The one that got away

Do you believe in fate?

Daddy said that they are fated to have me in their lives. When Mummy wanted a Chow Chow very badly after the visit to the pet farm, she found a Chow pup (me!) up for adoption in an online post two days later. And I followed them home the very night they came to see me. My previous owner just handed the leash to them and I simply follow my parents into the car. No fuss at all. Perhaps I was glad to be out and about, having being cooped up at home and in the cage all day long.

I can still remember the night in Daddy's car. I was in the backseat and lying on Mummy's lap. I was drooling all over her lap and she didn't mind at all. She was stroking my fur, enjoying the softness and fluffiness of my puppy coat and my weight on her lap. When I reached my new home, I realised what had just happened! I am at a strange new place. There was no familiar sight, sound or smell. I tried to run away when they lead me inside the house. While Daddy popped out to buy me some food, I peed and pooped in the living room, to Mummy's horror! When she groaned out loud, I got scared and ran around the house while she tried to get hold of me. It was chaotic and I bet Mummy had a bit of regret in getting me.

I know Mummy feels guilty for entertaining thoughts of giving me up sometimes. Especially when I was naughty and throwing tantrums, jumping up on her and biting her. And when her eczema has gotten from bad to worst. The doctor said I could be one of the factors in triggering her eczema flare-up. Her palms are all red, raw and itchy like never before. Even her soles are affected for the very first time. I hope her skin gets better for I hate to see her suffer like this, even losing her sleep to the stupid itchy skin.

When Huskee and Hershey's mummy posted a comment on my blog, telling us that she wanted to get me initially, we got really excited! I mean, I could be leading Hershey's life right now! This also got Mummy thinking. She feels that I did not have a very good start in life. My previous owner wanted to give me up just weeks after he got me! And while he waited for someone to respond to his sale / adoption posts, I was kept in the cage all day and only let out to pee and poop and exercise when he is home at night. I don't blame my previous owner. He tried his best for my sake. I just wished things were a little different. But that doesn't matter anymore, does it?

Huskee and Hershey are very lucky to have their wonderful parents who love them so much. My parents love me too though Mummy thinks she is still far from being a great Mummy to me. Here's why:

1. Even though she is at home all day, she stays in the study surfing the web (updating my blog, looking for jobs, reading dog forums, etc). This means there is no interaction between us except for the petting whenever she pops out for a drink or to check on me.

2. When she goes around the house doing chores, she would talk to me as if I can understand what she is saying. Normally, I would either ignore her or follow her around the house and see what she is up to. She feels that she needs to play with me but she doesn't know how to. Sometimes she will throw me a ball but I don't feel like chasing it. On a few occasions she tried to play hide and seek with me, but I gave up looking for her after three tries. She can only engage me when she offers me a treat.

3. She is rather persistent and tough when she is training me outdoors. She will pretend she didn't hear me whining when I didn't want to walk anymore. Or she will dragged me away when I wanna rush over to the birds/cats/dogs across the street to say hi. I know she feels bad for "torturing" me like this cos she told me after each training session that this is for my own good. I still don't see her point.

4. She doesn't allow me to go onto the sofa, much less the bed! I couldn't access the rooms untill recently when my parents relax the rules. They are trying to be the alpha dogs here. But I feel so excluded, especially at night when they go to the room to sleep while I had to stay in the living room. Why is it that other dogs can sleep with their parents?!

5. Mummy suffers from Separation Anxiety, not me. She would be wondering what I am doing while she is out of the house. She is worried that I may get lonely so she will try to rush home as soon as she can. C'mon Mummy, I'm an independent boy! How many times did I turned the house upside down while you were out? Never! And the few times I pooped in the balcony doesn't count cos I was having the runs.

And the list goes on... My parents feel the need to show me tough love since I'm a big doggie and need rules and control. That's not fair! Coco the Shih Tzu need not go through all that I have to go through, just because she is one-third my weight.

I bet Hershey is having a better life than me too. But hey, I'm not complaining! Mummy is just being her silly old self when she told Daddy that I could be living a happier life if Hershey's mummy bought me from the pet shop two days earlier.

Mummy and Daddy, I am a happy boy! Can't you tell from the way I wagged my tail when you pet me, the way I sniffed excitably when you come home, the way I jumped joyfully when you bring me food? Of course I could be a lot more happier if you give me MORE yummy food. But that's ok, I still love you guys though you may not be smart enough to tell. My good life didn't got away. It came into existence the day you brought me home. So keep loving me the way you do if you want me to feel happy, healthy, contended and safe.

Lots of loving bites, wet licks and shedded fur,
Chow Chow