Getting ready

There is a ton to do to get ready for Gunther’s arrival. Aside from making sure we are stocked up with food bowls, treats, chew toys, dog beds, and a squeaky stuffed unicorn (of course), we’ve got to dog-proof our house.

We are cat people. This means we now have to rethink where Rosco’s cat food bowl and litterbox can be placed where Gunther can’t get to them. This change has been met with extreme displeasure by our typically easy-going cat. I’m not anticipating the initial meeting between Rosco and Gunther is going to go well. Gunther has been trained around cats, so I know the problem is going to be all Rosco. And, unfortunately, I can’t tell him to just get with the program.

There are open bins with fifteen years’ worth of Legos in our family room that pose a significant choking hazard to a curious dog. We’ve got breakable tchotchkes located on shelves perfectly positioned for destruction by an excited wagging tail. I’ve been researching what indoor plants are toxic to dogs—it turns out to be most of what own. We make the necessary adjustments while my teenager graciously crawls around on all fours to ascertain what other tempting hazards might be at Gunther’s eye level. 

The thing we thought would be the least of our issues has proven to be the most challenging. We’ve got to make space in our bedroom to accommodate a very large dog crate. For the first few weeks, to help with the bonding process, Paws recommends that Gunther be with me at all times and not have free access to roam wherever he wants. This means that we will need to crate him in our bedroom when we’re sleeping. Unfortunately, we just don’t have an ideal spot to place it without creating a pathway obstacle for me. We move the dresser to a somewhat odd placement along our wall, and it seems like there may be just enough room to place the crate in a corner. As someone who appreciates good interior design, this goes against my grain, but I clearly need to get over it. 

Just like any good partnership, there will need to be some give and take from both sides. I imagine Gunther will be giving far much more than he takes.