This Post is Rated Pee.G.
I have a dog. You know that if you’ve read the blog-that-is-not-a-dog-blog for any length of time. But more specifically, I have a dog that I don’t understand, and I’m convinced that no one else does either. If the dog whisperer showed up at my house, he’d spend six minutes with her and say, “I got nothin’.” But I’d have to ask him to repeat it, because he whispers, and I’m hard of hearing.
Editor’s Note: It’s about to get potentially offensive up in here. In roughly 14 seconds you’ll be reading about dog wee wee. If you want theology, click here. If you’re looking for something more on the cute side, click here. If you want to ignore the warnings, keep rolling…
I don’t understand my dog’s…um…bathroom habits. When normal humans go to the bathroom, they just go. There’s not a lot of prep time, not a lot of drama. But with my dog Sipsy, it’s like a Broadway-style production. There are rehearsals, costuming, venue selections, you name it, she does it. This is how it breaks down:
SIPSY: [She doesn’t talk, so allow me to translate.] Sleep sleep sleep sleep AWAKE walk around walk around sniff sniff sniff head on knee.
ME: What is it girl? You need to go potty?
[“Potty” is the magic word. She understands potty. She doesn’t know her own name, but you say “potty” in German (die toilette) at 3 AM from two states away, she comes running.]
SIPSY: Wag wag wag wag dance prance wag wag bark
ME: Okay, let’s go.
[I begin the process of putting on my shoes and getting her leash, lest I become Crazy Insane Man Wandering the Neighborhood at 11 PM Chasing the Dog and Muttering Yosemite Sam Style Cuss Words. We head out onto the back porch, down the steps, and into her pee spot in the yard. The same place she’s peed 14 times a day for the last year.]
ME: Go potty.
SIPSY: Sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff turn around sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff hey what’s that over there?
ME: Sipsy, it’s a tree. You’ve seen that tree a thousand times. It’s the same tree.
SIPSY: [Stands completely still, mesmerized by the tree. Eventually wanders over and stands beside me, staring at me.]
ME: Don’t you need to go potty?
SIPSY: POTTY! Sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff lick lick sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff.
NEIGHBORHOOD DOG: Hey look! It’s that dog I haven’t seen in two hours! BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK HOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLL.
SIPSY: [ignoring the dog] Sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff.
OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD DOG: HeyWhatAreYouBarkingAtOverThereOhLookIt’sATreeBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBarkBark
SIPSY: sniff sniff sniff oh look it’s my master again hello master. (stands still, staring at me)
ME: Sipsy! Go potty!
SIPSY: POTTY! Sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff TREE sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff circle rotate pivot crouch rotate rotate rotate crouch sniff sniff sniff rotate crouch scoot…
[At this point, she finally pees. Then she takes off like a rocket back towards the house, yanking my arm out of joint in the process, because after all, she shouldn’t have to wait on me.]
STILL ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD DOG: Hey who’s that guy I’ve never seen him around here before even though he goes through this routine every night at exactly this time BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK…
Your dog’s name is Sipsy?! That is awesome.
I inherited the name along with the dog. I assume you’re a Fried Green Tomatoes fan, hence the recognition?
Hahaha, actually I’ve never seen the movie! I just thought the name was funny! I love unconventional dog names, like Sipsy and Snap Dragon.
hahahahahahahahahaha….. hahaha.
i had to walk a dog the other day that almost tore my arm off. i feel your pain.
love the name Sipsy!
Hey, I can hear the intonation and expression voiced in this post because I have said it myself to Abby at least a jillion times. The only thing that I would add is that the colder and rainier it is, the longer the process…just hurry up and go already! I’m convinced that in dogworld this is their version of OCD.
Oh, man. Do I ever feel your pain. I inherited a dog with a marriage, so it was none of my choosing, but somehow I get the opportunity to take care of it when Amy’s busy doing other things (like feeding a child that I DID have something to do with).
Have you ever seen the movie “UP” ? The dogs in that movie crack me up because they’re so schizophrenic…it really does remind me of our dog. We have a Sheltie (think mini-collie). As he’s gotten older his faculties are going bad, so he can’t hear as well as he used to and I think his brains have leaked out over the years…
I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who has to put up with incomprehensible canine urinary activities.
I think I like the fact more that you immediatly went for the Fried Green Tomatoes reference.The questions is…. how many times have you seen it and does it still make you cry?