Angel the Dog

I feel that a blog post on one member of our family is long overdue. We have a dog, her name is Angel.

Here are the facts:

*Jason adopted Angel when she was a puppy, before we were married, and before we lived together. When my college boyfriend brought this puppy back to his college apartment, I never imagined that I would have to put up with her for so long. I thought Jason was just a fling.

* Angel was originally co-owned by Jason's college roommate, Steve. However Steve bailed, and left Jason to be the sole owner.

*Jason and Steve failed to train Angel, and she was actually borderline neglected until she moved in with me.

* Angel is a mixed breed, we don't know what she is. Everyone likes to guess.

* Angel is white, with a big black spot on her back, and black freckles on her ears.

* Angel is about 10 years old.

* Angel has developed a limp, due to arthritis in her front left elbow.

* Angel can do 'sit' and 'shake' very well. She's not so great with 'lay down' and 'roll-over.'

Here's a list of Angel's pro's and con's:

Con's:

1. And this is the #1 Con in my book. Angel sheds copious

amounts of white hair all over the house. Fur tumble weed develops about 3 days after the house has been thoroughly cleaned. Since we moved to Texas, we've have a cleaning lady clean the house once a week. The cleaning lady has saved my marriage. Angel doesn't have fuzzy fur, only hair. I have actually gotten Angel Hair slivers in my feet more than once.

2. Angel is stubborn and naughty and ungrateful. She wants to get on the furniture, despite the fact that there are 3 expensive and cozy dog beds located throughout the house. I bought "Scat Mats" that deliver a small (and perfectly harmless) electrical shock if she gets on the furniture. Angel will take a shock in order to knock the scat mats off the couch, or knock a pillow down on top of them, and get on the couch anyway. She'll get up on the couch, and then get down when she hears me coming down the stairs. After about 2 minutes on the couch, it is covered in hundreds of white hairs.

3. Angel barks ferociously at anyone who dares approach our property. The squeak of the front gate sends her into a barking fit. I shudder when I hear the door bell ring, as I know a barking fury will ensue. She runs back and forth barking at anyone who walks in front of our sidewalk until they are out of view. She gets even angrier about dogs approaching the property, or coming close to her on dog walks. Barking fits have been known to wake the baby.

4. Angel has a bad licking habit. She doesn't lick me anymore, because I have bopped her on the head a few times for it. People usually don't like to be licked by slobbery dog tongue. She also licks her dog beds over and over and makes yucky spots on them.

5. Angel makes gross salivary snorty licky sounds.

Pros's:

1. Angel is the perfect size for a dog, not too big, not too small.

2. As far as dogs go she's pretty cute. I like the way her ears flop over. She's the quintessential dog. Cartoon drawings of dogs look like Angel.

3. For the most part people seem to like Angel. She makes friends with about 90% of people she meets, once they are on the inside side of the fence or the door.

4. Angel makes cleaning up dropped food in the kitchen a cinch.

5. This Pro is the plus-side to Con #3, Angel barks at anyone who comes near the house, even Jehovah Witnesses. She makes me feel safe when I'm at home alone. She keeps the boogey-men away.

6. She's good when she's asleep, and she sleeps a lot now that she's a senior dog.

Wow! There are more pro's. I guess we'll keep her.