DOWN HOME: Coming in 1st place in a dog contest

Posted: 2/29/08

DOWN HOME:
Coming in 1st place in a dog contest

“You’re better company than the dog,” Joanna told me the other night, shortly after I returned home from a three-day trip.

My wife really knows how to dish out the compliments. Jo went on to compare my behavior favorably to the habits of our puppy, Topanga. She listed several canine proclivities I won’t mention in a family newspaper. Thankfully, I’ve never attempted any of them.

Since Jo laughed, then kissed me and hugged me and treated me to a terrific home-cooked dinner, I assume she really enjoys my company.

But contrasting my company with Topanga’s wasn’t exactly high praise. At least not from my wife. She’s had this duty before, when our daughters were toddlers and I traveled and she couldn’t get a moment of privacy, much less peace and quiet, until way after bedtime.

Topanga’s 15 months old, and she’s kind of like a toddler, except without the diapers. She wants attention from the time she’s up in the morning until she goes to bed at night. You can’t even go to the bathroom without listening to her cry at the door. She leaves her toys everywhere in the house. If you walk toward another part of the house and stop quickly, she’ll run into the back of your leg. She’ll eat food off the floor. She really doesn’t want you to do “grown up” things, like washing dishes or reading books, because that takes your attention away from her. Oh, and did I mention she has some disgusting habits?

So, that’s why I think Jo has less patience for the dog than I do. Before we ever had a dog, she lived that life with two little girls. She’s ready for peace and quiet in the evening.

Now, I’ve wondered why I tolerate all this better than Jo.

The obvious reason is the same as why I look more fondly on our girls’ baby and toddler years than Jo does: I was Daddy in their world from about 5:30 in the afternoon until bedtime. Jo was Mama around the clock. For me, it was all fun and games. For her (and she enjoyed being a mom as much as any mother I know), it was nonstop work. So, she spent her quota of parental patience on parenthood, not dog ownership.

A secondary reason is my wife is a much more sane and secure person than I am. I’ve given this quite a bit of thought, and I’ve decided I like having a dog so much because I miss the attention that comes with having kids in the house.

Why else would a grown man allow a puppy to lick his ear and place dog toys on top of his head? Why would he look forward to the end of the day so he can get in the floor and wrestle and play fetch? Canine attention is good and fun.

And I hope you won’t think I’m being flippant when I say this, but the affection of my dog reminds me in a small way of God’s love: Absolute. Unmerited. Unconditional.

So, maybe being compared favorably to Topanga is a dog-gone fine compliment.

–Marv Knox