This post is my entry into the BlogPaws Blog Carnival Contest sponsored by BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
When this much cuteness comes into your life, you have no choice but accommodate it.
In less than a week, we went from "we're fostering Toby to see how it goes" to "of course we're keeping him." The adoption will be finalized next week, but he's been "our dog" almost since the beginning.
I've never had a dog before. We had dogs when I was growing up, but none of them were ever mine. I was always a cat person and I figured that our unfenced yard was a dealbreaker when it came to getting a dog.
As it turns out, there are plenty of types of dogs that aren't suited for being left unattended in a yard, and Italian greyhounds are among them. That means we take Toby on lots of walks. He's well trained to walk on a leash, so our walks aren't a struggle in any way. He really needs a long walk each day; otherwise, he gets restless and bored. Have I mentioned that he's already shaved a minute off my average mile pace when we do my 3.4 mile morning walk together?
When Toby is indoors, he's very well behaved. He likes to lie next to me or sit on my lap while I'm reading. He'll follow me up to my office and curl up under the desk to sleep once he's been petted to his satisfaction. I haven't seen him get into anything, chew anything or otherwise misbehave in any way.
He wants to meet everyone he sees. Fortunately for him, the sight of a well-mannered small dog on a leash is a magnet for passers-by. He's also a magnet for free roaming dogs. Twice I've had big, unleashed puppies come bounding up to introduce themselves. Toby is not one of those small dogs who thinks he's a big dog; he's rather intimidated by larger dogs, so I have to be cautious when we encounter them.
I never realized we had a dog-shaped void in our lives until we met Toby. He's so different from our cats, but we love him just as much already. I look forward to many years of his companionship and I'm glad we can provide him with the attention he so clearly needs and enjoys.
Welcome home, Toby!
You should read Dean Koontz's book "A Big Little Life" about their Trixie. You would relate.
Posted by: Donna W | September 10, 2011 at 09:55 AM
Congratulations! He's adorable and he sounds perfect. May you have many, many happy years together. My dog keeps me sane and makes me happy every day - not to mention the walks I would not otherwise take.
Funny thing, over the last couple of weeks, I've been really, really wanting to adopt a cat.
Posted by: Laurie Kingston | September 10, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Welcome, Toby! So happy for you guys.
Posted by: Karl | September 10, 2011 at 10:31 AM
I think you commented once on a post I wrote about barking dogs, saying something about being a pure cat person. I am too, but there are two dogs in my life right now: an elderly terrier mix my husband inherited when divorcing, and my college-age daughter's Pom-Chihuahua. The latter is one of those small dogs who thinks he's a big, fierce one: whenever we come across the matched pair of Harlequin Danes who live hereabouts, he launches into a frenzy of furious, threatening yapping. If they (and their owner) weren't so polite, they would have died laughing by now. Or eaten him.
Toby is wise to be cautious! I'm so glad you found your inner dog person.
Posted by: marnie | September 10, 2011 at 03:25 PM
The cats will adjust eventually.
Posted by: marnie | September 10, 2011 at 03:26 PM
Congratulations. There is something wonderful about a dog!
Posted by: Suebob | September 11, 2011 at 04:54 PM
How sweet! Congratulations on the addition to the family. How are the cats taking it?
Posted by: Bea | September 13, 2011 at 11:08 AM