Man's (and woman's) best friend
By Staff
Jason Cannon, FCT Publisher
Since moving to Russellville two months ago, my wife, Tiffany, and I have already welcomed a new addition to our family.
As of last Friday, our two-year-old daughter, Lizzie, became the big sister to Ruff, our new Basset Hound.
Lizzie loves animals, especially cats and dogs so with it being far too cold for her to spend too much time outside, we thought we'd bring her a friend inside.
I'm not a big cat person, not that there's anything wrong with cats, but there's only one thing in the world that I'm allergic to. Guess what that is – a cat.
Ruff is the perfect dog for our family. He's low-key, low maintenance and even tempered.
As the parent of any two-year-old knows, they can get a little rambunctious and rough at times.
Tiffany and my biggest fear in getting a dog was that Lizzie may wind up getting bit before she learns there are some things you just can't do around a dog.
We saw first hand what we got ourselves into Saturday night.
As Ruff was bent over into his food bowl, Lizzie walked over to him, bent down and gave him a big hug.
I've had dogs all my life, never a Basset Hound, but dogs nevertheless. If there's one thing I know about a dog, it's don't mess with one – especially a puppy you've had for less than 24 hours – when he's eating.
Ruff turned around, gave her a lick on the forehead and went right back to eating.
Ruff follows Lizzie all over the house. It's almost like those two were made for one another, but in typical brother-sister fashion, sometimes they get along and sometimes they don't.
If Ruff jumps on Tiffany, or gets too close to her for too long, Lizzie scolds him.
If Ruff has an "accident" in the house, Lizzie tells him what a bad dog he is and reminds him that his potty is outside.
But, when he does use the bathroom in the right place, she's the first one to give him a hug and tell him what a good boy he is.
She gives him a good night kiss every night and asks to go see the doggie every morning before Tiffany and I can even get her out of bed.
The biggest surprise of all is how Tiffany has taken to the dog. She didn't want one. If anything she wanted a cat, but after less than a week, Ruff has already become Tiffany's dog.
She'll try to deny it but it when a grown woman who was worried about the dog "tearing up the house" gets caught feeding the new puppy hotdogs while she's eating supper, you know what the real story is.
She's as happy to have him as the rest of us.
