Any parent who has more than one child will tell you that he or she is much more relaxed now, having learned from the first child that it’s not necessary to spray Clorox® on the shopping-cart handle or hide in the baby aisle the entire time Junior is having a tantrum. Children teach us patience — perhaps that’s the miracle that comes out of tantrums, shedding, and destroyed furniture.
When it comes to excuses for my dog’s behavior, I try to use humor to diffuse any stress she may cause me or others. If you can make someone laugh about it, then you’ve got it in the bag. Very casually I’ll tell people she is my second child, who, due to some bad genes somewhere in my family, was born with excessive hair growth and bad teeth. I’ll go on to explain that her tail is something we had surgically implanted for balance to help with vertigo. Then I’ll finish with an appropriate apology for the slobber on their shoes or other cherished accessory.
As a behaviorist, I am supposed to clarify that
“dogs are not people too.” But they do seem to know how to push our buttons to get attention. They also seem to know just what kind of facial expression to throw at us when hoping for the rest of our ice cream or French fries. And, like the significant other you forget needs some mothering too, dogs have no idea that something as natural as shedding can really ruin your day.