16. Pets Simplified

The second year into our simplicity program Gibbs brought home a little Shih Tzu puppy. Though we have two very low maintenance cats, neither of us had ever had a dog before. We didn’t have a clue what we were in for.

One evening at the end of the first week, we sat and watched in amazement as Piper ran around chewing on everything in sight, messing up the carpet, terrorizing the cats, and generally creating havoc in our peaceful home. Gibbs looked at me and said, “Maybe we overdid the simplicity bit.” Had our lives gotten so simple that we had to bring in this little ball of fur to stir things up?

Well, perhaps. But what it came down to is that we’d finally simplified our lives enough so we could enjoy the pleasures, and put up with the hassles, of owning a dog, something we’d never had time to do before.

Pets won’t simplify your life, but there are things you can do to make pet ownership easier:

1. Unless you love pet grooming, stick with short-haired pets. Even with short-haired animals, take a few minutes each day to brush your cat or dog; this reduces the amount of hair that ends up in your carpet, or as fur balls on the hardwood floor.

2. If at all possible, keep your pets indoors. Obviously, this is easier with small dogs than with large ones. But indoor pets are much less likely to get into fights with other animals (requiring expensive and time-consuming trips to the vet), and the chance of them being hit by a car (which can be not only expensive but fatal) is greatly reduced. Also, indoor pets have fewer problems with fleas.

3. If your pets do have fleas, the best method for getting rid of them (both in the house and on your pets) is Flea Busters (1-800-767-FLEA). This is an environmentally safe, simple, nontoxic method guaranteed to rid your house and your pets of fleas for up to one year. Most pet stores offer a product similar to that used by Flea Busters that you can use yourself at considerable savings.

4. Take the time to train your dog. Whether you have a new puppy or an older dog, all dogs can be trained to obey basic commands such as COME, SIT, STAY, HEEL, QUIET, and STOP CHEWING ON THAT TABLE LEG! Contrary to what many veterinarians will tell you, puppies can start basic training at three months (and house training should start the minute you bring them home). Call your local Humane Society for information on training classes in your community.

A well-trained dog, while not simple, can be a true joy to have in your life. Because of Piper, we make absolutely certain that we take our brisk walk every day (#63). And, taking her out at first light in the morning and the last thing at night has brought us in closer touch with nature. We now regularly see many phases of the moon and stars that we hadn’t seen before, and the quiet sights and sounds and smells of dawn and night are special gifts that we’ve come to enjoy every day of the year.