Ouch!!! Dammit!

I have a dog.

We play.

He has LOTS of BIG teeth.

OUCH!!! followed closely by Dammit!!!

I know he is playing and either misses what he is aiming at or just gets carried away... I'm pretty sure anyway. I mean... he could be sneaking in a little nip here and there just to pay me back for his "Cujo Timeout" or for some other offense. I hear Wolves are that way. They hold grudges. I knew a keeper at a wolf sanctuary and said if one of them got pissed off they might 'lay back' a couple days and sort of mull it over and then bite you a couple days later when you didn't expect it. hmmmm.......

Danny has his moments. We call them "Cujo Time" when he gets aggressive. We put him in his kennel and throw a sheet over him and let him stew until he calms down.

Did you ever know that a dog can "cuss". Now... I don't speak dog but I'm SURE what he is saying is not nice. He doesn't growl... it's more a mumble and some almost subvocal sounds that I would call grumbling except that I am pretty sure they are some very nasty words in "dog".

After his "time out", he is once again a sweet and loving dog and wouldn't even think of complaining (until next time) and is happy with the attention he gets and would never bite. I mean...my wife can reach part way down his throat to retrieve a cat toy (he likes to "borrow" the cat's toys).

I'm a little worried about my wife. She's not really tall or strong so her hands end up in the "play zone".

You also have to be able to sort of 'anticipate' where his mouth is going to be going next. He is focusing on the target toy so fingers or hands in the way are just that... in the way. Your problem.

"Cujo Time" is when he is aiming for the hand and there is no toy there. The hand has become the toy. You REALLY don't want that, he won't break the skin but it can cause the exclamation "Ouch!!! Dammit!!, hence the article title.

That often causes him to roll on his back and present his belly in submission and apology. That and/or "dribble" on the carpet. There is no doubt he knows that was a no-no but... he was just playing... got confused... what's a guy to do?

I have learned, actually repeatedly (hmmmm...) that it takes restraint to love him up and let him know he is OK while you are checking to see if there is blood flowing!

I also realized that I am getting older and older skin is thinner. Another nasty lesson!

I'd ask "will it never end?" but I'm not that stupid. That one I know the answer to. That would definitely be a "Duh!"

I have a dog.

We interact.

"Love Hurts" is a 60's song played by most everyone at one time or another.

I like those 60's songs. I can sing with them (in the shower), understand the words, am not embarrassed to say the words, and my wife won't smack me upside the head if I sing them... she will probably put on headphones and listen to real music but then... I would too if I had to hear me. You never sound as bad to yourself as you do to other people. There's a special filter in your brain that lies to you about what you sound like. As long as you know it's there, you're ok. Forget it, and like as not you will do something stupid and NO ONE will ever let you forget it.

Unfortunately, people that like 60's music often have physically thin skin. We're old, it goes with the territory!

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