And… we’re back!
You know, I’ve done more difficult things in my life than get up on a cold, rainy Monday morning and return to work after two weeks of serving as captain of the Fat & Lazy Squad. But whatever those things were – those terribly difficult things – they happened a really LONG time ago and have all but been erased from my memory and as a result, today is biting me in the tush. Hard. We’re at the point in our program where the only tasks I can manage are to make bedroom eyes at my coffee and try desperately to find sense in things like the Out of Office Wizard and why the keys on my calculator are so tiny. That i-before-e-except-after-c rule is giving me a bit of trouble right now, too. The agony.
This weekend, the Boy and I forced facilitated the acquaintance of my eleven pound cat and his sixty-something pound German Shepherd/Lab. To say I was worried about the meeting would be an overstatement. I was curious, though, to see how it would play out. Big, big dog. Tiny, used-to-his-domain cat. I suppose I don’t need to tell you who came out the alpha male in that relationship. One glimpse of Hal with his back ever-so-slightly arched and that gigantic, hulking, bred-to-kill dog hit the skids and did an abrupt about face. Nature is so ass-backwards sometimes. Hal has not figured out he’s in charge yet, but once he does, I fully expect him to assert his superiority by sending that poor creature on demeaning errands. It will be nice to be excused from litter box duty.
No hyphens were injured during the making of this post. .
It WILL get easier! Just give it time, and give yourself a break!
We used to have a 90 pound Alaskan Malamute. He was TERRIFIED of our neighbor’s cats! And my sister-in-law has a HUGE pitbull who is so scared of their neighbor’s 2 teeny-weeny dogs. When he encounters them he stands stock-still, hoping that they won’t see him.
Nature. Go figure!
Yeah my cats still back his (now ours) 50lb pit bull down. She doesn’t even fight she just lays down and takes it literally. She tries to play with the youngest one but ultimately she loses. It is funny it was her house first.
I feel your pain. I had a false start last week (went back to the office Monday and Tuesday and then decided I still needed some more recovery time and bailed for the rest of the week). The icing on the cake is that I had to be in extra early this morning and I have to stay extra late tonight… and every day for the next two weeks. So far, 2009 is kicking my butt.
What really gets me is how many humans are terrified of cats. Huge hulking guys (or girls I suppose
) brought to a complete stop because of a cat sitting there. Heaven forbid they hiss.
I used to work at a vet clinic. I know what I’m talking about
Here’s a tip that really does work: introduce them slowly through a closed door for a few encounters (hopefully the encounters would be not too far apart). So, if its at your apartment, put the dog in the bathroom for a few hours (or put Hal in the bathroom at your boy’s apt). Eventually Hall will find his way to the dog and they’ll meet by sniffing under the door. After a few visits like this, open the door for a supervised visit in the bathroom. It’ll take time, but this is really a great way for them to meet with less tension.
Sounds like it went as well as could be expected. Way to go Sir Hal!
Did the animals meet because you are living together now?
No, ma’am.
What Jessicka said. 13 years ago, my new kitten was introduced to husband’s St. Bernard. Yeah, I said St. Bernard. Kitten promptly gave doggie’s exploring nose a swift smack with just a hint of claw. Doggie learned how to use that litter box scoop PRONTO. Can opener too.
So funny – we’ve missed you btw! We brought home our little puppy and my cat of 10 years was scared silly. Our dog is full-size now (a year later) and the cat still won’t get near him. Don’t know what it is about cats and dogs. Can’t we all just get along?
Ha. No hyphens were injured. Love it
My 90lb German Shepherd doesn’t understand why the 6lb cat won’t love him.
Poor thing.
Hmm, I was gonna ask the same same question as Kate, cos why else would the pets meet?
I dunno, I am not fully convinced by that ‘No ma’am’. Sounds like no you give when you really mean ‘possibly I could be up to something, but I ain’t telling you’
Hang on – I figured it out. the ‘No ma’am’ was ‘well, it is a no cos we aren’t technically living together….but we are possibly planning it.’
My genius astounds me sometimes.
Yeah, curious too. Are you guys living together now or are planning to? Didn’t you just meet a few weeks ago?
Yes, it’s a looooong week. Hate that first week back after vacay.
it can be done! Our 90lb German Shepherd’s best friend was a 9lb cat. When the cat was a baby, the dog would carry him up and down the stairs by the scruff of the neck since the kitten was too tiny for stairs. So cute! Also, once the kitten got older, the dog wouldn’t eat until the cat was sitting IN the dog food bowl and they were eating together. They would cuddle on the couch together and everything. Just give them time and very close supervision!
Um, are you aware HOW dogs do litter box duty? Lots of dogs think the cat is cool for leaving those convenient snacks handy.
My cats have always ruled with an iron paw.
Cats are like women: once they learn their power, they begin to rule with unwielding control ; ) Poor doggie!
Cats are like women: once they realize that have the power, it’s over
Poor doggie!
My parent’s cat not only scares other animals, she’s got them trained. I was actually asked while at home for the holidays to move my feet off the couch because that’s the cat’s favorite place to eat her treats.
Seriously, choosing the comfort of a cat over your long-distance-visiting child?! (Oh, and I just spanked those hyphens in a gesture of frustration and rebellion…)
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