Tales from the Far Side of Mars

Currently there are 2 dogs in my house - one a failed foster named Ella, a sweet, timid Australian Shepherd mix. The other a foster - a beautiful chocolate brown Pittie - an older gentleman, but definately with a playful side & very loving. Oh yes - his name is Mars. (after the chocolate candy bar)

Although a stormy night would have been ok with me, the dogs did not appreciate it at all. I'm trying to remember all the events between 9 p.m. and 3:30 a.m.

1)Huge mistake - got mad at hubby & bro-in-law for totally ignoring me when I came in, so back in my room, when Mars acted like he wanted up on the bed, I just let him. (Shoot me) So he wouldn't stay off it the rest of the night. (Hubby's rule you see - no dogs, especially big ones, on the bed - he has his reasons as you will see)

2)Got Mars settled on a pillow by the bed, but then Ellabelle got all ruffled because of the storm & wanted to come to me by the bed, but Mars was there. So she sat & stared at me, shaking at times. I tried to comfort her to no avail.

3)I turned off the lights once & both dogs were right there nuzzling me by the bed, so I turned the light back on to see what the heck.

4)I got up SEVERAL times for different things - gave them a bone - turned off computers because of the extravagant light show nature was putting on - thought of trying the couch so Mars could be close to me, as he was still trying to join me in the bed. At one point was in the backyard with an umbrella coaxing the dogs to come out & pee - they thought I was an idiot, but they came out for a minute to try & please me, but never peed & then turned tail & went back in. Oh yes - & all this was AFTER I'd taken half an Ambien. lol

5)Oh yeah - gave both the dogs Benadryl - well for Mars it was his prescription antihistamine, & Ella the Benadryl. So then - Ella was still sitting there staring at me, but her eyes kept drooping & once she almost fell over - lol. Got her to lay down on her bed once, but only for a short time.

5)FINALLY, Mars was being so pushy about it, I gave up & decided if I was EVER going to get any sleep I'd let Mars up onto my side of the bed & he wouldn't bother Eric & we could all sleep. ERROR. He did EXACTLY what Eric had always told me a big dog would do. He got up there & literally PUSHED me over to the middle & took MY spot. Head on my pillow etc & I was smashed up behind his back. And that is how I fell asleep. I faded in a couple of times & that dog never moved the next 3 hours. About 6 something I woke up to pee & had had enough - I shoved him off the bed & told him it was over buddy.

Now I feel like I'm the one who had Benadryl - lol. But obviously, it's time for me to get more authoritative with him - lol. It's kind of like with my son - he was always such a good boy that we may have been too easy on him & now he's a bit flaky. Well Mr Mars is such a sweety-pie that everything he does is cute. But I can't let him "boss me around" either, He needs a loving and yet strong pack leader. We'll see. lol Not going to change that much but intend to have some boundaries. I went to the bathroom this morning & shut the door in his face - lol. Boundaries - haha.,