First there's Snowy, who is "Issy's dog" (we all know that it is really mom who takes care of her!), an Eskie. We've had Snowy for about five and a half years, and she is a funny little dog. When she gets nervous, she vomits. This goes for car rides, when people she doesn't know come around, or when our other dog, Sadie, gets snappy with her. She vomits... then she rolls in it. Oh yeah, she is one of those dogs that likes to roll in stinky stuff. So she often goes around smelling like vomit. Sometimes she smells like vomit mixed with whatever stinky thing she got into outside, like a dead bird that the cat left on the doorstep. Now that you are all feeling like you will vomit, I'll move on. Snowy also sometimes likes to forget that she is housebroken, and will poo on the floor. Luckily, she doesn't roll in that. She sheds more than any creature I have ever seen - huge clumps of white fluff everywhere. We joke that we could make another dog with the fur she sheds. Seriously, most of our friends probably think we never vacuum our house, even though we vacuum at least once a day. This is why I really want a Dyson! She also chews, and is particularly fond of items she finds in the bathroom trash (just use your imagination on this one). Despite all of this, we love her dearly. She adores Issy and is protective of both of the kids. She also likes to lick my feet, which for some reason I actually enjoy and let her do. I know - weird, gross, and too much information!
Next there's Sadie. We've had her for about four years and we adopted her as an older dog. We really don't know how old she is, but she's pretty white (where she should be brown). She is a bassett hound that is white with large bovine-like spots, and she is incredibly fat and lazy. She is "Emmy's dog" (see first paragraph). Now, while Snowy usually smells like vomit, Sadie smells like feet. Constantly. Remember your middle school locker room? That's the smell. She also sometimes forgets she is housebroken, or rather is too lazy to go out. Once we heard a sound like running water in the living room, and looked in there in time to catch her hanging her hiney off the chair to pee onto the floor. I guess she didn't feel like even really getting up that time! And if you're sitting in "her chair" (yes, the one she peed off of), she will sit in front of you and make you so uncomfortable with her unblinking stare that you move. Sadie is also one of the sweetest, most loving dogs you'll ever meet. She loves to sing (howl), and has a beautiful, soulful voice. She is also very maternal, and tries to mother everything (the kids, the kitten, the chicks). She lets Emmy sit, lay, and jump on her.
Last but not least, there's Brodie. Now he's my baby. He is a boxer that we have now had for almost three years. When we got him, he had a weak immune system, so I was told by the vet not to take him out until he was about eight months old and seemed to have gained some strength. Therefore he did not get early socialization and is terrified of everyone and everything. He has literally jumped at his own shadow on the pavement before. He cringes away from other animals (big or small), other people, big trucks, lawnmowers, weedeaters, bicycles...... Sorry, got off track there. Sometimes when he is scared, he pees - very embarrassing when we have company. He has a severe flea allergy, and living in the South means we battle with his skin conditions for about nine months out of the year. His hair comes out, he chews raw spots into himself, and often stays on antibiotics and steroids for at least part of the summer. And this is with monthly prescription flea treatments. By the way, he is sensitive to the steroids and they make him unable to control his urine at times. Seriously. He'll just be sitting there and it starts to come out, at which time he makes a run for the door and looks all embarrassed (unlike the other two, he generally remembers that he is housebroken). Brodie is also the absolute gassiest creature I have ever encountered (even worse than my husband!). And you can hear it. About every ten minutes. And the smell follows. He'll even look at his hind end after doing it like it offended him and leave the room! Brodie snores. And drools. And thinks he's a sixty pound lap dog. I love him so much! He has the most adorable underbite you will ever see, and the most liquid brown eyes. He always knows when I don't feel well or have had a bad day and lays his head in my lap. Really, he stays by my side constantly - even following me into the bathroom. Out of all of my pets, he is the most well-behaved and follows almost any command I give him. He also makes a great pillow when I'm sitting on the couch watching a movie (he doesn't have the same odor issues the other two do!).
So these are my four-legged babies, or at least the ones that bark. Despite all of their issues, we really could not imagine life without them. Well, maybe we'd spend less on air fresheners....
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