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| Prince Jakk |
I'm sure a lot of parents can associate with that statement - "I Created A Prima Dona." This is the child that gets in the middle of a supermarket or better yet, at the check out counter and screams as if someone is killing it. Or, the child that gets in a crowded subway car and has a temper tantrum. It's always the parent's fault. And yes, if you created the Prima Dona, it is your fault.
Jakk, my 15 year old Parsons' Jakk Russell, is a Prima Dona, and I am his creator. At 12 pounds, he really can't afford not to eat, but every meal is a battle. Usually one which he just walks away from choosing to lay guilt at my feet. The battle usually ends, half an hour later, when I give him left over barbecued ribs, or some chicken he hasn't tried yet (anyone say "Chicken Piccata)" Or fish, or meatloaf, mash potatoes, rice with gravy. I think you get the picture.
My dogs get fed twice a day, morning and evening. One morning, Jakk was particularly difficult. I made him 3 different dishes: (1) one flavor of his grain-free holistic canned dog food; (2) a different flavor of his grain-free holistic canned dog food and (3) a sunny-side up egg over his grain-free holistic dry food. Prima Dona would have none of it. I finally gave up and went to work.
Then there is the matter of getting his paws wet. It seems like Jakk Russells have a particular obsession with their paws. First of all you can't touch them. Second of all, their paws can't touch the ground, at least not Jakk's. So, acknowledging this peculiarity, I went in pursuit of doggy boots. The first pair was too small: the second larger pair he didn't like, the third pair of a different style, I only got 1 paw into 1 boot. So I ordered a pair of boots from Alaska from the company that makes boots for the dogs that run in the Iditarod. I thought if I told Jakk he was wearing "Big Dog" boots (yes, he has a Napoleon Complex) and that these $45 boots were special, he would wear them. And it worked, somewhat.
We got out of the house, walked in the snow, and then he fell over sideways into the snow. And just laid there, freezing. That's when I got to understand, from his perspective, that my responsibilities were not limited to preparing something he would eat, taking him to the vet when he felt like it, protecting him from Frankie, his wanna be killer, but it was also my responsibility to carry him to a spot outside where he would relieve himself, and then carry him around so he could take in the fresh air and carry him home. And if I didn't like carrying him, then we should take the car somewhere where he could relieve himself, carry him around so he could take in the fresh air and then drive him home.
I have to believe Jakk was an Egyptian Prince or Princess in another life -- the kind that rode around in a carrying-chair, used to being carried and used to having slaves.
Tell us your story. What Prima Dona did you create? While you think about it, Jakk is at the top of the stairs calling me to put him to bed, another of my responsibilities...
