While we go to Florida, our dog (D is for dog) will go to L’s parents. D has been there before, and very much enjoys hanging out with their dog. And she understands the rules up there: the walks and meals come on a different schedule than at home, she can borrow toys from the other dog, and the cats are in charge of the house.
D is incredibly patient with babies and children who visit. Living next to a playground, she’s also very used to new kids running up to the fence to say hi to her. And D loves meeting children when we’re walking around the neighborhood. Her favorites are kids in strollers, because that puts the kids at exactly her height. She can meet them nose-to-nose. You can always tell which kids have dogs at home, because they’ll squeal with delight at how friendly D is. The kids who don’t know dogs are much more startled at suddenly being licked on the nose.
Of course, the changes in home life will be dramatic when we and D return home. There will be a new person in the house! We’ll be home all the time! And the new person will be very small and curious, and will be constantly demanding attention! But that’s D’s job!
So we expect that D will be a bit discombobulated and rather short on sleep at first, much like us. D will probably adapt faster, mostly because she’ll be able to wander off to a quiet corner and sleep for 10 hours whenever she wants.
