The Sock Bandit

Apollo - like all dogs - went through his destructive phase when he was a young puppy. I had figure out a way to withstand his chewing habits and minimize the financial hole that he was gnawing in my wallet.

Squeaky chew toys went right out the window as an option. They lasted about as long as the time it takes to microwave your TV dinner. Within minutes, the squeaks would be completely extinguished and bits of plastic, fur, or stuffing would be all that's left of a massacred animal. I had to find something else (and quickly) as anything that had either a soft or fuzzy quality all of a sudden had a shelf-life in my house.

One day as I was sorting my dirty laundry with Apollo watching intently, I dropped a sock on the floor. "A new toy!" I saw in his eyes... as he quickly scooped it up and ran off with his prize to evaluate closer on the other side of the room (away from poachers who might want to steal it back) before deciding to shred it into a hundred pieces. I didn't think much of it and decided not to attempt recovering it, as that sock had a small hole and was ready to be retired anyways. It suddenly dawned on me that this was exactly what I was looking for.

In additional to providing comfort for your feet, I came to realize that socks (especially worn and dirty ones) was one of Apollo's favorite things to play with. There were so many uses: we played fetch using them, stuffed them with treats and toys, I used it as a glove when he plays play-biting with me. And to this day he still loves the freshly worn, stinky ones that he steals right off my feet.

The way he runs away with a sock in his mouth, prancing around the room... reminds me that he will always be my little sock bandit.

Ketchup Shampoo

Everyone gets dirty and being clean is important. Dogs may not have this particular sense of hygiene (unlike cats) and rely on us to clean them up when necessary. 

As a puppy Apollo was fairly tiny and his first baths were in the kitchen sink. Why? Short answer: he fit and it made rinsing him easy. As time went on we eventually graduated to the bathtub. It's funny when I think about the progression of Apollo's attitude towards baths as he's gotten older. He started out not knowing what exactly was going on and made a slight fuss - not unlike human children who tend to share those same behaviors. Once he got used to it, it became more of a routine and he accepted it with full cooperation. Him and I have gotten to the point where it is more of a chore and I'm sure we're both thinking "let's just get this over with as quickly as possible." Isn't that how we all perceive our shower routines these days?

I can't help but laugh at myself when it comes time to put dog shampoo on Apollo's back and I squeeze the soap onto his back in a zig-zag pattern. The first time I did it, it was completely unintended and when I realized I might as well have been squirting ketchup onto a hot dog, I busted out laughing like a maniac (the ironic pun of him being a wiener-dog) and snapped a picture. Apollo looked up at me with a face that embodied a few sentiments: I'm not amused, hurry up, and you suck.

The Right Decision

When I turned 21 ten years ago, I wanted to do something for myself as I crossed that milestone birthday. It was my college days, and as many people can attest to, those days tended to more often than not be filled with decisions that you may or may not regret in retrospect. As such, I was seriously considering getting a tattoo on my arm knowing full well that it's a fairly permanent choice that will carry with me for the rest of my life.

And then I decided to get a dog.

I flipped back and forth between the two choices, doing research/planning on both. I had given the tattoo design plenty of thought as well as started investigating and reading up on different dog breeds. As fate would have it, I saw an ad for puppies (I can't remember exactly but it may have been specifically for a dachshund) and decided to visit the locally owned pet store (All-Star Pets).

My friend Michelle gave me a ride and that was the first time I met Apollo. I saw him napping behind the glass display case, but he woke up as I approached and was quite eager to say "hi'. After playing with him in the little area sectioned off for socializing with the animals, I made my decision pretty quickly and without hesitation. The paperwork was done shortly there after, and the rest was history.

I had set out to give myself something special on my 21st birthday that would also have a long, life-changing effect. What I chose will without a doubt, have a larger and longer lasting effect on my life than any tattoo.