May as well change the name now!
Tonight, The Ghenginator and I went over to my dad’s for dinner. I went to talk to my dad, Ghengis went to play with the other dog’s toys. After dinner and a couple hours of conversation and puppy play in the back yard and gardening tips we were sitting in the dining room chatting. Ghengis got up, wandered over to the screen door and started pushing. As I was getting up to take him out he pushed his way onto the 3 season porch and then pushed the next screen door out to the front steps. As I casually said “don’t worry, he hasnt figured out how to go down stairs.” he hopped his way gracelessly down the stair.
I didnt want to panic, it’s not a busy street, plus I had to remember what we learned in puppy kindergarten, “A puppy will run in the same direction as you”. I didnt want to run at him and have him run into the street. Didn’t matter, he trotted out into the street, turning back to see if i would follow. I did. He went right over to my car, went to the passenger side and waited for me to let him in.
The puppy had decided he was tired, remembered how to get to the car and brought me over there. he might be smarter than I thought.
Also, how do you tell a puppy that even if you are very proud of him for capturing a june bug, he still could not bring it into the house. He looked so very proud sitting there with a wriggling beetle in his mouth.
My dad and step mom and I ran the little guy ragged this evening. He’s passed out next to me. It’s a comforting thing, the loyalty of a dog.

I wish that when you have one of those days where suddenly all the clues fall into place, and all the weirdness suddenly starts to make sense that it had more to do with a birthday surprise than a bad news surprise.
Today is not a birthday surprise day, today is an “oh, shit, I overstayed my welcome” surprise day.
I don’t like these days at all.

I am completely and totally enamored with having a dog. I had a dog in high school, but she came fully trained. This guy comes to me as a puppy and I have to figure out how he communicates and all that so that we can make each other happy. And that’s really what’s fascinating for me. I’ve had cats all these past ten years and cats are pretty much self trainable. They know what they want, they get it done, if what they want is also what you want then it is a happy coincidence. Dogs aren’t like that. They know what they want, but they also want to know what you want and they want to strike a deal with you. They are interested in what you think, they want your input. Unfortunately, we don’t speak the same language, so it gets frustrating at times. Also, occasionally, they do want something you don’t want, like to remove chunks of your flesh as you sleep, but they’re willing to make a sacrifice in exchange for some snausages and a belly rub.
I know I am posting too much about my dog, but dammit, how could I not??

Please, sit back and let the glory that is Ghengis come into your life.