My Mother in Law's Chickens Come Home to Roost

[Eichhörnchen]

In my wife's family the male members' views are often ignored when they conflict with those of the women. I'm pretty lucky really, in that the two of us see eye to eye on most things... although she'll occasionally gang up on me with her mother

Now I sit on a hard chair at the table when we go around to her mother's, while everyone else sits on comfy sofas, while her two yapping cockapoo dogs are allowed to climb all over them... especially their heads... mouthing, nibbling and thrusting tongues into their mouths. During this time I continue to sit morose across the room, my suggestions for how they might be trained ignored, making myself more and more unpopular: "Oh he does that to me... he just wants his chest rubbed" she says

"Yes and he gets his chest rubbed by asserting himself over you", I say

She tells them to get down and sometimes they do... then they'll straightaway resume climbing all over the victim. Finally, all attempts to order them down are abandoned. But the family all seem to love this... they're all "doggy" people. But they would all still admit that Moira's father (God rest him) would not have tolerated it himself and would have put his foot right down. I can't... it's not my house and they're not my dogs

The loudest of the two yappers will lay on her belly if her ball rolls under a chair or table and emit an ear-splitting row until the person nearest retrieves it and rewards her by throwing it again... after which it rolls under another chair and the whole thing is repeated. Sometimes no-one fetches the ball and the dog is allowed to just yap and yap and yap, drowning out all conversation. Someone might then call her by name in a pleading voice, as though they really do believe that animals can take hints.

Of course, I never touch the ball. Me? I would simply take the bloody ball and put it in the bloody bin... job done... no more yapping. And if there was any more then the dog would be bundled outside. This would happen every time one of them climbed onto or snogged a guest, or made a row, until they learned not to. Why's it all seem so simple to me and yet they just allow it to happen? I only go around there for short stays now, preferring to drop Moira off and come back later

Yesterday I stood in the kitchen trying to talk to my mother in law and all the while this bloody poodle thing was hopping up & down all around me, pawing and scratching. "Get down... he doesn't want it!" She said, but it continued on and on until I finally had to leave the room. Why wasn't the bloody thing carted out and the door shut so I could talk? I really feel that it's disrespectful: if I had dogs then they'd be put somewhere else while "non dog-loving" friends or relatives visited. I don't dislike dogs, by the way, and am only too happy when Moira's friend's dog Bob stays with us now and again for a few days when they go away. Bob is a joy... a sweet, docile and quiet animal

This morning Moira got a call from her mother and her face dropped. "Whaaat?!" She said "Oh no, you're kidding!" I couldn't hear what had been said... maybe someone had died? The signal fell out for a while so I asked what awful thing had happened. "Mum's had a formal complaint about the dogs barking". My reaction? Well I laughed my bloody socks off and of course hopped up and down around the room

[Rockstar]

So who made the phone call and complained? That should earn them a place on your Christmas card list.

[Eichhörnchen]

They're pretty sure they know, although there might be one other. So no, not really... maybe I should send them both a card

[Commander Wallace]

A good friend of mine has a Pit Bull that he has rescued. Sadly, this poor dog was used as a fighting dog and has the scars to prove it. My friend owns a construction business and every morning, my friend puts not only his lunch bag together but also one for the dog.

The dog carries his own lunch bag to the truck and they both drive and go to " work " together. Amazingly enough, this dog is very friendly and also forgiving of mankind that initially hurt him. He plays frizbee and ball with the kids in the park and loves them.

When my friend takes the dog to the vet for some of his issues, he rewards him afterwards by taking him to another friends pub. There, the dog gets a hamburger, loaded baked potato and a small glass of beer in addition to all the water he wants. The dog never gets any fried foods-ever. The dog usually goes home and climbs into his bed where the beer hits him and he is done for the day. The dog has not only custom made beds but also custom made jackets for when it's cold. The dog has his own pillows too. The dog also has sports jerseys that zipper up the back with a flap to keep the zipper off the dog's skin.


The dog has a number of hobbies, including discus. Oddly enough, the dog does this with a car tire. What amazes me is the dog will bite the tire and spin and throwing the tire, always in the same spot. The rest of us would be on the ground from dizziness.

Sadly, in a freak mishap, the dog was spinning with the tire and it slipped over his head as he tried to throw the tire and he hurt himself. The dog went through surgery on Monday for ligament and other related damage and is on pain medication at the vet. My friend has spent every day there since the surgery conducting business at the vets with his computer and cell phones. He visits with the dog all day.

He expects the dog to be released sometime next week with a greatly reduced schedule. Suffice to say, the dog has retired from his " discus " events.



I'm keeping my fingers crossed the dog recovers as he is my friend's and his girlfriend's world.

[Catfish]

@Eichhörnchen so it was not you who telephoned?


@Commander Wallace i know of the ways some have with dogs, i understand how a dog can become a family member and a friend, though i am not quite sure what to make of a dog's bed and pillows, or jackets
I hope he gets well soon, also for the sake of your friends of course.

[Eichhörnchen]

Originally Posted by Catfish

@Eichhörnchen so it was not you who telephoned?

No, I couldn't bring myself to do that. Also, my mother in law is currently terrified by the knowledge that dog-nappers have been active in her area lately. I couldn't do that either... I just keep my fingers crossed

[vienna]

So...


...do you happen to know what a dog-napper gets nowadays...?...




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[Eichhörnchen]

Do you mean when they sell the dog, or when I pay them to nab it?

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by Catfish

@Eichhörnchen so it was not you who telephoned?


@Commander Wallace i know of the ways some have with dogs, i understand how a dog can become a family member and a friend, though i am not quite sure what to make of a dog's bed and pillows, or jackets
I hope he gets well soon, also for the sake of your friends of course.

I will see if I can explain that a bit better. The pit Bull breed have little to any hair. My friend and I live in where the winters can be downright bitter. Since my friend has warm jackets, he had them made for the dog too of varying degrees of thickness and warmth with the zip in liners. I didn't mention the dog has tossle caps too. laughs.

As far as the bed, he had them made and they are like the mattresses you sleep on. I'm sure the thought was that the dog would sleep in his own bed and not jump up on his. As far as I know and have been told, That only works out about half the time.


Thanks for the well wishes, Catfish. He really is an amazing and special dog considering all he has been through.

[Reece]

My reaction? Well I laughed my bloody socks off and of course hopped up and down around the room

I would have done the same, I am a cat person myself though mine died a couple of months ago, waiting for spring!!
Ah the baggage that comes with marriage!!

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

Do you mean when they sell the dog, or when I pay them to nab it?

Oh, obviously, when they sell the dog, because you would never do something like pay them to nab it...








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[Eichhörnchen]

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[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

In my wife's family the male members' views are often ignored when they conflict with those of the women.

In this country, that's a pretty common occurrence in marriage.