A dog here?

Truth be told, I grew up with a dog, along with various other animals, and I always felt a dog would be a good idea.

Mostly what held me back was the expense (that and talking my husband into one).  When it comes right down to it, I don't feel families that are generally broke (which we are) should be spending extra money on a pet.  A pet is something to be coddled, and cared for - with no return.

A guard dog, or something with a job to do, I could understand, but why would I use money that rightly should go to bills to feed a dog?

Plus there is the work involved, extra walks, responsibility when taking trips, dog hair?  

Not to mention this is a small house, where would we put dog stuff, where would the dog sleep?  How would a poor dog manage with so many children dashing in and out at all times?  Would any dog be patient enough to manage being tripped over?

And so with plenty of reason, not to get a dog, we didn't.

Until someone said they can be free - and yes patient enough to be tripped over.  I now have sleeping beside me a cute little, unknown breed of dog.

He was free, rescued recently and in need of a foster home.  He even came with food, dishes, crate, and all the trimmings.  

What he did not come with is an instruction manual. to dog lovers the basics of caring for a dog, are just that, basic and simple.  To us they are half forgotten hints dropped by friends and family over the years.

So far it has been a true learning experience for all.  And so far, we haven't managed to housebreak him.  How often can one tiny dog go anyways!

What absolutly amazes me is how patient he is with the children.  He will sit down and be 'petted' with little hands that are still learning what a dog likes (and what he doesn't like).  he will back up if Little One or Baby Girl come near because he has learned they are afraid of him.  But on the other hand if I sit down with them he will patiently let her try to pet him.  Even when the kids touch his face (far to close to the eyes for my comfort) he mostly just sits there!

Sometimes he gets excited and starts to bounce around, but if you are calm and stand up he settles back down.  Seems he hasn't quite got the puppy exuberance out of him yet.

I have walked him a few times and he manages to keep pace a smidgen ahead of exact 'heel' but rather good, and mostly going straight. (no I wont stop and smell the roses every 5 feet when I walk!) He is afraid of a giant pile of wood in the dark (ignored it in the daylight) and wants to stop and greet folk (with an expression that suggests he wants to know if they are safe), but in general east to walk.

The only trouble (aside from housebreaking him) is a tendency to bark at strangers in the house.  We had a friend over, and the dog wouldn't shush up till Princess took him outside.  He was eventually willing to come in quiet, but only after Princess spent a good 10 minutes calming him.  On the other hand while walking he greeted several neighbors with no complaint (just wouldn't walk past them until after he sniffed them out)

The first night he woke us all up with a loud deep bark.  I have no idea what he thought he was protecting us from, but apparently the bark did the trick.  I was rather surprised that such a little thing could produce such a deep bark!

Not exactly our own dog, but one we can learn on, and help out for a time.  

So anyone want to adopt a lovable, small, -soon to be housebroken -mutt?