ruby the cow colored dog

home is where the heart is. and in our case, where the spaniel is also.

Ruby, living her best life. 

Ruby is our “party “colored (we did not make that up, it’s an actual thing) American Cocker Spaniel. She is dairy cow colored and has oversized feet and an undersized brain. She is fluffy and her breath smells like 1000 bums (we actually use a more colorful descriptor that starts with a and ends with holes) and one dead fish. Her pet name, said with great affection, is “Stinkus”. And it applies. When she comes home from the dog salon, her scent is improved from greasy mongrel to “eau de grandma’s underwear drawer". By grandma’s underwear drawer, we mean powdery and old-ladyish. I have no idea why our excellent groomer uses shampoo with that distinctly not awesome smell. Why not lavender or eucalyptus or mint or roses (which also smells like grandma but in a pleasant way). Additionally, Ruby is not smart (see: aforementioned undersized brain). Nor is she is obedient. My son Sampson taught her to jump up on people when they come in the house which is not at all cute but is definitely ingrained now. We can never let her off leash because she is suicidal. By that I mean, she pulls on the leash to position herself into oncoming traffic and she does not come when you call her name. There was a time when I thought she might be deaf but weirdly, she would perk up to the word “treat”. Ruby is not a good dog. But she is our dog and we love her very much.

Ruby used to be much more aloof but with age, she’s six and half now, she is changing. She’ll now routinely climb directly onto our laps or wriggle between us on the sofa to get her fair share of loving. The other day we couldn’t find her in any of her usual lounging locations but on second look, she was curled in a ball behind the rainbow throw pillows and snuggled deeply into MY pillow, like a cat and infusing said pillow with her distinct kind of spaniel b.o. A couple of nights ago, I was startled awake by her jumping onto and then standing on my back; two enormous fluffy paws planted on my bum. Then she planted herself in between us like it was her birthright as if this is just what we do. This is NOT what we do. She has never been allowed to sleep in between us. Ever. Wth?

Suicidal Spaniel: Exhibit A

What does this have to do with interior design? Nothing and everything. I talk all the live long day about Delight Driven Design. This goes beyond the look. This means how our spaces feel and there are so many tangible and intangible things that go into that. Like acoustics, lighting, temperature, scent and touch. Like pets. We have them for the love. They bring us delight. Even though their muddy foot prints may cause us to purchase dirt colored upholstery and dark eucalyptus flooring, it is worth it! Unless you’re my mom who would vehemently disagree. Her cocker spaniel Bif (our buff colored childhood pet) never went on the furniture! There is always that option:)

Embarrassing yet hilarious pictures of my 1980's family with Bif. He was named from the selection of names in "The Preppy Handbook". Yep we were those people.

How many babies is too many?

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