Small Dog, Big Adventures: Meet Lucie - My First Pet Ever!

By Colette Stroffolino

For author Colette Stroffolino, saying yes to adopting her first dog and welcoming a little furry ball of love into her life was one of the best decisions she ever made. She learned so much about connection, unconditional love, responsibility, and joy, as well as how to grieve.

Many questions came up for Stroffolino as she welcomed her first pet into her home. Lucie, a Chihuahua, was just four months old, so there was a huge learning curve involved.

Small Dog, Big Adventures tells about the pair’s many adventures including a first trip to the veterinarian, finding a pet sitter, grooming, learning to use a leash, socializing a dog, traveling in an airplane, and more. Stroffolino’s life sure changed when she adopted a needy puppy!

Communicating the joys and sorrows of pet ownership, Small Dog, Big Adventures is a heartfelt story about one girl’s adventures, and misadventures with first-time pet ownership.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Mar 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483463667

Book preview

Small Dog, Big Adventures

Meet Lucie - My First Pet Ever!

Colette Stroffolino

Copyright © 2017 Colette Stroffolino.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6367-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6366-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016921511

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 02/09/2017

This book is dedicated to

all beloved pets who bring so much joy

and meaning to our lives.

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Contents

Introduction

1 Meeting Lucie

2 Adjusting

3 First Vet Visit

4 Where Should a Dog Sleep?

5 Kong to the Rescue

6 Should I Change Her Name?

7 Lucie Goes to Church

8 How NOT to Approach Lucie

9 Learning to Use a Leash

10 Teething

11 Finding a Pet Sitter

12 Lucie Makes a New Friend

13 Working Dog

14 Don’t Forget Water!

15 Escape Artist

16 How to Approach Lucie

17 Crate to the Rescue

18 Dogs Get Cold, Too

19 Lucie’s Date with Jessika

20 Grooming the Beast

21 Potty Training

22 Lucie Gets a Dog Door

23 Outside Destruction

24 My Little Light Chaser

25 Does a Dog Need Friends?

26 Lucie and Genghis

27 Lucie the Watchdog

28 Inside Destruction

29 Dogs Get Sick Sometimes

30 On Our Own Again

31 Eating Out with Lucie

32 Facing Fears

33 More Adventures with Lucie

34 Mornings with Lucie

35 Lucie’s First Airplane Ride

36 Visiting with Family

37 A Thanksgiving Visit

38 Lucie Meets a Baby

39 A Beautiful Day

40 Home Sweet Home

41 Where is Lucie?

42 Now What?

43 Do All Dogs Go to Heaven?

Epilogue

Afterword

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Contact me

Introduction

Saying yes to adopting my first dog and welcoming a little furry ball of love into my life was one of the best decisions I ever made. I learned so much about connection, unconditional love, responsibility, and joy from Lucie…as well as how to grieve. These lessons will serve me well the rest of my life.

The only thing that made me feel better after she passed away was writing down every memory I had of her. I didn’t want to forget a single bit! I never had a pet before and didn’t know it was possible to love one so much. That’s where this book comes in.

So who is this book for? It’s for anyone on the fence about getting a dog and what that venture might entail. It is for anyone who has known the joys and sorrows of pet ownership themselves and who would enjoy reliving their experiences through my own. And it is also for anyone who might just be curious about one girl’s adventures (and misadventures) with first-time pet ownership.

I sure had fun getting to know this little creature and I hope you enjoy her too!

1

Meeting Lucie

I first met Lucie on August 25 at a barbecue in Hollywood, California. She was Kristin’s dog. I used to babysit Kristin when she was little. Now she had her first apartment and a puppy!

The first thought I had when I met Lucie was, If I had a dog, I would want a dog like that.

Then, I watched her pee on the carpet.

Two weeks later she was mine.

Here’s what happened…

Kristin called me. She wanted to know if I would like to adopt Lucie. Her roommates had given her an ultimatum—the dog had to go.

Apparently, Lucie would cry and cry when Kristin was gone. Kristin was 19 years old and wanted to go out after work. Lucie was more responsibility than she could handle at the moment.

Kristin returned Lucie to the girl who had gifted the puppy to her in the first place. It’s generally not a good idea to give a live animal as a gift—as it is a huge commitment.

Two days later, the girl dumped little Lucie back at Kristin’s.

I don’t want her, she said. And she walked away.

Poor Lucie and poor, panicked Kristin!

I had never had a pet before and wasn’t looking for one. But Lucie sure was cute…

I decided to give it a try with the understanding that if being a dog owner was not for me, Kristin would take the dog back or help me find another home for her. Also, if I couldn’t find anyone to care for the dog during my upcoming vacation, which I had planned months before, she would watch her.

Kristin agreed.

I drove to Kristin’s house on the evening of September 8. It was a Sunday.

Kristin gave me the scoop. She showed me a gated area in her kitchen. This is where Lucie stays when I’m not here, she said. When I leave, Lucie cries and cries and somehow always finds her way into the garbage.

For a trash-picker, Lucie also had expensive taste! She had chewed on some of Kristin’s shoes (one from each pair!) as well as her favorite panties.

As Kristin gathered Lucie’s belongings, she told tales of how she would put Lucie in her purse and sneak her into as many places as she could. They took Hollywood buses all around town and even went to a few movies together. That is a lot of adventure for a four-month-old puppy!

Apparently she was very well-behaved in public; she just went crazy when left alone at home.

Kristin placed a squeaky blue sneaker and a soft chicken toy into a green dishpan with a white lambskin donut bed inside. As she packed her remaining dog food, she told me, Lucie loves Pollo Loco chicken, but it gives her the runs.

When I asked, Is Lucie potty trained? Kristin proudly informed me she had trained Lucie to pee on carpet remnants. She reasoned, We have hardwood floors and I noticed Lucie seemed to like peeing on the kitchen mats. I thought carpet samples would be more absorbent, and they were really inexpensive too!

I wondered how my white, wall-to-wall carpeting would fare.

Everything was packed. It was time to go.

Kristin hooked a pink leash onto Lucie’s rhinestone collar and put her in a little woven basket with a handle on top and a white lambskin blanket inside. It reminded me of Toto from The Wizard of Oz!

As we walked outside to my compact pickup truck, I started feeling anxious. I asked Kristin again, Do you promise you will take her back if it doesn’t work out?

Kristin assured me, Yes, I promise. I love Lucie. I wish I could keep her. It’s just too much responsibility for me right now.

What if I can’t do this? I said. I’m so scared. I have no experience with animals.

I think you are going to really like having her, Kristin said. Just let me know if you need anything.

Kristin gave Lucie a kiss and placed Lucie and her belongings inside my truck cab. I had a bench seat with a center armrest. I flipped up the armrest so Lucie and all of her belongings would fit.

Kristin hugged me and said, Thanks again—and you’ll be fine.

I climbed into my truck, and Kristin waved from the sidewalk as we slowly drove away.

Lucie pawed frantically at the passenger window, crying loudly for Kristin.

I was nervous driving with a live animal riding next to me—and she was unrestrained!

Lucie wouldn’t even sit in her basket. She stood on her hind legs with her front paws pressed against the passenger door, looking for Kristin out the window. She was also making soft whimpering sounds. It was so sad—and dangerous! I knew if I stopped suddenly or got in an accident, she would get hurt.

I didn’t know what to do, so I drove extra carefully.

After we made it home, I carried Lucie inside and placed her on the sofa. When I sat down next to her, she walked to the opposite end of the sofa and sat there.

As we looked at each other, questions raced through my mind. What had I done? Was this a mistake? What does a dog need? Will I like having a dog? How do you train a puppy? Will Lucie like me?

I was scared.

We were both scared.

Lucie decided I was OK first. She walked back across the sofa, sat down next to me, curled into a little ball and went to sleep.

She looked so cute snuggled next to me. She was so tiny! I reached out and pet her. She was so soft and warm…I finally started to relax.

But I couldn’t sleep.

I was awake the whole night. I kept thinking, What if she pees? I got up and took her to the front yard at least five times that night, hoping she would go there instead of on my sofa or carpet!

I was overwhelmed.

What had I done? And—why was I so itchy?

The dog had fleas!

Apparently flea bites itch even more than mosquito bites. Lucie and I were both uncomfortable, scratching like crazy.

Oh Lucie, this is awful! I said. We’ll deal with these fleas on Thursday, when I have off. But today, I have to go to work. I looked at the clock. I better get ready, or I’ll be late!

I hopped in the shower. When I stepped out, Lucie was waiting. She eagerly started licking water off my toes. It was funny and gross at the same time.

I felt terrible leaving Lucie alone in the house. When I closed the door, she cried and cried. It was so pitiful. She was frantic and loud.

I had no choice. I left anyway.

2

Adjusting

When I came home, Lucie was out-of-control excited. She was clamoring at my feet and wiggling so much I couldn’t even pick her up. What a greeting!

I also noticed she had not eaten.

I threw the chicken toy for her. She chased after it and—oh no!—pee dribbled out of her all over my white carpet. I took her outside for a bit. Once she calmed down and I was sure her bladder was empty, we went back inside.

Lucie would not eat. She had not eaten a thing since I’d taken her home. I led her over to her food bowl and held some kibble out to her in my hand, but she refused to eat.

Well, she sure likes chasing her toys, I thought. I had an idea! I threw a piece of kibble across the room.

She chased after it and ate it!

OK, I see what she likes. I threw another and another. Apparently eating had to be a game for her!

Hmmm, I wonder what else she needs…

Since caring for a puppy was new to me, I drove to Petco to get some supplies. After skimming through a book called How to Care for Your Chihuahua, I gathered chewing toys, treats, and a bin with dog litter.

Crate training also sounded like a good idea, given Lucie’s distress at being left alone, so I picked out a green crate that looked similar to a toolbox. The Kong toy sounded fun and seemed to be a good idea for teething as well. It’s a red, rubber toy that looks like a beehive and the inside is hollow so it can be