and anxious. She cries when you must stand up and leave the room. She was very concerned when I left her view to go to the bathroom. 

The second half of this fluffy duo is Teddy. He and I did not get off to the best start. My brother and his girlfriend had just gotten him when they brought him on the family beach trip almost three years ago. His signature greeting whenever anyone would walk into a room, he would growl at them. He didn’t ever try to bite anyone; he would just growl and slink out of the room as if to say, “Yes, I’m leaving the room, but I want you to know that I don’t want you to be here.” I can’t say that he has gotten much more friendly over the years, but he has allowed me to pet him several times. There was that one time that we went out for brunch, and he got out of his harness, and because he would not let me put it back on him, all I could do was body block him until his owners returned. I did not touch him; I just did not allow him to run into the road and stare down at him, and he began to cry and yowl at top volume. I’ve been told that his cowardly behavior hasn’t improved. I spent the day with him and LNA today because their parents were busy. 

Today went more smoothly than I expected. They barked a lot when I got to the house at first, but then everything settled down. We watched TV and went outside so they could use the bathroom. I learned later that they don’t go to the bathroom if you just let them out into the backyard; you have to take them for a walk, and then they go to the bathroom. The two times I let them outside, they sat down and looked up at me as if to say, “ We’re not angry you brought us out here, but we assumed that you would have a plan.” I miss having a dog, and I would love to have a dog again, but I have also gotten used to not having any pets since Willow the cat became my grandmother’s cat. It does make travel and spontaneity easier. I’m unsure when I will be a pet parent again, but I’m grateful that Teddy and Luna helped me remember the joys of what I have to look forward to.