I never really liked dogs....

So how did I find myself with one?

Well, I have this friend.  She got this Tibetan Spaniel that she named Tessa.  But soon after, Tessa’s family went to a wedding and were to be away for a week or so.  There were some problems finding someone to care for Tessa for the whole time, and I was just crazy enough to say I could watch Tessa for awhile. 

Now, I though I might be watching her for about a week.  Turns out that is right, but this story just keeps getting better. 

I was away on vacation on a Friday with my son when Tessa’s family was getting ready to leave on their vacation.  I got frantic texts that Tessa had run off.  Then texts that Tessa was found.  Then texts about where Tessa would be so I could pick her up on Tuesday after I returned. 

Now I had met Tessa at least twice.  She seemed a friendly, if not overly owner focused, dog.  A Tibetan Spaniel is SMALL.  In fact, she is smaller than my cat.  (I do have a fat cat.)  But nothing prepared me for what would happen when I texted the dog sitter to say I was back and give her my number. 

I paraphrase, but the text back came swiftly:  Can you come get her now?  It seems Tessa was not working and playing well with the dog sitter’s husband.  Well, sure, I thought.  I am at work, but I can go take care of this I guess. 

I ended up going over and when I went in, Tessa ran right up and started licking my hand.  It seems we took this as a sign that Tessa liked me.  Hmmmm……

So we went back to the house I live in when I am in town and I let her run around.  She seemed less than thrilled to be at another different place, but she was “good”.  For awhile. 

I had a friend over for dinner, who stood with the door open asking “Will the dog run out?”  For future reference, close the door while you wait for the answer to that question. 

We retrieved Tessa easily, probably because Tessa was unfamiliar with the wooded area I lived in, as opposed to the urban area she had come from.  Tessa simply didn’t have any idea where to run.  Almost immediately, however, Tessa became aggressive toward my friend.  She growled and “nipped”.  Then she tried to do the same to me.  I immediately rolled Tessa on her back and held her to the floor and Tessa looked up at me with a docile look that said “You aren’t afraid of me, are you?” 

For the remainder of the evening Tessa remained aloof and periodically growled and backed away showing displeasure.  When I finally took Tessa for a walk, she stopped at random and over and over.  She tried to turn around and go the other way.  She backed away any time I tried to pet her.  She growled at my friend if she tried to pet her.  After my friend left and we were “alone”, it became the real “testing time”.  We chased each other around the house trying to feed, water, pet, etc. 

Finally, I decided Tessa needed a new name.  I dubbed her Chupacabra after the mythical monster.  “Chupa” for short.  I let Chupa be for the night and all seemed well.  Nothing broken, chewed or messed up.  In the morning, I quickly got hold of Chupa and took her for a walk.  It went….OK (?).  While I was at work, I got Chupa in her crate and went back at lunch to walk her. 

This time she waited patiently in the crate while I leashed her and then we had the same uncomfortable walk as before.  Except when we returned, Chupa willingly headed to the crate until I unleashed her. 

That evening was a repeat of lunch, except I could start to see a pattern.  Chupa was starting to get the routine of the walk.  She had certain places she stopped and sniffed.  She had certain things she did not like (stairs).  I left her out of the crate and went about the evening’s business.  That night, I was able to round her up for a walk and found out Chupa was afraid of shadows!  What a hoot!  A monster afraid of its own shadow.  Literally. 

After three nights and two days, Chupa and I come to an understanding.  She is excited to see me when I come back.  She gets the routine of the walks.  She has met my cat (which she still terrorizes).  But yet, recognition of the “situation” is starting to set in.  My son had yet to meet her, but another experience is another experience.  Both Chupa and I are starting to wonder if the owners will ever return and life can get back to “normal”. 

Of course, when my son DOES meet Chupa, we go through the same process.  However, by now, Chupa (who is seeming more and more like “Tessa”), is jumping up and down when I come around.  She is playing “hide and seek”, and is generally becoming more lively.  She ran after my son.  I mean really!  She ran!   And then decided it was OK to watch TV with us.  The lunchtime walk was almost fun, with Chupa (she will forever be Chupa to me) running, jumping, even barking and acting like a new dog!  I even bought a tie out so I could let her lay in the yard while I work on the garden and in the yard.  This is becoming very weird. 

Now, having said all this.  It is clear I am not a very good “dog person”.  I sleep in and forget to get up and walk the dog.  I don’t let her go upstairs or downstairs, instead limiting her to one floor.  I never know if she wants fed, pet, walked or ignored.  Maybe that’s why she likes me?  I am obviously inept and she takes pity on me. 

BUT, when the owner comes to pick her up, for just the briefest of two minutes, Chupa runs back and forth from one to the other, as if trying to decide which of us to choose.  Of course, we all know how this turned out.  I am again dogless.