Bigger Does NOT Necessarily Mean Braver

In veterinary medicine, we often see what we call BD/LD syndrome, which is big dog/little dog syndrome, which usually means that a big dog decides to have a little dog for lunch. It usually is quite a devastating and sometimes fatal outcome for the little dog. It always makes me sad to see them come in, but in my house, I have what I call LD/BD syndrome, and the roles are reversed. I have 3 dogs, till next month anyway. But for now I have, Huck, the mastiff pup who weighs 110 lbs., Frankie, the beardie mix who weighs 52 lbs. and Jitter, the little princess chihuahua weighs 3 lbs. Jitter carefully navigates around making sure she doesn't get trampled by big paws accidentally, but boy does she rule the roost at this house. She controls the toys, the beds and the food bowls! She may be little, but she packs a mean growl! Just take a look.

She is pretty determined that Huck will not get the toy, nor the bed as long as she's around. They will do this several times a day and we always crack up. Sometimes, she will jump up and stand up on top of his elevated food bowl eating his food and growl if he gets near it. He will start barking to tell me to come and make her move so he can eat! Mastiffs aren't necessarily the smartest dogs around, but they more than make up for it being so darn lovable! Thank goodness for her, he really thinks he is just a little lap dog.

In The Dog House

I don't know exactly WHEN it happened, well, I guess it did start with my first mastiff, then I got a chihuahua rescue from work, then I got a beardie mix rescue from work, then the mastiff died and I got another one, then she died and I got another one, and now I am getting yet another one. All that to say, our house has now become The Dog House. Everywhere you look, there is evidence that dogs live here, sleep here, eat here, play here and definitely are being spoiled here! Just see for yourself:











Now, since I do REALLY love my dogs, I guess this is something I tolerate in order to have them. My house will never make the pages of Beautiful Homes. I am sure that all of you dog lovers out there can relate. But, as if it isn't enough of a sacrifice of space and time cleaning up their hair, drool, poo, toys, and the money to feed them, they have to destroy things as well. That one is a little lot harder to take. I guess with the hugely successful film/book about the destructive lab named Marley, nobody, especially a dog owner, should be surprised by their ability to destroy the indestructible. Over the Christmas break, since I did not want my poor dogs kenneled up in a cold, sterile concrete room without the comfort of home, I got a pet sitter to come to my house 4 times a day. FOUR!! In the 8 days we were gone, Huck, my english mastiff, chewed up 8 windowsills. One for every day we were gone I guess.





I can't say definitely it was him, but since he is the one that can most easily reach my windowsills, and he is the puppy of the three, I think it was him. Still, I love them almost as unconditionally as they love me. I love them so much in fact, that I can't wait to get another one! I mean, look at this face, how could you not want one of your very own?




Just don't ask my husband that!