She does seem to have quite the diva personality! Love the pictures!

Maybe this would give you a little empathy with parents of humans. Nah.

When you are in any parent role, whether with your child, aging parents, or pets, there will always be hard emotional things to deal with.

Many times I have had to de-porcupine my dogs, and it's a literally painful and very physical struggle for both when it happens. In our brain it seems like we are hurting the animal who loves and trusts us uncondionally, and they don't seem to understand.

All you can do is your best and back it up with as much love as you can give. She'll be settled in soon!

I'll be an asshole any fucking time I feel like it and what I know about you is what you write.

You write blog post after blog post about parents after 3 minutes worth of contact with their kids and judge them wanting. You have no more idea, in most of these cases, of their parenting skills than I do about your private interactions with your close friends and their kids. What a shock you treat them differently because you know them better than the ones you criticize. Of course, it was hard on you doing what was necessary. Guess what, humans are harder.

Apparently the practice of slutshaming now applies to dogs, too.

"I'll be an asshole any fucking time I feel like it"

I feel so, so sorry for your children.

Although when I sit on their juries in the future that won't really come into play, I suppose ...

caustic: "I'll be an asshole any fucking time I feel like it..."

We noticed.

"I'll be an asshole any fucking time I feel like it"

Wow. Just wow. You do realize that you've embarrassed yourself for millions to see, right? Why are you even on this site if you clearly dislike the author?

Anyway Amy, back to *original point*, which caustic somehow managed to drive off a cliff, (I think Mommy dearest spoiled him with attention and he needs to get it however he can....) she's clearly doing her best to emotionally blackmail you.

Kids are pro's at it. Or the attempt anyway. Puppies too.

Stay strong, the end is near. She'll learn quickly by the sound of it. You're doing great too, by the sound of it.

BTW, hiding is working wonders. I've been leaving them in the living room by themselves during the day, and hiding in the hallway to startle the hell out of them when they go to chew.

I was able to leave them for an hour in the living room while I went to the store. I don't want to test their limits yet by leaving them overnight, but it seems to be working!

It's a lot like when you are trying to get a child to sleep in their own bed. Or when they are completely overtired and you are trying to get them to sleep at all. The crying kills you but you know it needs to be that way.

Don't worry that you have severely damaged sweet Aida. While dogs do live in the moment in a sense, they also know who they trust. Showing little Aida over and over that the grooming is not a bad thing is what it will take. Over and over.

Until then, you need to leave the child to cry herself to sleep .. kinda.

My Holly hates having her toenails trimmed. She used to squirm around like crazy and fret and stew about it, so terrified she was shaking.

It made me feel like crap, but it HAS to get done. Over time it has gotten a lot better. I actually pull her up on my lap, lying against my chest, but on her back with her legs sticking up. She is very trusting and doesn't squirm like she used to, but she gives me the stinkeye the entire time.

It gets better. Things scare little puppies sometimes, but they get used to them after a while.

All you need to know about causticf:

1) Has kids.
2) Regrets it.

Oh and to "I can be an asshole any fucking time I feel like it."

I don't think that word means what you think it means. My husband is an asshole when he leaves the wet towel on the bed, you dear sir, are a moron.

As my late friend Cathy Seipp said about mushy thinkers like you who don't think anyone should ever criticize anyone (they usually say things like, "Why, that's a value judgment!"): "I have values, therefore I make judgments."

I have absolutely no problem criticizing or judging folks. Do it every single day and feel more people should be honest enough to admit they do as well. I just try to not make a snap judgement based on a five minute interaction and convince myself that is the sum of those people.

An example of this is your comment about my parenting skills. My style of parenting is disciplined, consistent and quick to nip poor behavior in the bud whether public or private. My boy is courteous to adults and well behaved.....99% of the time. He is also a kid and doesn't always behave as wished. But you don't know that because how did you put it...."Oh, and in short, don't be such an asshole or act like you know fuck all about me."

"We noticed"

I'm sure you did, Pat Ol' Buddy. Similar to a lot of your interactions on this board isn't it.

"Wow. Just wow. You do realize that you've embarrassed yourself for millions to see, right? Why are you even on this site if you clearly dislike the author?"

Not really embarrassed and I don't dislike Amy. I read her frequently and agree with her more than I disagree.

For those on a more even keel, here's an interesting article on mothers with borderline personality disorder.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/resolution-not-conflict/201210/when-your-mother-has-borderline-personality

"All you need to know about causticf:

1) Has kids.
2) Regrets it."

Really? Having children was never the driving ambition of my life and I was never really enamored with other folk's kids. That's the flat truth. My wife wanted children intensely but for the first ten years of our marriage we weren't ready

When we were ready, we began trying which went on for a couple of years and then went to talk to the doctors to see why it wasn't happening. There was a good reason come to find out. My little wigglers didn't work well AND my wife's fallopian tubes were damaged. We were told we probably wouldn't be able to have children naturally. We looked into some of the in vitro methods and such but it was really more than we could afford.

This hurt my wife more than it did me because she was much more invested in the idea of children than I was. It meant a lot to her so we talked it over and looked at adopting. Then out of the blue my wife became pregnant.

That happened 8 years ago. My little boy is a joy every single day of my life. My job prior involved me travelling up to 7 months a year. I went to the company and asked for another position even though it would be less money so I could be home almost every day while my boy grows up. They had a position available and I took it.

He's a good kid but he isn't perfect. He would rather play video games and watch tv than read or play outside. Guess what? Most of his free time is spent reading, riding bikes, and fishing. His chores are to feed the dogs, wash and dry the dishes three times a week, take out the trash, and with my supervision help cook dinner.

He reads at a 8th grade level and is just starting to get into higher math not because that is his preference but because I have high expectations.

I am all for making judgements (and do every day) but understand you might not have complete information and could be wrong.

So no, Pirate Jo, I don't regret my kid. I wish he had come a little sooner.

One thing to keep in mind: dogs have evolved with whiskers for a reason, and they are very sensitive...

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201109/why-do-dogs-have-whiskers

As I mentioned, my dogs have been porcupined a few dozen times, but for some reason none have ever received one in the eyes, though the rest of their face is covered in quills.

Six-year-old explains the purpose of dogs.

http://weruletheinternet.com/2011/05/24/a-dogs-purpose-according-to-a-6-year-old/

Pirate Jo if it makes you feel better 97% of pugs are like that. Actually make that 100%, I've never met one that wasnt a total drama queen about the process.

The first time I did mine, he acted like I was murdering him. Much like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bFjiXYpyKk

I just pay $8 for the groomers now.

Amy,

The caption on the image should say:

"Draw me like one of your French girls"

Regretful parents are the only ones I ever see who get all butthurt when the behavior of underparented offspring is criticized.

Oh my god Ppen! That pug screamed like they were yanking his nails out by the ROOTS! Drama drama drama ...

Look at this little monster, getting ear medicine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvQ14BD1HbE

And Gog, that link was so sweet. Awwww.

Pirate Jo

Love it!

No, caustic, I'm not sympathetic to asshole parents who don't train their children anymore than I am sympathetic to asshole dog owners who don't train their dogs. It's not supposed to be easy, but it's supposed to be DONE. Worry about having to do it, voice your feelings on doing it, but DO IT. That's what Amy is doing.

If you don't want to hear Amy's struggles and triumphs about raising her dong, scroll on by. That's what I do when I see parents talk about raising kids. Doesn't interest me. I don't feel the need to go out of my way to make a snarky comment about it to make it ALL ABOUT ME BEAUSE MY LIFE IS SO MUCH HARDER THAN YOURS.

"If you don't want to hear Amy's struggles and triumphs about raising her dong, scroll on by. That's what I do when I see parents talk about raising kids. Doesn't interest me. I don't feel the need to go out of my way to make a snarky comment about it to make it ALL ABOUT ME BEAUSE MY LIFE IS SO MUCH HARDER THAN YOURS."

You obviously don' feel the need to heed your own advice so, if you don't mind, I'll continue to comment any time I get the urge, snarky or otherwise.

As to the hardness of life, I never said my life was hard. I've spent most of my life working in third world countries where life for most is a day to day crap shoot. I know goddamn well that I won the lottery of life being born in the US.

"Not really embarrassed and I don't dislike Amy. I read her frequently and agree with her more than I disagree."

So you are embarrassed, just no overly so. That comes with the sense of entitlement which grants you the right to act like an asshole whenever you effin feel like it. Gotcha.

And I'm sure Amy is breathing a gusty sigh of relief that you agree with her.

""All you need to know about causticf:

1) Has kids.
2) Regrets it."

Really? Having children was never the driving ambition of my life"

because she was much more invested in the idea of children than I was"

Seems like you regret it to me. By the by, parenting is about much more then scholastic achievement. It's also about instilling your child with ethics and morals. Which is completely at odds with your right to "be an asshole whenever you fucking feel like it.

Just because your kid respects authority, doesn't mean that your right to be an asshole isn't, by default, raising a little asshole. If you follow the logic, you'll see it.

I hope.

"Draw me like one of your French girls"

HA! Love it!

"Seems like you regret it to me. By the by, parenting is about much more then scholastic achievement. It's also about instilling your child with ethics and morals. Which is completely at odds with your right to "be an asshole whenever you fucking feel like it."

Sorry but still no regrets. Once we knew our boy was on the way my ambivalence was replaced with anticipation and happiness. I think you know this already but just can't help letting your own inner asshole out.

And again, no not embarrassed. Our hostess is no stranger to snark herself so, yeah, I feel entitled to let it out in this forum now and again. So please take your sanctimonious self righteousness somewhere else, we're all stocked up here.

>>"I'll be an asshole any fucking time I feel like it"

Hey! That's my job!

causticf: "So please take your sanctimonious self righteousness somewhere else, we're all stocked up here."

We noticed that, too.

I'll say one thing for you: you chose an appropriate name.

HA! You took the words right outta my mouth Patrick. You stole the comment I was gonna make about his name too! Good Show!

If you weren't the authority on sanctimonious self-righteousness, caustic, you'd know that Amy gets to be snarky cause, well, it's her site.

You'd also know that most of us tend to stay on point with our snark, rather than taking an innocuous post about dog rearing and using it as an opportunity to blast the author *ON HER OWN SITE!* about her *CORRECT* views about child-rearing, which actually has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.

But then, your right to "be an asshole whenever the fuck you feel like it", is certainly shining through, so we'll just put it down to your unjustified sense of entitlement.

I feel certain though, that you will take it as a compliment when I say that you have succeeded admirably in making yourself an oblivious asshole of unprecedented proportions.

Kudos!

'You write blog post after blog post about parents after 3 minutes worth of contact with their kids and judge them wanting. You have no more idea, in most of these cases, of their parenting skills'

Three minutes of a kid kicking me, or jumping off chairs at a restaurant, or careening around a coffee shop while Mummy pretends she doesn't see anything so that SHE can have her coffee or whatever in peace is more than enough to show me their parenting skills..

1.Anyone over 4 should be able to sit in a sea;

2.Anyone over 3 should know that you don't hit, bite or kick

3.Anyone over 3 knows that people walking with hot coffee, or trays of food are not an obstacle course set up for their own personal amusement

So there's three failures there. And the cherry on top is them ignoring it all as it happens. They don't care about other people, which is why they have kids like they do.

"You obviously don' feel the need to heed your own advice so, if you don't mind, I'll continue to comment any time I get the urge, snarky or otherwise."

No, asshat, I came into this thread because I was interested in what was up with Amy and her dog. YOU came into this thread to throw the "holier-than-thou" parent card.

Grow up. You kid would probably like an adult in his life.

@Daghain
"... Amy's struggles and triumphs about raising her dong,"

Um ... I ... what?!

You know, they have medication for those with trouble raising their dong.

Mines quite the handful, two or three handfuls actually, depending on how big your hands are