Three Important Things in a Home with Dogs

As far as I’m concerned, a house is not a home without a dog, or dogs.

But, when people without dogs visit, there are three things that are important to note.

TOILET PAPER

A few weeks ago, my friend Tracey came to visit. From the guest powder room, I heard, “Julietta, we have a problem.”

Without waiting to hear what the problem was, I called, “Behind you. The toilet paper is in a basket on the tank behind you.”

“Got it,” she called.

With dogs, toilet paper does not stay on the roll. Instead, it turns into confetti because they want to surprise me when I come home.

THE RAMP

A few years ago, a portly poodle with Cushing’s Syndrome arrived in our home. Unable to jump up onto the bed, I hoisted his 17-1/2 pound body up every night until a friend built a ramp. With the ramp, Mr. Sunny Sunny Bun Bun could waddle right up to his spot on the bed.

Now, because of spondolosis and a bridging in his back, Booker T. Washington uses the ramp to go to bed.

It is, to say the least, somewhat surprising for someone touring the house, cleaning the house, or sleeping over to see the ramp.

MARROW BONES

With enough marrowbones to build a small dinosaur and mounds of stuffed squeaky toys, including a Chewy Vuitton bag, it is typical to trip over toys. On more than one occasion, I have almost fallen down the stairs after stepping on a bone.

Prior to visitors, I roam from room to room scooping up toys and putting them in the toy baskets.

I would not change a single thing in my home . . . the scratches on the hardwood floor, the fur on the sofa, and the bowls of water all over the house – nothing. It is a home for and with dogs.