Primo is killing me. I am going to have a fatal stroke from the effort it takes not to scoop him up and sing Who’s a goooo booooo? Is Preeeeemo a gooooo boooo? He sure eeeeeez! Oh yes heee sure eeeeeeeez! while I walk around the house cuddling him like a baby. My past dogs were sweet and cute too, but the problem with Primo is that he’s so small that when the urge hits me to pick him up and talk to him in that stupid embarrassing voice, I have to resist it purely by strength of will. I resisted it with Sunny (PBUH) purely by acknowledging laws of physics because she weighed almost as much as I did. I resisted it with Maggie because I’d seen her murder and revel in the blood of possums, which destroyed any illusions about her cuddly sweetness, plus she also weighed about 45 pounds. Digger (PBUH) was about 70 pounds, and also old and fragile. So it was easy to just scratch their bellies and coo at them without becoming a Crazy Dog Lady who carries a dog around.
But not Primo. Oh no. It is not possible to just scratch his belly and walk away knowing it’s the best you can do to express your adoration. He weighs 23 pounds and is cuddly and likes to be held. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RESIST THIS? Just look at him enjoying getting brushed by Rupert. Tell me you don’t want to papoose him.
But I really don’t want to be that woman. Also, 23 pounds is kind of heavy for someone my size, and also, well I just don’t want to be that woman. So I scratch his belly (actually he prefers his chest) a lot and I have my strokes from his sweetness.
But some days it’s almost more than I can handle because he does something unbearably goofy and inexplicable while being his usual serious old-man self. Example: the other day he was following me down our spiral staircase, and near the bottom I told him “slowwwww” like I always do so that he won’t jump off the last few steps and get hurt. Usually he just slows down until he gets to the floor and then continues on his way. This time he slowed down a little too soon and then decided he was finished. And then he sat there for several minutes, bored with my laughter, and kept sitting there, bored while I got the camera. I think he’s starting to realize how easily entertained I am, and he knows the camera means treats, so…
Yeah, well, we have a 24lb minature Australian labradoodle (Oxford) and he gets carried around like a baby all the time. It’s really sappy, but it’s not just me and my wfie, but all three kids treat him like he’s a baby.
I’m sure he’s confused why we have thumbs, insufficient hair, and leave the house every day while he’s asleep.
Heck with coming back in a new life as an enhanced spiritual human, I want to be an American house pet.
_XC
A sta(i)r is born…
Let me make myself perfectly clear when I say, THERE MUST BE VIDEO!! It doesnt’ have to be perfect or exceptional or even good, just has to show Primo being Primo. Preferably indoors, outdoors, and in the papoose.
You’re not.
I love the things dogs will do to over-achieve, and I’m, frankly, blown away by how biddable Primo! is – you couldn’t have custom ordered a better performance art subject! “Goofy and inexplicable” are two of my favorite things about dogs, but especially your dogs, because pictures. Yay, pictures!
I second Og’s motion for video. We need to see Primo in his full papoosable glory.
I admire your restraint. My own dog is twice Primo’s size and I can barely resist the temptation. If she were smaller, fuhgeddaboutit; I’d be in full-blown crazy-dog-lady mode…which is exactly why my husband said we couldn’t get a small dog.
I’m ashamed to say, I’ve become that lady. There was no avoiding it with a 10-pound fluff ball. I draw the line at a sling, though-i can’t believe there actually are such things!
I also got him an army green harness with skulls on it, so he can still be a little badass. I swear, our two big dogs roll their eyes at the way I carry on with the little one.
I just adore Primo, I third the request for video!
Rachel, so very very very happy for you… if there’s anyone who deserves a doggie OD, it’s you…
Congrats again! Looking forward to more adventures and updates.
And they know which side the puppy biscuit is buttered on….;-)
“Just look at him enjoying getting brushed by Rupert”
Not His Real Hand.
:-)
He always reminds me of a charming old Italian man in the photos.
I have quite a few dogs I work with who like to go for a “carry” They are too cute for me to say no to.
Both my Anatolian Shepherd and my Great Pyrenees habitually sit on the sofa like Primo is on the stairs. We call it the mullet-sit. I guess it’s comfortable?
I try not to do it excessively but I hug and kiss them kind of a lot. If they didn’t weigh 100 lbs each I would certainly carry them around all day.
Primo hit the jackpot when he met you and Rupert! A match made in heaven.
@Razi: Your comment gets you ~~~~~ (bacon).
He is grampa in Moonstruck
If I could papoose my Boston Terrier I’d be tempted. Not going to be that lady either.
He is precious tho.
Absolutely ditto Brendan (et al): Happy, so happy for you & Rupert’s new joy! And for Primo, one lucky, lucky dog… having a second (likely) awesome family, in one lifetime!! How many of us get that lucky???!!
We can’t have pets at this moment/this place, so I am enjoying living vicariously thru you again, dear Rachel!
Hugs & Scritches, Marvie
Pappoose Him?!?! I think I just started lactating.
Actually, in that last pic I think he’s beginning to wonder what he got himself into.. :)
Glad I’m not the only one, y’all.
@Miss Conduct: OMG – my uncle had a huge lab mix (about 100 pounds) who also did the very same thing on the sofa. It was the flat-out funniest thing I’ve ever seen a dog do.
@Razi: Ha! Well played. :)
@og: All right, I’ll make some video of him. Not in a papoose though because I don’t have one. YET…
TRich: “Your comment gets you ~~~~~ (bacon).”
Gasp! Your comment gets you ~~~~~ a fatwa! :-)
, now there’s a good food for low-carbers.
Re the stairs picture: “Look at me, I’m a gorilla!”
I’ve got a dedicated large-dog friend friend who says that if you can pick it up with one hand, HE doesn’t know what it is, but it isn’t a dog. He like Rottweillers and Malanois.
Katie and I have a 2 year old sedate Jack Russell named Lucy. Every time I pick her up it heals something inside me. One of the neighbors kids was having a tough time and working in the shop next door to our shops where Lucy knows to walk down and get a treat. I kept recommending that she pick up Lucy and give her a hug. Good for everyone. Be a little crazy!
By the way, I know this concept might not seem cosmically possible, but our Lucy is even cuter than Primo. Deal with it.