Doggy Chronicles: Seven Months

We’ve had Mississippi seven months now and we are completely head over heels in love with her. She’s amazing, she’s beautiful, she’s cute and cuddly and sweet. She’s still a tornado of trouble, but it’s mostly cute now, like having a teenage daughter that you love to pieces but who likes to try your patience sometimes. She barks less, she steals less, she does a little better on leash. She waits (im)patiently for scraps when we eat dinner. She comes in from the backyard when we ask her too, we don’t even need to show her treats first, though sometimes she demands one once she’s inside.

I took Mississippi on a long walk in Forest Park this week. She didn’t like the bikes but she was pretty good with the other dogs. I think she barked at a couple, but not that bad. She got to say hello to quite a few dogs because she was so patient. I even got her to walk with me as we approached some doggies. Historically she would just yank and pull as hard as she could, trying to get to the other doggies. She still does that, but every couple times, I can actually get her to come back to me and walk with me for a while.

I’ve been starting to let go of Mississippi’s leash when I know there is little chance of her taking off. This morning I dropped her leash as we walked to the car to go to doggy daycare. She reached down and picked up her leash in her mouth, waited for me to open the car door, then hopped into the car on her own volition. It was just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

We flew to a wedding and had to leave Mississippi in boarding for the weekend. Even though we know she has a great time at Rockin’ Roxy’s, we missed her so much. It’s so strange not having her there when we go to sleep and even stranger in the morning not having some little creature whining and nosing your hand, trying to get you to get out of bed and hang out with her. At the wedding someone read a piece about how love is like a dog. Tears streamed down my cheek. I’ve got it bad, I’m totally enamored by her. I brought a book along with me on the plane. The book is called Woof! and is a collection of writings about dogs. One of the stories started to describe the moment they saw their dog in the Humane Society and I started bawling. I had to put the book away.

I am so amazed by you, Mississippi. You are the most wonderful, lovely creature and I’m so glad you came into our lives. It’s hard to be sad around you. You’re always so cheerful. You kick our butts with your “come on, let’s go!” attitude. We love you to pieces.