[Dailydrool] "Normal dogs"?

[Valerie via Dailydrool]

It has been quite a few years since we have lived with not 'special needs' dogs, and I am still adjusting. Heavens. There is a difference.

Mila and Mariah, neither one, goes insane with anxiety if we are out of sight.  this means that I can work in the garden, if they are in the house, and they will either decide to join me or not--but they won't stAy in the house and scream like banshees (like Bo) or stick to my ankle (like Harley).  And it means I can go out to do errands and come back to the house and find the two snoozing (as opposed to neighbors gathered on my lawn concerned about dogs screaming in the house) dogs (Bo and Harley both). I do not need to plan my every movement depending on whether dogs are allowed in the shopping venues, or it is cool enough to leave dogs in the car, at the absolute far end of the parking lot, where barking will be tolerated, as I grocery shop. I have not needed to hire a dog behaviorist to consult or a dogsitter to stay with the dogs if I am away more than an hour. When I return from being out, my dogs do not set up a frenzy of barking which elicits shouting from evil neighbors or concerned landlords. They kind of say, "Hi, mom, good to see you, and go back to whatever they were doing before."

Gosh, it has been a long time. I absolutely adored Commander Bo and Harley of Hawaii beyond reason, but I realize they were indeed "special needs" hounds, rescue hounds who had flunked out of really a lot of previous homes because of their issues.  Would I take them again? In a heartbeat. Loves of my life!!!! Sainted souls.

Still, Is it a delight to have two gorgeous (one houseguest) bassets who are basically normal dogs (like the crew of scotties who came before them--we have been dog owners for many many many years.)
You bet!!

Would we again take "basset case" special needs bassets? Of course!! (although we are starting to approach that age where we can't guarantee a lifetime allegiance, due to our ages, not theirs, so we are at the end of adopting years.)

Why post this? Who knows. Because I believe in love, I guess. Adopt them all--the special needs hounds and the normal ones. they all are lovable and return love twentyfold. I think I think that it takes a dog to appreciate life. Vlbzwick at yahoo.com with Mila the navy houseguest and Mariah the puppy who is really probably three years old, and the infamous and forever missed boys, Commander Bo and Harley of Hawaii ATB