My Perfect Dog Attracts Burrs

My dog is great. She's an SPCA pooch that absolutely could not be a better animal. A few months ago I saw a dog in the paper from the SPCA, "Lucky". Cute guy, perky ears, good description, great name. So I made my co-worker Emily stop down the hill with me so we could visit Lucky in person. Turns out, I wasn't the only person to ask about Lucky; he was gone. Good for Lucky! But now I was there and so I had to check the other pooches out too. I am always bummed when I go in the kennels because of all those sad eyes and pleading barks. I would take all of them home if I could, but I know myself enough to know that despite my heart wanting to take all of them, I can only handle just one good one. And I need more information than just "sad-eyed stray there for 4 months". I have gotten other dogs from the pound, so I also know enough to ask the volunteers and staff which dogs would be suitable for a family such as mine. We have 5 kids and not much time to train. So puppies and Pit Bulls are out (nothing against Pit Bulls, I know many of them make spectacular pets, just not for us).

The staff pointed in the direction of a shaggy, quiet black dog named Erica. So I took Erica out, and long story short, she was sweet and quiet and walked like a proper young lady on a leash. The next day, after a short discussion with my firefighter about the virtues of having a dog, we brought all the kids in to meet Erica- done deal, she came home with us. After two months, Erica is still wonderful. She is house trained, walks well on the leash and off, doesn't get into the trash, doesn't jump on people or furniture unless you invite her...doesn't even bark much. Maybe a few times since we've had her. I keep thinking there has to be SOMETHING wrong with her.

OK, maybe one something. Burrs. You know, those prickly brown things that some plants make that hitch a ride on furry creatures to help spread their seeds? My dog is a burr magnet. She can walk down a city block and come home with burrs. And they aren't fun to get out. Why does she get so many burrs? Maybe she has some agreement with the plants to help them reproduce? Alright, probably not. Maybe she gets them on purpose so she can roll over on her back and be groomed for hours and inevitably belly-rubbed? More likely. But it's ok, she's worth every burr I've had to tackle.