Week two

This is Stella a week after I got her. I have had her for two weeks on Sunday.

To date, things Stella does not like:

• Washing machine
• Trash truck
• Being told "no"
• Stainless steel dog food bowls (she can see her reflection)
• the large black Great Dane puppy that lives in my floor length mirror
• motion operated doors at the dog food store

To date: items that Stella has chewed or pooped on:

• My rug (chewed and pooped)
• A quilt
• Trash can
• Socks, lots of socks

To date: things Stella does not understand:

• Stairs
• Doors open inward -- so move back when trying to exit
• TV and surround sound
• Cats (and all that implies)
• Sand box that belongs to Ben including the toys in the sandbox

Welcome to SuperPetz, can I help you?

So last Wednesday I take Stella to the SuperPetz on the recommendation of my vet--get her socialized, take her places, meet new people he says. Stella needed a new bed and bones so I thought it would be a great idea. I decide to go around 8:00 p.m. because I knew there would be fewer people there. I load her into the car and off we go.

There were some stops on the way as she refused to stay in the safe "down" position while in the car; I am still not sure who won that fight.

We get out of the car in the parking lot and spend some time sniffing around to get her adjusted to the smells. I think, this is going okay, it should be fun, I am such a great dog owner.

After my witty and so wrong thoughts, a person walked out of the store causing the motion sensored doors to open. The doors were saying "S-T-E-L-L-A" as they opened and closed and Stella refused to enter the store as long as the doors were taunting her. After pushing a 55-pound puppy through the doors we made it to the bone area. I thought this is good, distract her with the bones but she would pay no attention to the yummy treats as the doors were still saying "S-T-E-L-L-A".

So we move to the bed area, just out of eye-sight of the doors. I hold up the beds to see which one she likes the most. About this time, maybe from the stress of being harassed by the doors, she proceeds to have projectile diarrhea all over aisle 4. At that exact moment, the store manager walks by, with a bird on her shoulder, to see Stella and me going in circles, trying to avoid the poop, while it is still shooting from her rear and states, "now what's going on here."

After cleaning up aisle 4, we proceed to check-out and to my glee they had turned off the doors just for us. I thought I was home-free, what else could happen?

On the way to the car, thinking to myself, this was a big mistake, I am not smart, I am not a good dog owner and I need to stop at Arby's for dinner. The doors opened again....S-T-E-L-L-A. She stops dead, I trip over her and land on the asphalt. I think the furry bed I had bought her saved me from ending up in the emergency room with a broken wrist. When you are over 5'9, you have a long time to think about things before you hit the ground but not enough time to stop gravity. The woman who had caused the door to open comes running over, "are you okay" she says, "I am fine and Stella please get off of me" I say.

After putting Stella in the car, picking up her bones from the parking lot, and limping to the car I have decided that we will not be returning to the pet food store anytime soon....