Let sleeping dogs lie

November 3, 2013 by The Minnesota Farm Woman

We have almost always had a dog in the family, and those dogs have always been big, lovable drooling animals who knew their place in the house, which was usually NOT in the house. When we moved to Minnesota, we were dogless, lonely empty-nesters. Knowing that we wanted to do a little weekend travelling, we wanted something in a size small that we could easily take with us, so along came Barney the Chihuahua, also known as The Minnesota Farm Dog. He was a shivering and timid bug-eyed little puppy, and we named him after one of our favorite shivering and timid bug-eyed TV characters, Barney Fife. The first night he stayed with us, he burrowed his way under the covers and made himself at home, entwined in my legs. We figured we would let him sleep under the covers since it was February and the house got chilly at night, and Chihuahuas like to be warm and cozy. A habit was formed, and now, six years later, it would be easier if Deputy Fife himself was sharing our bed. Whoever came up with the old adage “let sleeping dogs lie” must have never shared his bed with a dog. If my legs aren’t just right, Barney scratches me gently with his paw until I move them just the way he wants them. If the frogs croak, the coyotes howl, the owls hoot, or the wind blows, he crawls from beneath the covers, using my body as a guide, to growl and bark at the offending noise. If HE is gone overnight, Barney sits at attention at the edge of the bed most of the night, ready to fight any battles I might need him to. As small as he is, Barney manages to push me to the very edge of the bed every night, taking up my warm spot and making it his own. He snores. He buries his treats in our bed, and knows exactly how many there are, because we have more than once had to turn on the lights to find it or put up with him scratching and sniffing all over the bed half the night. The other morning, after a strange but realistic dream about barbecued ribs and coleslaw, I woke up face-to-face with a chewie, half of a smoked pig ear, and a Milk Bone dog biscuit. Barney had lined them up on my pillow, trusting that I would protect his treasures just as he protects me. (Don’t think I haven’t wondered who ate the first half of that smoked pig ear!) Dogs are like that. Uncomplicated. Loyal. Loving. Although I don’t particularly like to have my feet licked every night before I go to sleep, I do know that my bed and my life would be pretty cold without him.

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on November 3, 2013 at 6:06 pm | Reply deb quaal nelson

Oh, my, you have my husband and I howling! Love the BBQ dream turning into Barney reality. Thanks for the belly laugh!

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- on November 3, 2013 at 7:08 pm | Reply The Minnesota Farm Woman
  
  You’re welcome!
  
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on November 3, 2013 at 6:44 pm | Reply Theresa W

Aren’t they though?!!! I had a Shitzer, half shih tzu, half schnauzer. The biggest cuddle puppy on earth and you’re right. How could we let them not climb in bed on a cold Minnesota night? Of course the Border Collie/Greyhound takes up more room but hey, that’s why we have a King bed…

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- on November 3, 2013 at 7:09 pm | Reply The Minnesota Farm Woman
  
  Hahaha!
  
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on November 3, 2013 at 6:49 pm | Reply Sonia Kolu Larsen

Love this. Reminds me of our dog.

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- on November 3, 2013 at 7:08 pm | Reply The Minnesota Farm Woman
  
  Thank you!
  
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on November 3, 2013 at 10:20 pm | Reply Suzette

LOL! We also decided to fill our empty nest house with a dog but somehow I let Him talk me into a HUGE german shep/mix. He takes up half the living room and looks like a small deer when he’s in the yard “making his daily rounds”. Makes me feel a little better now when I see that even little dogs can rule the roost, too. haha. The good thing is our dog is NOT a barker. That would scare the daylights out of me if he were to bark at everything you mentioned in the night! Thankfully he’s a mellow fellow.

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- on November 4, 2013 at 4:30 am | Reply The Minnesota Farm Woman
  
  Thank goodness! Thanks for reading, and for commenting. Chris
  
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on November 4, 2013 at 5:36 am | Reply Emma Ann Weatherly

We’ve nearly always had a dog – in fact, for all but 4 of almost-now-40 years of marriage we’ve had at least one, and they’ve always let it be known we were welcome to share their bed. At one point, we had three dogs, and sleeping was a challenge – for us, not them. I’m not sure I’d know how to go to sleep at night without my sweet Anna cuddled on my feet, but I’ll have to tell her that your Barney brings you treats in bed… 🙂 Thanks for the smiles, as always!

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on November 4, 2013 at 12:19 pm | Reply Emy Q

Oh my gosh, that one is so cute, and soooo true, I have always spoiled my dogs and now cats to the hilt, will do just anything for and with them, but they are also sooooooo worth it for the love we get in return–love your articles

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- on November 4, 2013 at 7:04 pm | Reply The Minnesota Farm Woman
  
  Thank you!
  
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on November 5, 2013 at 8:15 pm | Reply Veletta

Loved reading this. Our yellow lab Sara Lee, sleeps with us and yes it is exactly as you describe 🙂

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- on November 6, 2013 at 7:07 am | Reply The Minnesota Farm Woman
  
  Sara Lee…love that name. Thanks for reading!
  
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