Prince and the Pingul's

Am I really writing a blog about my dog??? Yes, yes I am... I never thought I would be one of those people that would be so into their pets that they would talk about them for an entire blog, but here I am caving in. Partly because I can't think of anything else to write about, but since we have had him for just over a year now I feel it's the best time to give him the spotlight!

Those of you that know Aaron know that he loves animals and has adopted many over the years. Normal would NOT be the word to describe any of the animals he has had! I think he has a soft spot for the weird ones. He kept telling me "when we buy a house, we are getting a dog again." Shortly after we moved in our home he found a dog at a shelter and I agreed to go take a look. We met Prince and he was beautiful! The lady said he "may" take time warming up to other animals but that was about it. Next thing I know this beast was in the back of our Jeep coming home with us! He was almost 3 when we got him and had two previous owners or lived in different shelters much of his life. Once we got home we read his file. One owner was Russian and the other spoke Spanish to him so we quickly realized he didn't know any english commands! Seriously?!!? Well since Aaron and I don't speak either language we found challenge #1. Teach a 3 year old dog to understand English. When we got to the part about how he was with other animals both owners said he acted as if he wanted to mutilate them. Great, we had a cat and baby, what have we gotten ourselves into I was thinking! Challenge #2. Make sure he doesn't kill our cat and don't leave him alone with Kaelyn until we get used to his temperament. Well, later that night the cat came to the back door. Prince was in the living room and I felt they were too close to each other for the first meeting so I picked up the cat with the intention of making a little more space between them (stupid me) but it was too late. Prince saw Stryker and wigged out, which in turn make Stryker freak out! I ended up getting beat up by the cat with scratches on my arms and face, a fat lip and torn up gums. (our cat was a rescue as well so he was kinda feisty!) Stryker ran off and I don't blame him. Prince's bark alone made me wanna pee my pants and now that he was in our small house and not a giant field outside where we first met him he scared the poop out of me! I was ready to sent him back to the rescue shelter within the first few hours! But for some reason once Aaron agreed to take him back I couldn't and we decided to give it some time.

The next morning I went to let him out before work. A minute later he was barking so I brought him back in and took a peek around the backyard but didn't see what he was barking at because it was dark out. Left for work and went about my day. I get a call from Aaron late that afternoon and Stryker is stuck 40ft up in one of our trees! Are you kidding me!! That's what he was barking at and the poor cat had been up there ALL DAY! After a few hours of him not coming down Aaron and his friend had to climb a ladder and literally beat the cat out of the tree with a pole while I tried to catch him in a blanket..WOOF. Day 2....ready to send him back to the shelter but couldn't. We tried EVERYTHING to get Prince to warm up to the cat but he acted like he was going to eat him every time. Yet with Kaelyn he was so gentle and always watching her. After a few days he was starting to warm up to us as well but was always following Kaelyn around, laying at her door if she was napping, and would get all worked up if she would cry. After about 6 months and no luck with the dog and cat union we found Stryker another home. It was a tough choice because we had him first but he is much happier where he is and this way both animals were happy rather than sending Prince back to the shelter.

So thats the story of our fur child....He's HUGE, he sheds, he has awful allergies to almost everything it seems, he barks anytime anyone comes onto our street (which always seems to be when Kaelyn is napping.) He makes my floors filthy.He eats Kaelyn's crayons all the time. He tries to sneak a nap in on our couches. He stinks all the time due to his nasty skin allergies,and we still are unable to have him around other animals.For example,when we take him to the vet we have to keep him in the car until our room is ready because he barks at the other dogs in the waiting room and they pee on the floor! He acts too stubborn when you give him commands. My grass looks like crap and he has broken down a part of our fence when he saw another dog in a neighbors backyard one day. All those things considered he is such an amazing dog!!! He's a protector to Kaelyn and I. She can climb all over him and cover him with her toys and he just lays there! He kisses us every morning when we wake up. One time last spring the boys next door were riding bikes out front. One fell and was upset and Prince heard him crying and came into the other room got my attention and ran back to the window to show me. He is overly obsessed with Aaron and whines like a baby if Aaron gives Kaelyn his attention first when he gets home from work. He thinks he is only the size of a cat and tries to lay on your lap! He keeps solicitors away from our house. (Which I LOVE!) Despite all of his "issues" I am so glad we have him! He is such a huge part of our family and we wouldn't have it any other way!