bite your tongue, Grandma!

My grandma was here for a visit a few weeks ago. While she was here, my mom and I spent an afternoon shopping with her. We took Caia along and my grandma pushed the shopping cart around and chatted with her great-granddaughter. At one point during our time, grandma walked past some pet beds and sparkly dog collars and said, "Those boys of yours need a dog. Every little boy should have a dog."
I quickly let her know that I have zero interest in a dog and told her that she needed to bite her tongue. Why is it that as soon as you have a boy everyone seems to think that you need a dog? I need a dog right now like I need a hole in my head. Yes, I know that my boys would love to have a dog. I know that the dog would play with them and tire them out. I know that coming home to a dog is really nice and that I would feel safer on those occasions when Sam isn't home. I know all of those things because I grew up with dogs. There was never a time in my life when we didn't have at least one dog and sometimes more than one. It was lovely and a lot of that was due to the fact that my responsibility was very minimal. My parents were the ones who potty trained the puppies and scooped poop out of the yard. They were the ones who took the dogs to obedience training and spent the evenings working with them on their behavior. They were the ones who paid vet bills, bought the dog food and found someone to take care of the dogs if we were going to be out of town. I filled the water bucket and played in the yard with them. And I complained every time my dad handed me a plastic baggie and asked me to go scoop up poop. 
So I am very aware of what goes into having a dog. And right now the thought of adding one more being to this household that can't poop in the toilet and doesn't come when I call is more than I can handle. But if someone else in our extended family would like to get a dog, we'd be happy to come and visit.

photo by: chrisinplymouth  http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisinplymouth/6574163193/