Random Dog Story Because I Don't Want to Type Anything Else

I made it through Christmas. Much thanks to some spectacular people, especially Holly A, Sandy R, Kim B. Today I need to get through Sophia's birthday party with lots of family.  Stories to follow, maybe. Instead, I'll give you a totally random dog story that nearly broke up our marriage yesterday.

Steve decided that our dog Buddy didn't smell very good. I thought he smelled fine but Steve wanted to give him a bath. Buddy is the 9 year old springer/lab foster dog that lived with us for long enough that we kept him. He thinks he's a person and he's definitely a member of the family. According to me, he's the best dog ever!

Buddy is very smart and quite heavy. I figured it wouldn't be easy to give him a bath. Steve and I have different approaches to parenting, which apparently extends to parenting the dog. So yesterday, Steve switched out the shower head in the bathroom and told me he was going to give the dog a bath.

I merely said, "Good luck with that."

I know, not a good wifely thing to say. I should have been more supportive or offered to help. But Steve was a bit cocky about the whole thing, so I figured I would let him try (ie fail) on his own. He wasn't terribly happy about that but it still probably would have been ok if I could have left it at that.

Steve first tried to bribe Buddy into the bathroom with a snack. Buddy wouldn't go anywhere near Steve or the snack. I started to giggle. Buddy darted back and forth down the hallway and carefully avoided the bathroom at all costs.  When Steve called to Buddy, Buddy just barked back at him, and Buddy hardly ever barks.  I laughed. Out loud. Steve resorted to grabbing Buddy's collar and trying to drag him into the bathroom. Buddy sat down on his haunches and pushed backwards until his collar slipped right off his neck, and a very angry Steve was left holding an empty collar in the bathroom doorway.

By this time, Brittney and I were both laughing hysterically. Not a good idea. Needless to say, the dog did not get a bath yesterday and Steve was barely speaking to me. The good news is that Steve and I remain married and I transitioned into a good wife for an hour or so this morning. 

I helped Steve give Buddy a bath. Would it be gloating to say that my way worked really well and was a lot less stressful? So perhaps I shouldn't say it ;)

I sat with Buddy in the hallway for a while. Then I got up and got his walking harness. He's really strong, and if we use only a leash when we walk him, he practically chokes himself on it. The harness goes around his chest and front legs. He was exited because he knows something fun will happen when he gets to wear the harness. I led him back to the hallway and spent some time petting him again. Then I told Steve to get behind him and push when I told him too. When I first started leading Buddy into the bathroom, he still didn't want to go but I kept a firm hold on the leash and told Steve to push on his rear end. Into the bathroom we went.

Once inside, I went into the bathtub and Buddy hopped right in beside me. I comforted him in the tub for quite a while and he calmly stood beside me. Eventually, I told Steve to turn on the hand-held shower. I kept talking to Buddy, petting him and rubbing my face on his face. Steve starting washing and shampooing the dog. I was able to take off both his harness and his collar without having to hold on to him at all. He endured the entire bath!

I got very wet but I now have a clean, non-traumatized dog and a much happier husband.