No-dog-land?

My parents were farm people for the first part of their lives, Mennonites (sort of like the Amish) for whom cleanliness really is next to godliness. They saw dogs as fine creatures, good and useful companions on the farm, but dogs were also animals like cows, chickens, and pigs --- and animals live outside. Mom & Dad never quite approved or were comfortable when they'd come for a visit to our place and would have to deal with dogs in the house even though the dogs were very well behaved.

Some years ago I took my first Corgi, Watson, to visit Mom & Dad in California at Christmas time. Mom keeps an immaculate home and Dad (since passed away) was very happy with that. They asked if Watson could please be confined to a small kitchen rug placed in one corner of the living room. Uh, sure. >chuckle< Well, Watson did fine but in due course slipped off the rug periodically to sit by me, make friends with everyone, and in time made it into the kitchen where Mom began slipping him food. Corgi charm is tough to resist.

Watson, Christmas morning, 2001

When we opened gifts on Christmas morning there was a package under the tree, the label made out in a child-like scrawl "To Mr. & Mrs. K from Watson." Inside Mom found a new lint roller with a note attached from Watson, again in a child-like scrawl: "Mrs. K, Sorry about the fur thing. Love, Watson."

At our humble abode here in Arizona the rules a somewhat less rigid than at Mom's place. We don't allow the Gromit or Holly in the kitchen or on the dining table table. We also keep the bathroom doors closed because when the weather's warm here in Arizona a nice cool lump of porcelain is nice to snuggle against when you're a dog. Oh yuck...sometimes I think they'd live like animals if we let them.

But the living room chairs, sofa, beds, laundry room, Debbie's art studio, and even the garage (when I'm out there) are open to Gromit and Holly. We really do, in so far as is reasonable, consider them family and want and enjoy their company pretty much 24/7. Sometimes when Debbie is in her art studio the dogs will get to playing in there and become a nuisance and then I'll hear a door close and when I peek into that end of the house there are Gromit and Holly looking at the closed door with that "What did we do??" expression. I love dogs and I love living with them.

Gromit knows the rule about the kitchen being off limits. And he knows just how far he can push the rule before Debbie looks up and orders "Out of the kitchen!"

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Comment by Beth on April 9, 2010 at 10:11pm: Growing up, we had both yard dogs and house dogs. My grandfather had beagles, and everyone I knew who had beagles kept them in a run in the backyard. When I was really little (pre-school) we had three pointers and they were kept out in barrel/yard areas. But my aunt had an English Setter who was always in the house, and then we had a string of house dogs. And now I don't know anyone with a "yard dog" and doing so is often seen as cruel. It's funny how quickly things can change.

Comment by Nancy Geddes on April 9, 2010 at 9:57pm: My Grandfather owned a ranch and dearly loved his Aussie, Lady.. However, she always slept in her place in the tack room and never came into the house. At times, my parents allowed our bassets in their house and my corgis run my home (just kidding!?). See what can happen in three generations!!! All the best, Nan

Comment by Michelle on April 9, 2010 at 9:35pm: I came from a similar family in that my parents did not allow dogs in the house. My mom was not particularly fond of dogs, she acutally was afraid of them. I too was raised on a farm and therfore most animals had a purpose. I always said that when I grew up I would have a house dog. When my dad was in good health I would laughingly call AJ and JR his granddogs....he was not particuarly amused!!! ^-^ But my hubby and me love our fur babies......Corgi's Rule!!!!!!