Lyle!

So, I believe that I've declared myself a dog person before here... And I'll hold to that.

However, my roommate recently got a cat. And he is SO FRICKIN' CUTE. Even though his new favourite game is to swipe at toes with his talons. SO FRICKIN' CUTE:

K named him Lionel. However, when she told me this, she threw out, "It's kind of like 'Lyle,'" which sealed that I would call him Lyle forever. See, one of my first memories of living with K was one evening, we were watching the Discovery Channel (we're cool, srsly,) and a show called "Walking with Dinosaurs" was on. In this show, we were introduced to the Liopleurodon, who was killed by some other giant, prehistoric sea monster. But, we called him "Lyle." We then proceeded to go to work the next day and try to find him online. Googling "Lylepleurodon" resulted in nothing, which clearly meant that I was going to figure out what this creature was called. Obviously, successful, and K and I sometimes still bring up our sea monster friend, Lyle.

Lyle, the prehistoric sea monster, Lyle, the kitten, whatevs.

He and CodeDog seem to be getting along okay. Sometimes Lyle hisses at Code, but it's all in good fun. This is my favourite picture of the two of them (so far):

Lyle: Too fast for the camera!

Comment That Made. My. Day.

Walking Code down the sidewalk, same old, same old...  There is a woman with two fairly small children (under five years old) coming, so I pause Code, cross my fingers that he won't bark at them, and wait for them to pass.

As they're approaching, one of the little boys goes, "Whoa!  That is a big dog!  ... And he has claws!  Like a dinosaur!"

Cody got compared to a dinosaur.  LOVE IT.

Thank you, small child, for making me smile.

Oh, bother!

I love my dog.  He is hilarious and (mostly) well-behaved and a true joy in my life.

But sometimes...

I came home today to find the floor of my apartment covered in diarrhea.  Arg.

As much as I want to complain, though, I know Code didn't mean to be sick in the apartment.  It's truly only when he can't not that accidents happen.  And he always feels so bad, moping around while I'm cleaning up.  He went straight to his crate when I brought him in from our walk...  Really feel bad for the guy.  Fingers crossed he's feeling better.  [He's currently curled up at my feet, looking as angelic as can be.]  Wouldn't give him up for the world!

Plus, there's only so much I can complain, as I treated myself to pizza from the Upper Crust once the clean-up was done...

Dog People v. Not Dog People

So, there is someone that comes over to my apartment fairly regularly. She / he comes in every time and immediately comments on how "smelly" Code is. Let's get something straight from the start, here. Cody smells like... a dog. For those of you unfamiliar, Cody is, in fact, a dog.

So, this person immediately complains that Code smells. Finally, yesterday, I yelled. "Don't come over if you think he smells!" "He smells like a dog!"

I know, possibly he / she was kidding and "bonding" with my dog. But, frankly, I was tired of hearing her / him say that my dog smelled. Hence the counter.

And then I felt a bit bad. Perhaps I wasn't being the best welcome committee...

And it got me thinking.

And I realized... (I think) This person simply isn't a dog person! She / he pretends to know a lot about dogs, but, frankly, she / he doesn't really seem to like dogs. This theory is supported by a recent comment. She / he recently met a "teacup Yorkie" (read: ridiculously miniscule dog,) and if she / he were to ever have an "indoor dog," it would be one of those:

(Can you feel me scoffing slightly?)

While this seems crazy to me, I can't help but understand it. I, myself, dislike many types of cheese, and I know this seems equally offensive to some! So, I can do nothing but respect this. Assuming, of course, that this person shut up about my dog "smelling."

I've grown to hear that people are either dog people or cat people. I don't think this is the case. It's got to be more something like you're either a dog person or you're not and you're either a cat person or you're not. This visitor may find dogs in her / his life that she / he may like, maybe even love, but she / he will never have the instant playfulness with dogs that I enjoy so much. And, she / he will probably never proactively go out to get a dog. I pity that she / he may never have that unconditional love thing. Dogs are so great for that.

Basically, this realization (no matter that it was based off of little research and my own personal opinions) reminded me that people differ and that my opinions may not spread to everyone. (Though, you know, the world may be a better place if that were the case.) As long as this person is nice enough to Code and survives me every time she / he says that Code smells, all will be okay.

I wish I had time to look up the theories and studies that have been done on this. (There must be some.) As it stands, though, it's time to begin thinking about reading and bed.

Seriously, though, check this guy out! What's not to love???