Mugsy

We recently had the privilidge of dog sitting our friends Mike & Leslie's adorable dog Mugsy. I know we're on the verge of getting a dog and I wanted to do a test run to see if everyone was ready to face up to all the downsides to having one: the accidents, the barking, the chewing on things not meant to be chewed on, the tracking mud all over the floor, couch, beds, and the pooping, always the pooping.


Just one problem... there was no downside. Mugsy is the perfect dog. She was well-trained, quiet, and never chewed or scratched on anything. She wasn't a prissy china doll--she'd get excited and run around like a wind-up toy if you wanted her to. But if you were sitting quietly, so would she. While we were reading or watching TV, she would hop up and put her head on your lap. And, as you can see, she was extremely friendly with the kids.

She's a Coton de Tulear... bred in Madagascar as ship's dogs, so they're used to living in confined spaces.

And of course now we're all SO into the idea of getting a dog, but I know that if we decide not to shell out the price of five Bugaboo strollers for a purebred Coton and adopt a nice, deserving dog from the pound instead, the poor cur is doomed to disappoint. At least we're waiting til after our other new family member arrives first; maybe by then we'll be happy with anything that already knows how to eat out of a bowl.