Ali and I didnt plan on getting a dog quite so soon. 'So soon' meaning a week after we moved into our new flat. But fate, and my Mum and Ali's impulsive buying behaviours, meant plans were moved forward by two months. Our Christmas present to each other arrived early (note to any kids reading: that doesn't mean Father Christmas doesn't exist; it just means we are better than you. Try harder next year.) and is making himself comfortable in his new surroundings. So far he is doing OK in toilet training. Poohs are nearly always on the paper (thank Christ) and wees, well. . . you can't have it all.
We got Bubba from a suburban area in South East London. His name had been decided for about a year before we even met him, or before he even existed and was just a twinkle in his hunky-chunky Dad's eye. The name is from Forrest Gump. I know as soon as I wrote that your brain instinctively shouted 'Ruuuurrn Faaarrest! Ruuuurrn!' It's like saying 'Pirates of the Caribbean' to a group of women and seeing them get that indolent, faraway look in their eyes which is a mixture of both sexual arousal and a yearning for a swashbuckling adventure that will never happen because Captain Jack Sparrow is just Johnny Depp in a costume. The real Jack Sparrow would have halitosis, three rotten stumps for teeth, scurvy, scabs, various wounds or lost body parts from battle and a probable penchant for rape. It certainly wouldn't be a Disney ending in real life.
Anyway, Bubba in Forrest Gump is the big lipped black guy who becomes Forrest's best friend and we thought it would be a cute name for a dog. Our first choice for a dog was the so-ugly-yet-so-scrummy French Bulldog breed but have you seen how much they cost? Bitches be playin' bro.We also thought about a pug, but again, it seems the more characteristically comedically grotesque an animal looks (while also managing to somehow look lovable and extremely wantable) the more expensive they are. But on the plus side cross breeds live longer, so really we are getting more for our money and also spending less. Swings and roundabouts.
The first time we saw Bubba he was with his brother in their crate. Ali and I were both given a dog to cuddle and I was given Bubba. He had beautiful markings on his face, such as the little black pouch around his mouth which looks like he's been eating coal, his expressive black eyebrows and the little lines at the corner of each eye that make him appear Egyptian, or a fan of Amy Winehouse. He also had the puggy snub nose and little triangle ears. Bubba was excitable in the extreme to be getting attention and dealt with this by licking my face, clawing at my chest and neck, and then biting my thumbs hard with his needle teeth until he drew blood. What can I say? My dog is not an expert at giving a good first impression. Ali and I swapped dogs and the one she had been holding was calmer, more relaxed and less whiny. We asked if we could come back tomorrow and collect one of the dogs -just so we could have some time to think- but the breeder said she needed to know what one because a friend wanted the one left over and she and her family had plans for tomorrow, starting VERY early in the day, so he had to be taken now. A hard business woman indeed. She had done this before. We agreed we wanted one of them, but just couldn't decide which: the more handsome looking, yet more hyperactive and aggressive one, or the calmer, yet more rheumy eyed and less aesthetically pleasing one. Hmm.A friend of the breeder drove us to the bank and while we got the £275 out we discussed which one to get. My Mum rang and I asked for advice. She told us to do things we stupidly hadn't even thought of, such as: 'Get them to walk on the floor and see if there is any sign of limping; look in their eyes to make sure they are clear and alert; look in his ears and mouth; check his back passage, etc.' She also said that all puppies bite when they get excited and it is better to go for the more loud and hyper one because they are more likely healthier. Above all, she said, it was the dog that comes to you when you call it that is the one for you.
With that in mind we were driven back to the house and asked if it was possible to have both dogs on the floor so we could call them and see what one wanted us. The breeder humoured us and opened their crate door. They appeared confused by two strangers shouting to them and, after a few minutes of running around in a state of hyperactivity, Bubba made his way over to us. The decision was made, and it was so.
With the money exchanging hands the breeder gave us a smattering of advice about food to buy and suchlike. We were given nothing to soothe him through his first night away from his parents (which disgusted my Mum) and left with him in Ali's arms. It started to heavily rain so I wrapped him up in my cardigan in an attempt to keep him warm. When we got back to our flat we tried to hide him so it would surprise my parents but they saw him straight away. They gave good advice on how to look after him and train him the rest of the time they were down.
The first night was difficult. It was my Mum's birthday so she, my Dad and I went to the o2 for a meal. Ali had been baking a cake at home while looking after Bubba and I think the heat and his draining day made him a bit poorly. Ali and my Mum were both worried he would die in the night, whereas me and Dad thought he just needed to sleep. He slept with Ali and I in our bed for a few hours before being put on his own in the kitchen. He cried less than we expected.
We got a bit too confident with Bubba peeing on the newspaper a few times in a row and thought after a day he was magically trained. We let him in the lounge with us, only for him to blatantly piss on the rug in front of us three times. Casual sprays to show he was the man of the house. Needless to say he is now only allowed in the wooden floored kitchen and landing. Anywhere carpeted is now out of bounds.
This is the story of Bubba so far. Ali and I will both be using this blog to to show photos of him as he grows and also write about his wellbeing and behaviour. Thanks for reading. :-)
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