When my daughter wanted a dog, I did some research.  I discovered that Dobermans are very loving, loyal animals, who make great pets.

Who knew?

So, we got a Doberman.  Her name is Emily.  This dog is very sweet.  She loves to cuddle and play with squeakies.  Thank goodness she’s a mix—not as big as she could be.  Cuddling with nearly 80 pounds of animal is fine—when they know how to do it. 

Emily is still learning. 

She hasn’t quite grasped the concept of personal space. 

The “personal-space” thing comes up in more than just cuddling, though. 

If we’re watching television and Emily wants some time, she sits by us. BY us? She sits ON us!  Well, it feels like she’s on us, any way.  She will come to where one of us is sitting on the floor, and plop down so close, her cheek touches ours.  Or she will sit a few inches away, then turn until her long, long nose is right in front of our nose—then stare, unblinkingly.

And that’s when she is only HINTING that she wants attention. 

In the morning, if my daughter forgets to let Emily out quickly enough, I get “the poke”.  Under the arm, behind the knee, in the rear—you name it, Emily pokes it. 

But she seems to know that I especially hate being poked under the arm in the morning.

After all, that dog has a COLD nose! 

And she’ll run to my arm—poke—to the doorknob—poke—my back—poke—the doorknob—poke… and on and on it goes until Emily gets outside to powder her cold nose.

 Every time I consider yelling at her about poking, I look at her eyes.  They’re such sweet, loving eyes, that I decide poking isn’t really THAT bad.  And she DOES make a nice hot water bottle when the weather is cold outside. 

Now, if I could just get her to help me with housework…