Wednesday 5 December 2007

There comes a time…

Sometimes a relationship can become too familiar; the boundaries, which we manufacture for our self-preservation, are broken and everything thereafter is unbalanced and nothing we can do will ever make it the same as it once was – I have come to such a pass.
The dog has ‘wuffed’ at me.
My dog has NEVER ‘wuffed’ at me before and our relationship is undergoing a huge modification and all is not well in the household or at least in my bedroom.
Tattie, a silver brindle whippet with a grey velvet nose very similar to a Womble's, only ever “wuffs” at those who are sitting or sleeping where she would like to sit or sleep and until now she has constrained her ‘wuffing’ to the other four-legged ones who share her world.
A ‘wuff’ is preceded by her staring ever so slightly myopically at the cause of her concern. She usually sits very upright for this with her ears laid back and one paw raised. The ‘wuff’ starts quite quietly and builds up from her lungs up her neck and explodes in a short sharp crescendo. This will then continue until the cause gives in and lets her take over whichever space or area she wishes to occupy.
The tension in her body and quivering (not shaking) that frequently accompanies it is I feel merely to show the cause that she is restraining herself admirably and that the cause should be grateful that she is behaving so nicely rather than giving into her baser self which, I imagine, would be explosive. She usually gets what she wants.
But she has never ‘wuffed’ at a human before. I am not quite sure what has got into her but we are now undergoing a psychological battle of wills, which I fear I am losing.
I always thought of myself as top dog in this pack so this event is quite shocking. Where has she got the idea from that I am not in charge? Is it because I am slavishly pandering to my builders’ every whim and serving them tea or coffee up to five times daily to prevent them from disappearing before the job is completed? Is it because I find myself tidying up before the cleaners come so that they won’t sack me for being too messy to clean for – I kid you not they sacked a friend of mine recently. Is it because I am still getting up in the middle of the night to ‘play’ with The Littlest in an effort to placate him before he wakes the rest of the family?
Whatever the reason I was ‘wuffed’ while taking an afternoon siesta in an effort to catch up on the sleep I had missed the night before because The Littlest had been feeling a trifle playful.
A one off you think? Well, no – we have progressed. Now she doesn’t even have to ‘wuff’ I can feel her staring at me even in my sleep. And she gets what she wants … and I have to share my bed with a whippet. Although she does not snore as Dear Charlie does, she has a very nasty habit of lying rigid-legged so that her claws dig into me and I am gently and persisently pushed off the bed. Life is becoming very uncomfortable...not the least cold!

21 comments:

Faith said...

Ah Tattie, how sweet. I'm wuffed at all the time for being somehow in the wrong. Currently its for administering horrible eye drops.

@themill said...

I think it's probably a compliment - you are officially , now, her equal. However, I would advise resolve. Letting her into your bed is the thin end of the wedge - I'd close the bedroom door if I were you. Either that or put her in the Littlest's room and let her be night nurse.....

Ivy said...

Wuff back stare back but don't let her think she won.Make her go to her basket, cushion or whatever she has got when she steps the line. YOU ARE THE TOP DOG ! It may be hard now but imagine how hard the life of an underdog would be (I think this expression says it all)

Kitty said...

Close the door while napping! She'll wuff outside probably. Why do dogs stare so intently? I was stared at all the way through Cranford on Sunday, very un-nerving, especially when you don't know what they want from you!

Un Peu Loufoque said...

Hmm poor Tattie it seems you are becoming a very lovable doormat to dog, builders and ittlest and that is just not on. Speaking as a mother of 3 dears, none of whom either slept during the day or all through the night until they were 5at least (I realised one day that I had not had a unbroken night for 15 years but its Ok the first 10 are the worst after that you get used to sleeep deprivation) I know what its like.

However dog wuffin is the last straw you are going to have to start being firm on all counts. If you give the builders less tea they wont have to stop so often so should get the job done faster,there is no point in tidying up for cleaners that is there job,if they sack you, which they wont if you stop feelign apologetic for providing them with work, live with the muddle and lower your standards and youngest is going to have to learn to entertain himself dans le nuit whether he like sit or not.

When mine cant sleep I send them back to bed and tell them to look at a book or play with something in their bed because this is adult time so tuff sunshine. I hope I give them suffiencet time during the day to merit my having adult time.

I come from a long line of non sleeping children ( console yourself with knowledge that bright childern do not sleeep as much apparently!)who have for genertions been given something to play with in their cot and told to get on wiht it. I do not think any of us are any more damamged than anyone else, although in my grnadmothers day apparently the thing to play with was a purse with coins in to take in and out which I suspect today would be considered very risky!!!

How old is youngest?

Tattie you need to stop feelign as if it is your job to keep everyone including the dog happy adn start thinking about keeping you happy, cast off this mantle of servitude adn tell teh lot of them , in terms, as they say in the legal profession, to lumnp it or leave it.

Oh dear sorry if that sounded a bit harsh but you fo sound as if you may have the entire household and dependent employees happy to lay their burden upon your shoulders and that c'est pas juste !

I have your best interests at heart and shall send Madame Grognonne over to beat up your cleaners if they make the slightest murmer of dissent.

Milla said...

wise words from Un Peu with all bases covered there. Am sure she's attention seeking and jealous of your concerns being elsewhere. Isn't Cranford just fab! (although I do wish they'd stop killing people off at the end of the episodes!)

Ivy said...

UPL you are right only I did not dare to put it that way... Used to tell eldest that I was incapable of sleeping too if I wandered the house, so he should stay in bed and give it a try it always worked with me so why should it not work with him... I won at least he stayed in bed not making any noises that would wake his parents up... what more can you ask for?

Chris Stovell said...

I adore whippets - any chance of a photo of Miss Wuffy? Apologies for not catching up sooner - I am still wrestling with my rewrite!

Frances said...

Yes, Tattie, we recognize you as absolute Top Dog.

Please do adopt those UPL suggestions. Top Dogs need rest and comfort, actually deserve rest and comfort.

xo

Suffolkmum said...

Oh dear, terrible when your illusions of control are shattered! I agree with Kitty - those intense doggie stares are disconcerting. I have enough trouble sleeping because I'm frequently pushed out of bed my small bodies who seem to develop extra nocturnal elbows - don't think I could cope with a dog as well!

Potty Mummy said...

How long have you had her Tattie? I am not in the slightest bit a dog person, but I do remember being told that female dogs often pick a favourite owner (sounds like your husband here), and can be unpleasant if anyone gets inbetween them and the object of their affections.
In any case, it rather sounds like she might be heading for Dog Borstal... (BBC3 - I promise I don't watch it but unbelievably, Husband does. Bankers, eh?)

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

UPL has said it so eloquently! Dog out of bed, Tattie first for a change.

Maggie Christie said...

Blogger just crashed while I left a comment!

Anyway, what I was trying to add was that UPL has hit the nail on the head (as usual) so I can't add anything to that.

It did make me laugh though, all the wuffing and staring, it is just so Dog!

Norma Murray said...

I would think one little whippet should have 'wuffed' herself into a nice cosy kennel outside!

Casdok said...

I thought sweet too!

snailbeachshepherdess said...

Get another whippet?

Was it alright to laugh? Coz I did ......sorry!

Pipany said...

Stand firm m'dear - your bed is your sanctuary (in which case why am I here and not in mine!!!) xx

Sam Fox said...

If I give a treat, whether edible or not, I always get a "kiss" a gentle lick on the knee....

Hannah Velten said...

You painted such a lovely picture of 'wuffing', but it is bad behaviour...especially when one is trying to recline peacefully on the sofa!! Mootia x
p.s how are the chickens?

bodran... said...

Left a big long comment and the computer swallowed it!!!
Don't let her bully you..Say AH AH it really works ask my 8 xxx

Kathleen said...

Wow. I've never been wuffed before, either. I'm not sure how I would take it, except to stiffen my arms and legs the next time she gets on the bed, and shove her completely out of it. Then lie across the whole bed and let her wuff to her heart's content. Show her who's boss.

Go on you know you want to...

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