72 Days

If I have one complaint about my Macy Blue, it is her lack of affection. I've never encountered a dog who doesn't figure out I'm the lady with magic fingers and demand my full attention at every opportunity...until Macy.  Even strangers dogs have sought me out for pets!

If I've questioned my choice in getting another dog so quickly after Mabel's passing, it has been over this issue. She is not affectionate. Oh, if I come near her, she rolls over and offers her belly. But that is a sign of submission, not affection. And frankly, I feel way too old to be on the floor all the time. I want a sofa dog and I want one NOW.

But there are signs... I have her undivided attention in dog class (even when the cookies are not out!).

She hates getting separated from me on the trails (thanks to her getting lost once).

There has been a nap on my bed...ONE.  Otherwise she acts like I'm plotting her murder when I ask her to come up. She has obliged - four times. For cookies. And then jumped down.

She comes on the sofa now...if there is food or coffee involved.

 

She does give a goodnight kiss upon request... I liken Macy to dating the awkward male. He's fine with a little petting but as soon as there's any indication of feelings involved, he'll make a weird joke and ruin the moment. I get down on the floor every night after dinner for "cuddle time." For precisely 30 seconds, I'm allowed to pet my dog. Less if I get too close to her face or if she feels cornered.  Then she goes to chew her bone, tail wagging, until I return to the sofa.

This is an improvement. At first, the bone chewing was preceded by zoomies outside. After several weeks, the zoomies stayed in house. And now, she doesn't need to zoomie.  But the 30 seconds has not changed...

Aside from my allotted time, there is no real affection to speak of. I cried so hard today looking at Mabel Lou's Year in the Life posts... I was looking for my own medical history and I remember it better in terms of my dog than myself. And seeing that precious girl who, even though I swore I hated her, she loved ME! And she needed my pets and attention daily. From  day one.

On day 72, I was on the sofa and Macy was in her bed. She got up, came to me, got my attention and curled up under my hand. That was the first time she asked me to pet her. She's asked a few more times since...but not every day.

I know Macy's history is strange. I feel she's not accustomed to human hands and the comfort they can bring. She's just thrilled to be inside a house, with a bed beds of her own,  good food twice a day, lotsa cookies, lizards in her yard, friends, restaurant visits, and daily walks. These are all things I'm certain she's not had...well someone fed her but that was pretty much it.

So I have to keep going to her, offering affection I know she doesn't really want yet. They say you get the dog you need. Apparently, I needed a dog who would make sure I could still touch my toes throughout my fifties.