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There are many things I said I'd never do but wound up doing anyway. I think it was because I said the word never. Anytime I put the word 'Never' in a sentence it's almost a 100% certainty that I will do what I said I would never do.
Near the top of my never list was owning a Dachshund. I did not like small dogs. Small dogs usually don't like me. Dachshunds have problems with their back. You have to pick them up just right. They bark far too much. Their bark is too loud. They are not a smart dog and they act like they don't like people very much. Yes those were the reasons I did not want to own a dachshund.
I thought it was foolish for people to dress small dogs up. I'd see people bring them in stores and I'd think " You'll never see me bring a dog in a business.." I'd see people with them in their cars and I'd think "Not me, I don't like dogs in the cab of my truck and that's why I have a rule against it."
Part of my dislike of dogs in a business relates to an incident that happened years ago. I was working a second job at a quick shop. The job was supposed to be part time but there were many times I put more hours in at that job than I did my regular one for several weeks at a time. Many a time at that job I'd be very tired especially at the end of the shift. One of my many jobs there was mopping the floor. Back in those days you worked your shift by yourself.
One of our regular customers was an animal lover. I did not mind that but every time she came in the store she'd do something that either caused you more work or it would slow down the line of customers coming to pay. I did not like having customers lined up. I felt like I was not doing my job if I had a line. I wanted to get them taken care of as quickly as possible. People get angry when they see a line at a register but if they see you make that line move quickly their anger goes away.
One night I had just finished mopping the floor. I delayed because we were busy and it had been raining. I waited till close to closing. I loved leaving a good clean floor and i was looking forward to going home and getting some desperately needed sleep. We had an employee quit. I had worked 3 weeks at that job without a day off and I needed rest.
The animal lover showed up with 6 dogs that night and let all of them in the store. My floor was still wet. They came charging in and ran all over the store with their muddy feet. I held off saying anything to her because I was too mad. She bought her few little things and came to pay for them. Once she had payed I swallowed my anger and nicely asked her to not bring her dogs in the store again when it was raining.
The bitch went off on me. She told me that her dogs did not leave mud in the store y customers did. She accused me of charging too high of prices on our stuff. I had no say in that. She accused me of charging too much for gasoline. I was accused of being inhumane to animals. She called me a theif and accused me of overcharging her. She said that when she got home she was going to call the police on me. She said she was never coming back to our store again. I took all this without saying a word and I was happy when she decided to stop yelling at me and leave. I was quite angry when I remopped the store that night. To add insult to injury that women still came back to our store. I think she decided to leave when I broke my silence and told her that if she had a problem with me she should see my boss in the morning.
That incident happened in the late 1970's I'll likely not forget it. That woman gave me the impression that some people who own a bunch of small dogs are a little bit insane. Yeah I was a real a-hole with my attitude and I feel like a a-hole for having it.
So today I was on Facebook when I saw this picture of a woman with a dachshund that looked like my Dolly. She had her dog in a wagon and was pulling it. The dog was dressed warmly and had a blanket. I thought "Oh that's so cute, that is so neat." " I have to do this with Dolly sometime." The pic left me with a warm feeling inside. I started thinking about the times when she is riding in the cab of the truck with me, resting on my left leg, giving me "I love you" looks but at the same time looking out the front windshield, and then checking the drivers side mirror for motorcycles, then looking out the window itself for deer or anything that looks interesting.
That picture made perfect sense to me. I want to try it and I don't really care if a dog hater thinks I am a fool. What is even more amazing about my 100% turn around in attitude is the fact that when Dolly and I first met she hated me as only a Dachshund can. It took me a full month and a half to even touch her. She was my neighbors dog. My owning her only happened because I intended to only get her to stop barking at me.
Sometimes I think that Dolly thinks she has to make it up to me for her earlier hatred of me. A few years ago I would have laughed at a statement like that. I love my little Dolly fiercely and I think she knows it. I believe she loves me more.
Dachshunds are amazing little dogs once you get to know them. They remind me of miniature German Shepherds if there was such a breed. They love their owners more than any other dog and I tend to become very angry when I see hear of an owner abusing one.
By the way folks.. I completely get it now about small dogs and I wish that my conversion had happened years ago. I have missed out on a lot by not owning them.
Near the top of my never list was owning a Dachshund. I did not like small dogs. Small dogs usually don't like me. Dachshunds have problems with their back. You have to pick them up just right. They bark far too much. Their bark is too loud. They are not a smart dog and they act like they don't like people very much. Yes those were the reasons I did not want to own a dachshund.
I thought it was foolish for people to dress small dogs up. I'd see people bring them in stores and I'd think " You'll never see me bring a dog in a business.." I'd see people with them in their cars and I'd think "Not me, I don't like dogs in the cab of my truck and that's why I have a rule against it."
Part of my dislike of dogs in a business relates to an incident that happened years ago. I was working a second job at a quick shop. The job was supposed to be part time but there were many times I put more hours in at that job than I did my regular one for several weeks at a time. Many a time at that job I'd be very tired especially at the end of the shift. One of my many jobs there was mopping the floor. Back in those days you worked your shift by yourself.
One of our regular customers was an animal lover. I did not mind that but every time she came in the store she'd do something that either caused you more work or it would slow down the line of customers coming to pay. I did not like having customers lined up. I felt like I was not doing my job if I had a line. I wanted to get them taken care of as quickly as possible. People get angry when they see a line at a register but if they see you make that line move quickly their anger goes away.
One night I had just finished mopping the floor. I delayed because we were busy and it had been raining. I waited till close to closing. I loved leaving a good clean floor and i was looking forward to going home and getting some desperately needed sleep. We had an employee quit. I had worked 3 weeks at that job without a day off and I needed rest.
The animal lover showed up with 6 dogs that night and let all of them in the store. My floor was still wet. They came charging in and ran all over the store with their muddy feet. I held off saying anything to her because I was too mad. She bought her few little things and came to pay for them. Once she had payed I swallowed my anger and nicely asked her to not bring her dogs in the store again when it was raining.
The bitch went off on me. She told me that her dogs did not leave mud in the store y customers did. She accused me of charging too high of prices on our stuff. I had no say in that. She accused me of charging too much for gasoline. I was accused of being inhumane to animals. She called me a theif and accused me of overcharging her. She said that when she got home she was going to call the police on me. She said she was never coming back to our store again. I took all this without saying a word and I was happy when she decided to stop yelling at me and leave. I was quite angry when I remopped the store that night. To add insult to injury that women still came back to our store. I think she decided to leave when I broke my silence and told her that if she had a problem with me she should see my boss in the morning.
That incident happened in the late 1970's I'll likely not forget it. That woman gave me the impression that some people who own a bunch of small dogs are a little bit insane. Yeah I was a real a-hole with my attitude and I feel like a a-hole for having it.
So today I was on Facebook when I saw this picture of a woman with a dachshund that looked like my Dolly. She had her dog in a wagon and was pulling it. The dog was dressed warmly and had a blanket. I thought "Oh that's so cute, that is so neat." " I have to do this with Dolly sometime." The pic left me with a warm feeling inside. I started thinking about the times when she is riding in the cab of the truck with me, resting on my left leg, giving me "I love you" looks but at the same time looking out the front windshield, and then checking the drivers side mirror for motorcycles, then looking out the window itself for deer or anything that looks interesting.
That picture made perfect sense to me. I want to try it and I don't really care if a dog hater thinks I am a fool. What is even more amazing about my 100% turn around in attitude is the fact that when Dolly and I first met she hated me as only a Dachshund can. It took me a full month and a half to even touch her. She was my neighbors dog. My owning her only happened because I intended to only get her to stop barking at me.
Sometimes I think that Dolly thinks she has to make it up to me for her earlier hatred of me. A few years ago I would have laughed at a statement like that. I love my little Dolly fiercely and I think she knows it. I believe she loves me more.
Dachshunds are amazing little dogs once you get to know them. They remind me of miniature German Shepherds if there was such a breed. They love their owners more than any other dog and I tend to become very angry when I see hear of an owner abusing one.
By the way folks.. I completely get it now about small dogs and I wish that my conversion had happened years ago. I have missed out on a lot by not owning them.
We dearly love our little Dachshund, too. A friend of mine grew up in the Middle East and had a Dachshund at the time. One day, it thought a certain camel was out to do him harm, so it went on the attack. He was both amused and impressed by the little dog's bravery. The camel was less so, but the dog was unharmed.
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