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| This is Chloe. She likes garbage. |
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| This is Pascal. He thinks he’s innocent. |
I have two dogs, Chloe and Pascal.
Chloe is about 20 months old. She’s a year older than her little brother. They’re both adorable, fun-loving, sweet-as-can-be golden retriever puppies.
And they are obsessed with the trash.
We recently bought a new garbage can that we thought would better contain the garbage, since they can’t seem to stay away from it. Our old can didn’t have a lid and it was just too much of a temptation. We’d have to put it up on the counter every time we left the dogs alone downstairs.
Much to my annoyance, they found a way into the new garbage can.
I’m sick of coming home to find pieces of torn plastic or napkins or food scattered on the floor, on my couch, all over the backyard. Sometimes, the garbage is really gross. Like when my friend and her baby lived with us and they got a diaper. Yeah. Blech.
But to Chloe and Pascal, the garbage is exciting. Intoxicating. They can’t get enough of it, even when it makes them sick. Doesn’t matter. They go back for seconds the next day (if we forget to put the garbage can away again).
I just don’t understand it. I mean, we feed them great, high-quality puppy food and give them fresh water every day.
Now’s where I get spiritual. Yes, about dogs.
Though not so much about dogs, but about what I learn about myself through them.
Because I’ve been the dog. I’ve gone for the garbage. It looked enticing. I didn’t care that it made me sick because I wanted it and it was there and I HAD TO HAVE IT!!!
Even though God has given me amazing food, sometimes, it isn’t enough for me. It looks boring. My appetite isn’t sated. The thrill of what could be in the garbage makes me take the risk without even knowing it.
It’s not until I step back and consider my actions that I realize I’m eating…um, yucky stuff–and that I don’t like it.
My dogs may never learn not to eat the trash, but I’m praying it’s not the same with me. I know God has so much more for me, and I want to have exquisite taste that doesn’t falter at the sight of something shiny.
Your Turn: Any practical tips for keeping dogs–and ourselves–away from the trash?
Haha, seeing your doggie pics made me miss hanging out with you. I now associate your dogs with hanging out at your house. 🙂
As for staying away from the trash…accountability, for sure. But also, simply not taking those very first steps toward the trash. Because after the first step, the second is crazy easy.
Loved this post, Linz!
I miss you and so do the pups!! And yes, accountability is one of the best defenses against being tempted to go toward the trash. And love what you said about first steps. Makes me think of that Casting Crowns song "Slow Fade."
My mom has a little poodle mix and she was also obsessed with the garbage… The bathroom garbage, to be exact, and my mom would often find used feminine hygiene products in odd places around her house. Isn't that disgusting?!?! And, I might be a little disgusting for sharing that information, too. 🙂 Our dog is very submissive by nature and we haven't had too many problems with her getting into the garbage since she's not a puppy anymore. I don't know if I have any advice, but I love the analogy here. How often do we choose garbage, even though God is feeding us good quality food? Something to ponder, for sure. Good luck with those puppies! I'm telling you, kids are not much different than puppies! One of our boys went potty in the middle of the living room the other day…
Haha, oh my!! I'm afraid to ask #1 or #2…
Okay, A. I'm in love with your pups. B. I don't have any advice.
They sure are cute acting all innocent like that. 😉
Cute, yes…but oh so devious and smart!!
WE had a chocolate lab who LOVED coffee grinds. He'd empty the garbage all over the floor until he found the used filter, then lick that til he was jacked up and psycho.
If your kitchen has a closet or pantry that closes, stick the garbage can in there. We've done that for years.
Yeah, our pantry door comes too close to the shelves to make that a solution…grrr.
Sorry about the messes. Sounds to me like it's time to put the trash can under the sink and install a childproof latch.
We have considered that option, but you just can't fit very much into those small cans. But it may come to that…
Our collie/Saint Bernard could work the childproof latches!!
My advise: don't fear trash food until and after you fear spiritual trash. A grateful heart covers a multitude of saturated fats, white sugar, gluten or what ever the latest or next food bogeyman will be, but choosing trash like self-centeredness, envy, etc. over our Savior and other souls will always make us weak.
Soooo true, Brett. Spiritual trash can destroy lives.
Ha! Loved this post. Yup, doggies are great–mine killed a possum last night and we awoke to a bloody mess on the back porch…STILL, she was just doing her job, right?
And returning to our private trash piles? Yup, been there, done that too many times. Even if it's just self-defeating and trashing thoughts, like "I'm never going to succeed at this." We have to keep refreshing and REBOOTING our minds w/the Bible.
Fun post!
A possum? Oh my…I'm kind of glad all I've had to deal with is a diaper!!
Dogs, God, and faith … you are a writer, Lindsay, when you can weave all of those together.
:0)
Aw, thanks, Beth. You're always so encouraging, friend!
No advice….fortunately I didn't have that problem with my Goldens. But, I've always had a trash can with a heavy lid. Unfortunately your dogs have already acquired a taste for it! lol
We used to have a cat who'd dig through the trash too. She went nuts every time I made turkey bacon in the microwave and couldn't fight the urge to pull the paper towels I used out of the trash. As annoying as it was sometimes, it was also quite hilarious to see the lengths she'd go to.