This Really Just Happened

There are many things I take for granted on a daily basis, but I have just realized how thankful I am to have a husband that lovingly helps with many tasks.  One task in particular:  The Dogs.

Preface

This week I am a single parent to two fur babies – Harley and Hank.  Harley is my ferocious two year old Chihuahua weighing in at 6.5 pounds soaking wet.  Hank is our passive five month old Black Lab who has far surpassed 40 pounds and continues to grow like a weed with every day that passes. 

The Incident

Just a few minutes ago, Hank was standing at the door barking to go outside like he usually does when he needs/wants to go out.  So I put Hank’s leash on him and Harley’s leash on him to head outside.  Little did I know that it would be raining when I walked out of the door, but that is nothing compared to how this story progressed.

Harley and Hank both used the “potty” (this is the doggy language that we have chosen to use and is recognized by both of our pups) and then sniffed around a little more.  It’s completely pitch black outside and raining and of course the neighbor who lives down the street (whom I haven’t met yet) decides he needs to walk his dog in the midst of all of this.  I, who am trying to tend to my own business so the dogs can do theirs, become a laughing target as both Harley and Hank spot this man and his Boxer that are so gracefully passing by the front of our home.  [The Boxer is walking to the left side of his master not making a noise and the man is in full control of his dog.] 

Of course my bodyguard Chihuahua tries to be manly as he barks loudly and dashes towards this man, only to wrap himself around a tree and make me look like a fool.  Hank on the other hand doesn’t care about a thing in the world and likes to pull Harley around by his leash, so he takes this as an opportunity to pick at his little [big] brother by jumping back and forth over his leash while also pulling him in a few different directions.  I am mortified at this point and overwhelmed because I don’t know how to get myself out of the current situation.  Hank’s leash is wrapped around my right hand because that’s the only way I can keep him from pulling me all over the place and in my left hand is Harley’s retractable leash.  To give you more of a visual, Hank is to the left side of my body though his leash is in my right hand and Harley has somehow managed to go to my right side with his leash in my left hand and wrap himself around the tree behind me.  It’s a true disaster.  To semi-relieve myself of the situation and hope for an easy fix, I let go of Harley’s leash.  Big mistake.  He darts down the street after this man and his dog, but thank God for the person who invented retractable leashes!  Harley’s leash started retracting as he was doing his show-off act and the noise and sudden pull of the leash caused him to stop in his tracks, which allowed me to run towards him in time to scoop him up.  At this time, Hank gets excited and feels the need to jump on me nearly knocking me over and leaving beautiful mud prints down the front of my entire body.  All of this occurs before the man rounds the circle at the end of our street so he gets to see firsthand how chaotic my life seems and how much my dogs are in control of me instead of me being in control of them. 

While this seems hysterical, I am more embarrassed that my neighbor’s first impression of me is distorted.  I am blessed that my husband comes home Thursday and that my only responsibility is learning how to take care of dogs.

And what do you know…. Hank’s at the door again!