The couch is 10 years old. It wasn't expensive. It is small, no electronics, cupholders or recliners. Just an extra chaise piece on one end.
I got it when I had three big yellow Labs in a small house, so we could all sit on it together and watch TV. I haven't watched TV in nine years, and gave up sitting on the sofa for the most part after it was convicted and found guilty of contributing to poor posture and physical therapy bills. Its only role for many years has been a furniture height dog bed.
The Lab colored cloth cushions sported an ill-fitting cover until that was in shreds. Since then, I've kept it covered with dog towels, trying to control the golden glitter. I remove the towels so the rare visitor can sit on it. I've tried to not destroy it so it can be passed on to a second owner. I'd say the four dogs, (two have gone, a new one added), have gotten my money's worth.
On the other hand, the dog is 13 years old. He's a rescue I adopted at 16 months. For 8 years, he was a willing and uber-enthusiastic agility partner. He was a quick learner and a natural at the sport (unlike his handler). It was such a thrill to run with him in the practice or competition ring, especially the year or two we looked like we knew what we were doing, maybe.
While he has a stubborn streak and one bad habit, he's 1000% devoted to me, and that's not nothing in my book. Of course he sleeps on the people bed. In the winter, he is my heater, tunneling under the blankets at some point during the night.
I'd go so far as to say he thinks he is a person. Other dogs don't seem to exist. Other people either, for that matter, although in his younger years at a dog park, he'd disown me for a stranger with a chuck-it.
Lately, he has started to scratch on the sofa, nesting. He scrapes back the towels, leaving rake marks on the cushions. Until this week, it only happened when I left the house. I considered getting his big crate back out, but would rather not sentence him to jail. This week it started happening in the night, and when I heard it, I tried to get him to stop.
Today I decided that's a battle I don't want to have with my old guy. After all he's given me, and in what will probably be his final year, do I not love him more than the cheap couch that I don't sit on anyway?
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