I am NOT a dog person. In fact, when we first got Ernie, my plan was to see how many days I could go without touching him. That plan only lasted a few hours when the kids left the back door open and I had to drag him out of the house. It is not that I hate dogs, exactly. It is just that my sister Laura was always the animal person in the family and I thought one was enough.
In my never ending effort to be a ‘good mom’ I started reading How to Speak Dog Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication by Stanley Coren. (Thanks Cliff.) I learned lots of interesting things that will keep you on the internet at night. You should google “ferrill children Kamala and Amala”, “Roger Fouts Washoe sign language monkey”, or “Elisabeth Borgese’s typing dog Arli” if you ever have insomnia.
Unfortunately, I still can’t speak dog but the book did give me enough bravery to try to wash Ernie. After the first bath was a success, I tried again a few weeks later, this time also including a hair cut. In this heat, even I was beginning to feel sorry for Ernie. Now, if someone had said, 15 years ago that today I’d be cleaning up kids throw up and wiping snotty noses, I’d believe them. But, I would have NEVER thought I’d be cutting a dog’s hair! After looking up Shitzu hair styles on the internet and formulating a plan, I got down to business. Despite a cut finger and the process taking about 4 times longer than I had expected, I was pretty proud of myself.
Until the next day. N who is 3 decided to cut his own hair. Not in just one place but nice splotches interspersed throughout. J who is 2 decided to wash Ernie herself. We caught her just as she finished dumping the entire shampoo bottle on his back. N got a second hair cut and Ernie got a second bath. I decided my dog grooming career is over.
July 25, 2009 at 9:02 am |
I guess I should have read a bit farther down!!! The headshot looks like Justin could have got in on the shaving action!!!
July 25, 2009 at 8:58 am |
Ernie is soo cute! but, I see a head in the picture that is not Ernie’s. Did someone else have a close haircut too??? LOL!!