I Want a Dog

Our neighbors just got a puppy.

It looks kinda like this.  Don't you just want to sqeeeeeeze it!?

 It's a little bichon (I think) and it's crazy ADORABLE. And they named her Cubby, after the the Chicago Cubs. And the kids think she's awesome and run/roll around with her in the backyard. AHHH! I can hardly stand it.

We've been thinking about it for years and have always said, "Oh, we'll get a dog someday. Maybe when the kids are older and can help take care of it. We kind of like the freedom of not having one right now. It'd be like having another kid. There would be additional costs like food, vet visits, shots, grooming, boarding, etc. that we just don't need right now. It would chew on the baby's toys." You get the point.

And when we talk to people who have dogs, the overwhelming majority of puppy parents tell us, "DON'T DO IT!" (Like 99.9 %) Then they proceed to tell us how they just get annoying and eat stuff they're not supposed to and bark and jump on people and so on. So why have them? What's the point?

If we do get a dog, I don't want it to be like that. I really want it to be like another little member of our family, not some little piece of crap furball that we have to feed every once in a while.... I'm not trying to criticize anyone, I really just don't understand.

Me with my dogs, Holly & Kasey. 

Ten years ago, I used to be an aspiring model. (AKA I think my middle school sister was into photography way back then, too.) No idea what this photo was about, or why on earth I still have it, but it's me and my puppies. I adored them. Granted, I wasn't the one who really had to take care of them, walk them, feed them, pay for their vet bills or let them out, but still. They've been gone for a long time now but they were such a big part of my childhood. I want this for my kids, too!

Who knows when we'll actually get one. But I want it to be soon. Like, shortly after we move I want to start looking. Wade thinks little dogs are stupid. But I say it's kind of like a little 'trial size dog'. (Not that we'd return it if we didn't like it, but we could kind of get our feet wet with the whole canine thing.) We're not getting a mastiff or anything just yet. Although maybe someday....

oh. my. word.

Advice? Thoughts?