My Controlling Male

My life is controlled by a male, who if he doesn't get his own way will make my life a misery until he does; he controls my stress levels and even how much sleep I have, when he wakes, I wake, when he is sleeping, I can completely relax (well almost).  Just to be clear, I'm not talking about my husband Nath, I am talking about my 13 month old (I totally acknowledge that I just did that irritating Mum thing, were I say my baby's age in months and not years) dog Eric.  Eric is a Boxer, a breed renown for being stubborn, the class clown and with one of the longest puppy stages in the dog world (research suggests he'll be an adult when he turns 2).

As I write this I am on the dog couch (yes it's Eric's own couch) with him snoozing away contently on me, the radio is at a level to not disturb him and I am absolutely busting for a pee, due to his head resting on my bladder. Will I move, no of course not, I could end up disturbing him and he's all snuggy.

Nath came home from working away last night, which meant that Eric didn't have his normal amount of space in the bed; I woke up this morning with Eric in the middle of us, his back to Nath and his legs stretched right out. Nath didn't get much sleep, as he was precariously balancing on the edge of the bed, it would seem Eric had his back to Nath in the attempt to shove him out of the bed completely! Of course Nath could have moved Eric, or even made him go sleep on his own bed but no he didn't want to disturb him!!

As Nath is one of those irritating cheery morning people, who can just jump out of bed at daft o'clock and be happy (I have tried this but then look in the mirror and tell myself to fuck off being so cheery first thing), he gets up when Eric does to let him out and give him breakfast but with me it's another story. When it's just Eric and I and it's around 0600 hrs Eric will start staring and I will be on full alert, my whole body tenses mentally begging him to go back to sleep for another hour....ok hour and a half. Sometimes Eric will go back to sleep but a lot of time he jumps off the bed, which I still ignore, willing him to go on his bed but then I hear the click clack of his paws on the tiles in the kitchen, throw a bed tantrum (you know the type) then get up and make sure he has what he wants!

Eric is cool though and is a great protector, he makes sure that the postman and everyone (including small children) know to not even think about coming into our house by barking mentally at them through the living room all day......yep all friggin day.

Despite the lack of sleep and Eric not getting weekends, I wouldn't be without the big handsome lump, who makes me laugh daily!

Is that a Squirrel?!