Here's what I think...

Since I'm sad about missing my concert, I think I should totally win Shawn's Dog Lover's Giveaway. Don't you think?

Here's why: This is Ty.

Yes I know Ty is a dumb name for a girl dog. She was a year old when we got her, and she knew her name, so we didn't think we should change it on her. Want to know what's even dumber? Ty is short for Tyrant. Who names a female dog Tyrant? Especially a female dog who is extremely gentle with kids, loves everyone, and actually cowers under the piano bench, trembling when she gets in trouble? Dumb I say.

This is Ty laying in her bed. See how well she doesn't fit?

Now we're not horrible people...she's had 2 other beds that were large enough to fit her. She never used them. She always curled up in a ball on a pile of dirty laundry, or a blanket the kids left out. Like a tiny tight little ball. When hubby came home with this she curled up in it and it was hers. She has since started laying more sprawled out, but still uses this thing. It's kinda funny, but kinda sad.

I didn't want a dog. We've tried that before, and although I'm not an animal hater, and I grew up with dogs, I just didn't want to be bothered with another thing that I had to take care of. Plus... dogs smell. They just do...I'm sorry.

But hubby saw an ad that the family she was with needed to find her a new home because of their landlord, and he REALLY wanted her. I said "no". He showed up with her one night and it's now been 18 months....I guess she's staying.

Ty's not allowed on the couches. I soooo don't want to be that family that smells like a dog, and has dog hair all over them whenever they go anywhere. Or that house where people are afraid to sit on the furniture because they know they'll stand up with hair all over them. Ty doesn't understand this and when we are gone, she makes herself comfortable on the couch. Sometimes she even sneaks up there at nighttime when we're all asleep. Of course as soon as she's caught she jumps down and runs underneath the aforementioned piano bench and cowers down pathetically as if we're going to beat her or something. Which, by the way, we don't...in case you were worried.

The thing is I REALLY hate when there is dog-smell, or dog hair on the couch. Like seriously so much that I have actually considered finding her a different home. But I just can't bring myself to do it. She is sweet, and so good with children, but she's a big enough dog to be intimidating...I always bring her to the door with me when I'm alone and someone I'm not expecting knocks. Kinda like...if you're a bad guy, well I have a big dog so there. Plus I'm alone most nights with the kids, and I love the security I feel having her there with us. Okay, I admit it, as much as I don't want to be a dog owner...I've grown kind of attached.

She is here to stay, but I need a solution for her incurable couch-sleeping! I think Shawn has found the answer for me at Bedroomfurniture.com ...go here to check it out. But don't enter...because I need this!

What about you? Are you a dog person? Or do you prefer cats? Or like me, would you rather just take your kids to the zoo than actually own an animal in your home?