Why Penny wants a sister...

Penny would love a sister. I feel for her - I've always wondered what it would have been like to have one. Since this can no longer happen in our household, Penny is out of luck. So she has decided that Cyd is her sister, even though he's a boy, but that seems to matter little to Penny. He is warm, he listens, he follows her around and tolerates being dressed up and decorated. Doesn't that sum up a younger sister? Penny thinks so, as do I.

I have to say there are moments when Cyd drives me crazy, like when he needs to be groomed and drops yet another black cotton ball on my floor after a behind-the-ear-scratch. Or when someone comes to the door and he barrels through the house to run up and jump on them, or the way he skids out on my hardwoods making them resemble a shell of their former selves. Yes, Cyd drives me crazy, he's an attention whore and sneaks naps on the couch when I'm not looking, but honestly I wouldn't trade him for anything. He's a phenomenal dog and here's why:

He loves everyone. He tolerates Penny laying on him, putting bells, bows and necklaces on him daily, Drew covers him with blankets and stuffed animals and sometimes he becomes a hairy planet where lego ships land. And he takes it. all. in stride. For a dog who's first year and a half of life is sketchy at best, he is the most phenomenal pet I could have every asked for.

Penny takes him on daily walks around the house, leading him up and down the stairs, into closets, her room, you name it, he's been taken there. He gets locked in her room, and comes out looking like a bedazzler puked on him. He doesn't whimper or whine or even try to take it off - he just acts like it's no big deal and knows eventually someone will remove the swagger from his fur.

If you look closely you'll see that Cyd is sporting a sweet gold necklace, last week it was a red ribbon with a bell, the week before that it was a pink hair scrunchy on his tail. He's worn crowns, bracelets and been fed tea in a cup, with a spoon - he hasn't explained to Penny the whole awkward opposable thumb thing.

Penny also loves to love on Cyd. He cut his foot earlier this week and it made for a bloody mess all over the house (thank you hardwood floors) it was concentrated in Penny's room and on her bed - ugh. I got him to stop running around and played vet and cleaned and bandaged his cut. He's a good boy and sat still, but I think Penny kissing his nose saying, "it's okay baby, it's okay" was probably helping - I mean his tail was going a mile a minute - he really loves attention. I am happy to report he's a-okay - and nurse Penny had a lot to do with that, I think.

I had to take a minute to honor my fourth child because last night when he came into the kitchen wearing his necklace Ryan and I had to laugh, then take his picture and then remove the necklace. We're true parents: chuckle, document, resolve issue- I like to think it's just seasoned parenting is all.

So thank you Cyd for being such a wonderful, tolerant dog. I am pretty sure he can't read, but he's Border Collie/German Shepard mix - two of the smartest breeds on the planet. Sometimes I think he's on the lower end of the gene pool, but honestly between you and me and the fencepost - I think it's an act and that he's a lot smarter than he lets on. I think being conveniently stupid works for him and that my friends is a pretty damn smart dog!