It takes a village to spoil a dog

Cute but bratty

When we first got Bailey, the vet suggested sending her to daycare in order to socialize her. Bailey had been in the pound for a long time and she was very shy around people.

So off to daycare Bailey went with a doggie bag of toys, snacks and lunch. To be honest, she seemed a bit relieved to be dropped off every day once she got over the traumatic experience that continues to be the car ride. She was back among the canines and away from the strange people who took her from her home.

At some point, though, things changed. Bailey became a people dog. She didn't like most other dogs. She still liked going to daycare but only because she liked the daycare workers. She'd bestow kisses on them each morning before being taken to her solo quarters for a day of napping.

I consulted the vet who suggested a behavior specialist. I called the behavior specialist, got the hourly rate and decided Bailey was just going to be a people dog.

Mr. G. was devastated. No more taking Bailey to the dog park to romp with the other dogs. No more taking Bailey to daycare to romp with the other dogs. No more taking Bailey on walks and inviting people back to our house with their dogs to romp in the back yard (although, really, I told him that other people thought that was weird and were pegging him a serial killer; so few people took him up on that offer).

A few days ago, Bailey snapped at her visiting dog cousin in front of my sweet neighbor who has showered Bailey with T-bone scraps since she arrived in the neighborhood. My neighbor apparently thinks I've been beside myself ever since about my obviously poor parenting skills.

The neighbor called yesterday to console me.

Neighbor: Well, Bailey's just a little bit spoiled.

Me: Yes, she is.

Neighbor: And I've helped spoil her so don't just blame yourself.

Me: OK, I won't.

And I don't. I blame Mr. G.