You’ll see in this previous post about getting a dog that we messed that up. One of the reasons we failed in this situation is because we didn’t allow for flexibility. So, to try again, we recently attempted to foster a dog as a possible path to adoption. First we followed all of the guidelines in this post, especially with respect to the size of the dog. However, the most important thing that we did is we asked for a 5-day trial with the dog AND we told you we were doing a 5-day trial and most likely NOT keeping the dog more than a few weeks until it found a permanent home.
Well, the dog lasted 24 hours until it bit one of you in the face (you were okay), and we sent him (Otter) back. He was a cute tripod (three-legged) dog rescued from Puerto Rico. See photo below.
The point is, this time around we built in flexibility. Any time you can avoid a long-term committal or give yourself time to try something out, DO IT! Here are some simple examples that will help to cement this lesson:
- Before buying an ice cream cone with a flavor you’ve never had before, ask to taste a small sample.
- Prior to investing in an in-ground pool, buy a cheap inflatable pool to see if you/your kids like to swim regularly and are open to maintaining the pool.
- Before purchasing a car ask to test drive it or even keep it for a weekend. Consider even renting a similar car for one week.
- Paint a small area of a wall with a color you like (and let it dry) before deciding on the color and buying a full gallon of the paint.
- Consider renting a home in a neighborhood before buying and settling down there.
I just spoke to someone who purchased a small poodle for their oldest daughter. The poodle is 8 weeks old. They purchased it because their daughter was bored during the current pandemic. For the first week or so, the daughter was happy, but then she realized how much work the dog was and now she doesn’t want it anymore. Now they are stuck with the dog. What if she took it for a one week as a trial?
Lesson learned the hard way.
Always build flexibility into your life.
Love,
Dad
P.S. Here is Otter…
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