Mac & Mandy Sittin in a Tree....

Mac & Mandy are dating, so the kids think.... We are dog-sitting this weekend, and I am quite humored by the dogs' behavior.





When my kids were babies, I did not enjoy watching other kids (unless I knew the behaviors of the other kids very well) - it stressed me out (I know, I am weak).


Dogs are similar to kids except there is much less guilt involved and dogs are simply easier. Kids are much more fulfilling, joyful, intelligent, and fascinating. (Side note: I am feeling a little guilty for not having pictures and stories about my kids.... My boys won't let me take pictures of them unless they are making faces at the camera, they get mad at me when I tell funny stories about them, and Tanner has learned to Google his own name).

Watching Mac & Mandy together is cheap entertainment.

My observations:

1. I take pride in the fact that Mandy is successfully potty-training, so every time she does her business outside, I feel a sense of personal accomplishment. When Mac goes outside, I feel a little grossed out by watching him - like when I changed another baby's diaper.... Weird, I know.
2. As a parent, and as a dog owner, you grow accustomed to the schedule and behaviors or your own. As a girl dog, when Mandy goes out to pee, she does so once. We're done. Let's go back inside. As a boy dog, Mac pees multiple times... on EVERYTHING. It makes me laugh. After the first time Steve took Mac out, I ask him, "So, how many times did Mac pee?" to which Steve replied, "a bunch." I said, "Isn't it funny?" Steve responded with, "It's ridiculous!" Again, it makes me chuckle.... Dogs & humans, we're all funny.
3. Mandy is the most compliant dog I know (the Lord knew what I needed to accompany the craziness of my life with 2 sons). Since I am by myself today, I did not want both dogs bolting out the door when I took one of them out to the backyard. So, as I prepared Mac to go out, I said, "Mandy, cage" to which she looked at me and obediently entered her crate. Mac looked at her like she was crazy (actually, so did I). Compliance is such a nice change of pace around here. :) Mac has learned better - he'll enter his crate only for a doggy treat... smart dog, he is.
   
4. Mandy is much younger than Mac. Mac sort of endures Mandy's "puppy" antics - he is so mature, you know. When we first got Mandy, it was Mac that taught her how to bark - wish I had that on tape. When the two of them are together, it is a barking fest. I tried to bate them into barking on tape to demonstrate the fun, and they barked a little, but it wasn't so impressive. Dumb me, I replayed the footage on my camera to evaluate its use, and they went wild - thinking there were other dogs in our backyard barking.... This went on for a long time... stupid me.