Canine Parenting

Here are some senseless ramblings about life with my new pup--Princess Mia Antionette Thermopolous Renaldi Christopher (aka Mia, for short):

1. This is the last time... I mean it. If my little puppy doesn't stop chewing on everything is sight, it's going to drive me insane! I know that she's teething, but I've given her chew toys, rubber bones, blah, blah, blah...and she still goes straight for my heels first. Then the carpet, the laundry, Kirby's tail...anything she can get her little mouth on.

So far, she's destroyed four pairs of my shoes: Kenneth Coles, Sam & Libby's, Payless, and some flip flops. And even after I GAVE her the pair of Payless shoes to continue destroying...she still went after my expensive duds.

2. We have been working non-stop on this potty training thing. I finally found some treats she will eat and decided to use this tactic on teaching her to go to the bathroom outside instead of in the apt. While she's become very good at understanding that she'll get a treat when she follows through with "sit," "down," and "no bite, give kisses," she still doesn't understand that pottying outside equals lots of praise and a tasty treat. Maybe she'll get it someday...

3. Most all of my friends and family know that I am a PERFECTIONIST when it comes to the cleanliness of my apt. I'm actually borderline OCD and pratically a freak about how clean I can get it and how good I can make it smell.

Well, needless to say, I walked in the other day from running errands and I got my first whif of....you guessed it...dog pee. It smelled throughout the entire house from what I could tell. I was devastated. I had to sit down, analyze the situation, and almost started crying in the process. So I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed my carpet until my back ached. Still no good, though. My place still smells like urine. So as a result, I'm using carpet powder, Glade plug-ins, and burning candles 24/7 these days.

4. I really couldn't be happier about my little birthday present. She is the best companion and has such a sweet personality. She never meets a stranger, which is good for meeting new people when we go to shop at PetSmart or anywhere else. :) She is always at my heels and always wants to be loved. Who needs a man when you've got a dog that adores you, right?

5. And finally...I have become obsessed with my dog's hygiene. She gets a bath every other day (and yes, I do put bows in her hair), I carry baby wipes with me for unexpected mishaps, and she has her own drawer filled with a few outfits, ribbon for her hair, her brush, toys, and treats. I know...it's sad and I'm extremely ashamed of myself.

I just had to share my frustrations and joys in parenting. So, is this what being a parent to a small child is like? If so, then I'll take back what I said about being ready for a family right now. Mia is more than enough for me to handle at this point in my life. I'm starting to appreciate my singleness more and more.

I think I'll go shopping now...thank goodness I don't have to call in a babysitter for my canine daughter...