I am going to own a Chihuahua- WHAT?!?!

Or maybe this post should be titled- "It turns out I already own a chihuahua, and now we are getting another one- WHAT?!?!?"

I should start by saying that when we first got Copley me and Mr. DogInTheDesert had very different ideas about dogs.  At 22lbs Copley was the absolute smallest dog I was willing to adopt and the biggest dog my spouse was willing to adopt.  Copley was listed as a pug/beagle mix and I thought that was pretty cool.  Beagles are great dogs, laid back but still have that rugged outdoor-ness of a hunting dog.  Pugs are just adorable so it seemed all good.  It turned out that he was the best dog we could have hoped to adopt.  What can I really say about him?  He is just the most rockin dog ever known to man (I might be biased).

Knowing that one day we would want to adopt another dog I decided it would be good to volunteer us to work with large breed dogs of some sort.  I found an organization that specialized in bully breeds.  "Perfect" I thought "My spouse will learn how lovable these big dogs are, pit bulls are perfect because they are really just loveable goof balls, and through one of the most misunderstood breeds out there he will learn that big dogs are the best!"

It was a good thought.  He did learn to love the pits, how could you not?  We walk them and go to adoption events and have become all around pit bull advocates.

Unfortunately this rescue led us down a path I never expected.  Our city shelters are mostly filled with two kinds of dogs- pits and chihuahuas.  Chihuahuas were difficult to avoid in the rescue community and Mr. DogInTheDesert loves them.  I have to admit, they are the perfect dog for him.  They like to cuddle and sit on his lap while they play computer games, he can carry them around with him and they are just plain cute.  After careful consideration (and finding ways to over come the fact that we are outdoorsy people and a chihuahua is really just hawk bait) I have finally come to terms with owning one.  Our plan is to start looking in a few weeks.  More on that later.

As a sort of icing on the chihuahua cake we got Copley's DNA test back.  50% Chihuahua.  Turns out I owned one all along and didn't even know it.  As someone who always imagined owning a rottweiler or a husky or a shepherd it is taking some getting used to the fact that I soon will own one and a half chihuahuas.

Introduction

Since adopting our dog Copley a little over a year ago I have been thrown headfirst into the world of dogs.  I have volunteered with a private rescue, taken classes with show dogs (and their owners and breeders) and encountered many other dog owners at the pet store, park and even in my neighborhood.


While these people all have very different points of view they share three basic qualities.

1. They have opinions about how you should raise your dog.
2. They are convinced they are right.
3. They are not afraid to share their opinion with you no matter how crazy and misguided their opinion is.

I really try to listen to what people have to say, understand it, and take it to heart, but sometimes I wish there was more of a healthy debate about things.

 

So that brings me to this blog.  If I am too polite to tell people how I think it is in the real world why not hide behind the anonymity of the internet to share my thoughts and experiences as a dog owner?  Even if no one reads it at least I will have the illusion of getting my ideas out.

Plus... don't tell Copley... but we are going to be getting a new puppy.  I am sure the puppies grandparents are going to want to be reading so they can watch their new four legged grand-kid grow up.