The Brady Bunch?

Dear Dog Lady,

OK, here is my dilemma: I have a one-year-old longhaired Chihuahua to whom I am very attached. I am newly married and have two stepchildren, but Brady is like my little boy. My husband and I are taking our honeymoon this month and Brady will be staying at home with the stepkids and a family member for ten days. I am worried about leaving him. I have been with him every day for the last year and we are very attached to each other. I am nervous that he might get sick or not eat while I am away.

Do you have any suggestions on making this easy for both of us? Will he even care that I am gone? Will I miss him more than he will miss me?

Trish, Dedham, MA

Trish, go fish and have a great time. This is your new family. You’ve got to trust the stepchildren to care for your pet as if he belongs to them too. Your dog is not solely yours anymore and your absence will provide the ideal opportunity for the kids and Brady to bond.

Naturally, you must leave sheets of instructions and lots of provisions for the proper care and feeding of the dog. You know better than anyone what to feed Brady and when to walk him and all that. Control freak Dog Lady always feels better trying to micro-manage as much as possible whenever I leave my dog with someone else. Ultimately, however, I never know how well my doggy directives are being carried out. I have to have faith – and you do too.

Why not convene a warm, low-key family council with the step-kids and the dog. Go over the Brady instructions. Ask if they have any questions. Show them where all the food, treats, toys are located, how to put on the leash, and all those nitty dog-sitting details. Share Brady’s outdoor schedule. Make sure you post the phone number for your veterinarian.

Will Brady miss you? Of course your dog will notice your absence. Things won’t smell the same around the house. However, the olfactory deprivation shouldn’t plunge him into the depths of despair. Dogs are remarkably elastic with their emotions. If they can’t be with the one they love, they love the one they’re with. As long as his caretakers are doing the job, Brady will be happy for the attention and the company.

By now you should have reached the inevitable conclusion: You will pine for Brady more than your dog pines for you. But, please, relax. Try not to think about your dog too much. Enjoy your sojourn with your new spouse. Rest assured that when the two of you come back from the honeymoon, Brady will be over-the-moon to see you.

Trish, while you’re away, the best possible scenario could unfold as the dog and the step-kids form their own happy brat pack – the Brady Bunch.

Posted by Dog Lady at October 20, 2004 04:31 PM