“The hardest thing about the road not taken is that you never know where it might have led.” ― Lisa Wingate, A Month of Summer
In an earlier post, Doggie Daycare, I introduced you to a puppy named Star whose owners were considering giving her up. They took her back to their house after the 10 days of training, but, a week later, did decide they didn’t want her anymore. The trainer has had her for about a month, waiting on me to make up my mind as to whether I want to adopt her or not.
It is now time to make that decision. Which road do I want to take? The one I know, or the one I’m not familiar with?
Fortunately, the trainer is a friend of mine and is helping me decide. I have taken Tippy for a couple of visits with Star at her house and they got along great.
The next step was to see how they would get along on Tippy’s home turf. Star came for a visit yesterday and it went great! Star found all of the dead things that Tippy had brought to the yard and Tippy didn’t care! No aggression over any of it!
The stinky bone that Tippy had came apart, so they each took one piece to enjoy.
When Tippy wanted what Star had, instead of growling and fighting over it, she tried to get her to play so she could steal it.
They played great together and relaxed together.
Now that I know they get along so well, I just have to decide if I want the responsibility of having two dogs. If I do, Star is definitely the one. The trainer has told me that she will help and, when I travel without them, she will keep both of them for the same price I have been paying for just Tippy.
The next step is a trial run. When I know I am going to be home for a couple of days in a row, I am going to get her and see what it is like to live with both of them. I hope that will happen next week.
This is day 2 of the 3 day quote challenge. (Yes, a few days apart. Like I have said, life sometimes gets in the way of blogging…as I think it should.) I nominate the following bloggers for the 3-day quote challenge:
If you accept, post 1-3 quotes for 3 consecutive days, and nominate 3 fellow bloggers to do the same each day.
Tippy Tales 
Lovely to see Star and Tippy play together so nicely. The body language tells a beautiful story. Whichever decision you will take will be the right decision. Thank you for nominating us for the three-day quote challenge which we are happy to accept. Much love to you xxx
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Such a tough decision! When Choppy was younger, I sometimes considered getting another dog. But she is definitely an only dog, at the end of the day. Just having the cat causes her no end of jealousy!
And thank you for the nomination! I think any quotations are going to have to wait until after the A to Z Challenge – but I had been thinking of doing some like the one I posts for the letter ‘Q’ – this could be the way to do it!
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Thank you. It is a tough decision and one I am not going into lightly. I am gone a lot during the day so wonder if Tippy wouldn’t benefit from the company of another dog, even though she seems to be doing fine the way it is. We’ll just have to wait and see.
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That’s why I would have done it, back when I considered it. Now, I know she is fine and would probably dislike it. Of course, it would be nice if I could just ask her and find out for sure!
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That’s what I have been telling Tippy…”I wish you could tell me if you want Star to come live with us or not.” LOL
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It would be so much easier if they could talk and understand!
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Yes it would.
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Waiting to start is fine. As you can see, I didn’t follow the directions exactly either – days between posts, not consecutive ones. We’re rebels. 😉 LOL
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It’s tough, but someone needs to fight against the rules!
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Awww, Star is a cutie! Good luck with your decision, your smart for taking your time with such a big responsibility and commitment! Your quote fits this situation perfectly! 🐶
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Thank you so much. Star is really cute and she and Tippy get along so well. We’ll see how it goes when I keep her for a couple of days. I know getting another one is a big commitment and will change some of the goals I have for Tippy.
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You captured some great moments in the photos and your commentary is so appropriate. Last year I came so close to deciding that I wanted to get a guide dog but as you say it is such a huge responsibility being that I already have a dog. Even though people have told me that Mollie will adjust because of the extensive training guide dogs receive, I ended postponing the decision for now.
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I think you will know when the time is right and the perfect dog will be there for you. However, some dogs do NOT get along, so I think a trial, introductory period is more than appropriate, no matter what the situation or how well trained a dog is. I feel dogs are a lot like people…..there are some we just can’t get along with. 🙂
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Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. I’m just not sure how that works with guide dogs as the programs are pretty intensive. I know of guide teams who haven’t worked well together and it was back to the drawing board and I think to add a household pet into the mix could be problematic. However if the chemistry is right, it’s a beautiful thing. 🙂
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I just woke up from a bad dream.
I didn’t know who to talk to. I don’t have anyone else to talk to. Not even my husband.
My dog just got taken AGAIN..
In this dream.
We were staying in a hotel and a worker there took him.
They kept hiding him in different rooms so we couldn’t find him.
We would find him and they would get him somehow again…
My husband didn’t want to wait
Said we had to go. It wasn’t like we had to be anywhere soon.
But I said we weren’t leaving till I found my dog.
I hate this. It’s a ptsd dream.
I haven’t had one in awhile.
I woke up with sweat all over me. And the shakes. From the dream.
I can’t lose him again.
Please people, you have to watch your dogs closely. Very close. Bad people are takimg dogs everywhere. I’m serious.
It is a epidemic in most every city.
Go read craigslist in the general community part
Loot at the lost and found.
There are tons of them there.
Let me tell you one thing they do to some.
They steal your dog. Either from the fenced yard, or even from the inside I have read.
Most times it is the yard.
And it will only take a few seconds.
If you are lucky, they will put up a post later, saying they found this dog. They are looking for a reward. This is their job. How they live off of poor dog ( or cat ) owners.
I’m serious. I did learn many things when they took mine.
They beat mine. And crated him.
If this happens to any dog lover, you never forget this.
And it is very traumatic.
Please watch them.
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I am sorry that you had this dream and it must have been horrible when your dog was taken. I agree that we need to watch our dogs, but, with everything else in life, it has to be balanced. If we get too paranoid, the dogs will become paranoid also and that can result in bad behavior. I guess there is a fine line to be had.
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