A new family member

It’s been almost a week since we brought Coco home. And I would say all’s well and fine, to my relief.

Some told me that it is not a good idea to rear a pet dog, since one always end up with a lot of cleaning to do eg. the poo, the sleeping place, the fur everywhere, and of course the dog itself. So far, I have entrusted this job to the “trainer” (my hubby, the one with this fantastic pet idea. He has to train the dog as well as the 2 kids on their new job responsibility). So far, he is doing the job very well, diligently getting up earlier to clean the dog place (the dog still steps all over the poo) and feed him. Not sure if it is coincidental, but hubby is also back earlier in the evening and play with the kids and dog .

I am glad that my daughter is able to conquer her fear for small animals and she is now a happy Dog’s Mummy. She would be carrying Coco or holding on to the leash whenever there is a chance. She would even hang around when Trainer is cleaning up, and even willing to wash the “kaka” (poo). The Dog’s Papa (my son) was also very enthusiastic in the first few days, but as Coco always preferred to play with hubby, his interest has waned a little in the past 2 days. But on the whole, I would say, it is not a bad decision to add Coco into the family. At least, now the family has a little one to fuss over, and the kids have a sense of ownership and responsibility. (Today, the Trainer will train the 2 kiddoes to clean Coco up). I hope with this, the kids also build their confidence.

So, here’s to share with everyone, our new addition to the family!

Dog or No Dog?

The latest topic in the house is about the word ‘dog’. It probably started because I was toying with the idea of letting the kids have a pet since they have never had one, except for some small fishes. Actually, my idea was to get something small and manageable, eg hamster or rabbits. This is to let the kids learn to take responsibility and also to cultivate their caring attitudes towards animals. But recently we saw some puppies at a pet shop while out for lunch, and there you go, it is “dog-talk” everyday.

The puppies we saw were some mix breed of chi hua hua dog and miniature pinscher. My husband wanted to get a small dog that can be brought around even when we travel on trips and that can be trained. And most importantly, it cannot be too expensive (of course $$ is the biggest concern), considering we are going to be amateur dog rearers!

So, we told the kids the conditions before getting the dog. We told them that they need to show us that they need to be able to take care of themselves first before they want to take care of the dog. By that, we meant that, they will need take responsibility for their own schoolwork, toys, other belongings, their own cleanliness etc. etc.

The next thing they talk about is about where to put the dog. My husband suggested the toilet, since we have to train the dog to poo-poo at the right place. He even wanted to let the dog wander around in the house! By now, I am beginning to think this is not a good idea. Eeeks! As it is, I have tonnes of housework to complete after work, some more need to take care of another life in the house, which may be running around the house, messing up the place.

Gee, cannot lah, not good idea… but then, all three of them are already very enthusiastic about it. I don’t want to be the wet blanket. Me and my big mouth…