I hit my dog yesterday. In public. In front of lots of disapproving dog owners.
I was at the park, leaning over to collect my doggie's poo, plastic bag on one hand, leash in the other, when suddenly my hyperactive friend lunged forward, spun around, and just generally went crazy in response to two little terriers walking by. I got tangled in the leash, fell on my butt, and the poo I was in the process of collecting went flying. In a moment of rage, my hand came down on my dog's rump (and I think it hurt my hand much more than his rump). He sat down and turned his head to look at me as if to say, "what's your problem?" As I brushed myself off and collected the scattered poo, I saw several people glaring at me.
I feel terrible about it, I really do. If there's one thing I've learned from having a dog, it's that my frustration tolerance is not nearly what I thought it was. And I feel completely undone when I lose the illusion of being in control. Being responsible for this creature that almost never does what I want him to do...it's enough to drive me to the edge of insanity. And really, he's just being a dog.
Maybe I'm not ready for parenthood after all?
if it makes you feel any better, i hit my dog this week, and she didn't even make me fall on my rear in the middle of the park.
ReplyDeletebut i didn't hit my daughter. :-) dogs are a great trial run, and thankfully at the end of the day, they are different than babies. babies are a lot more fun...and at times harder.
it does make me feel better to know i'm not the only one who loses her temper with a dog. :)
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