What I learned today

[NessaM]

My favorite was one time I took the boys for a walk on the beach. I looked like absolute hell. Hair was unwashed and in a messy pony tail, NO makeup, ripped jeans, ratty t-shirt, ratty sweatshirt, and my giant brown down jacket that has a rip in it that used to be covered by a piece of duct tape, but the duct tape fell off so now it's just got that nasty leftover duct tape goo in a big square stuck to the area surrounding the hole, which occasionally poofs out feathers. Plus assorted smears of Newf slime dried all over the jacket. I really looked classy.

And the boys and I were rambling around, when we came upon an older couple with their medium sized dog. The dogs all got to playing, so of course the older couple and I grouped up to avoid being taken out at the knees, and started talking. I introduced myself by first name only. They asked all the usual questions, and then the woman suddenly said, "Wait a moment! Are these the Mulherens' dogs?"

They're that famous, you guys. People know their last name.

And I said yes, they were. She said something polite about my husband's family, and then she asked me if I walked the dogs often!!!

Hahahahahahahahahaha! She totally thought I was a hired dog walker. And since I was dressed like a hobo, (no offense to hobos), and felt totally self conscious, I was willing to let her believe that. I replied, "Oh yes! Almost every day."

Heh. It still makes me chuckle.

Wait until you run into folks who remember your dog but not you!

 

[NinaA]

One caution. Be careful how you answer some of the yahoos who ask you what the dogs is worth, etc. They may try to steal it. I had one character ask if he came by my house sometime when we weren't home, did I think the dog would bite him.

 

[KodysGrandma]

When people ask if the dogs bite hubby always says-"Only if we're not here or we ask them too"

 

[NessaM]

One caution. Be careful how you answer some of the yahoos who ask you what the dogs is worth, etc. They may try to steal it. I had one character ask if he came by my house sometime when we weren't home, did I think the dog would bite him.

I tell folks that ask that question that the dogs are worth a whole lot to me, and probably not that much to anyone else. I tell them if they're genuinely curious about a purchase price, to find a breeder that they're interested in and ask them.

I also point out that the initial purchase price was a drop in the bucket compared to how much their upkeep has cost me.

The only person I've ever really given a thorough and honest response to was a dad whose non-verbal autistic son had formed a strong and positive attachment to Nanook. I was very honest to that father, about how much they cost to purchase and keep, but I also made it clear that ANY dog with a good temperament could do for his son what Nanook was doing, and that there are lots of lovely dogs at the local SPCA just waiting for him.