A love/hate relationship?

Sitting at a show recently, I was passed by someone who commented on my dogs, saying how well behaved the show dogs were! It brought back a memory...

On a warm January day, I screamed and cursed at my little Dachshund, who was playing in the biodegradable cat litter/compost area.

"Penny! GET OUT OF THAT!"

Of course, being the rebel Penny was (imagine a 9 week old puppy being so resistent to leash training she would scream and attack the leash), I knew she wasn't going to come so easy. Cursing under my breath, I stomped through the grass over to the little Dachshund, grabbed her and headed up towards the house. While walking I did a quick head count. "I have Penny I see Shelby, where is Kit?"

I looked around frantically for a moment, then spotted the baby puppy again playing in the cat litter pile. I didn't want her smelling like cat pee, and I knew at that age, she would not respond to my commands so well, so again I stomped off towards her, cursing even more under my breath. I scooped her up in my arms, and with one in each arm, and a third following me, I made up most of the way to the house, then sat Kit and Penny down. "There we go," I said, half proud of myself, mission accomplished. Then I realized, Shelby was missing. I turned to see her in the cat litter.

I was calm, remembering Shelby was incredibly obedient. "Shelby come," I commanded. She looked up at me, let her ears down, then went off ignoring me.

I think the neighbors heard my next screams.

From MILES away.

Later I sat on the pool steps, half fuming under my breath with my jaw hurting from clenching it as I watched the 3 of them. As always, Penny was as far away from me as possible, sniffing around, Kit was exploring territory around me, and Shelby was as close to me as possible, while sniffing the ground in front of her.

I was regretting the harsh things I screamed, though, when Shelby frustrated me. I mean, did they drive me crazey? Yes. Every single day. They are not easy. Kit is not housebroken, and Penny began following the reasoning "If she can go inside, why can't I?" as well. I constantly have to break up squabbles between Kit trying to play with a not so willing Shelby. Not to mention Kit's teething stage. Most people who raise dogs I know, keep them for a few years, then re-home them. I can see why.

But.

I started thinking. It's in the way little Kit gently teeths my finger when I touch her little nose at night. The way Penny rebels to no end. The way it feels to prance around a show ring. The way it feels to run around an agility ring with a little dog soaring over the jumps and through the weaves. The way Shelby swims the entire length of the pool, despite her small size after her prize, a fleece toy. The way Kit cuddles against everyone, even Shelby. The way Penny squeaks her squeaky toys. The way Shelby's little brown eyes watch me as she cuddles up against me at night to fall asleep.

And I remembered why I decided to stick it out to the end with them.

I turned to Shelby. "I love you. Even though you drive me crazey." I picked up Kit. "I love you. Even though you drive me crazey." I walked the whole way across the yard to Penny, trying to avoid me. "I love you. Even though I drive you crazey."

Yes I know this is a very sappy post but what can I say? I love my dogs. Even though they drive me absolutely mad.
Shelby then approached me with a rotted peice of meat.
After chasing her around trying to retriever the disgusting thing, I also make this statement.
I love my 3 dogs.
But I will never EVER get a 4th one.
Unless it will moniter the other 3.