Dog hair

My previous dog, Sadie, was quite a shedder.  I was always telling people, "The next dog I get isn't going to shed this much."    

Then Sadie died; I immediately went looking for another dog, and the last thought on my mind was dog hair.  I just wanted to fill the empty space left by Sadie.  Enter Iris.  

Iris sheds twice as much as Sadie did, I swear.  You can sweep up a cupful of hair in the kitchen twice a day, and my kitchen is tiny.  

Being a person who tries to look on the bright side, I started telling people recently, "At least she doesn't shake herself all the time like Sadie did, and send hair flying up into the air and onto furniture and stuff."  

Now, after six months of no shaking, it's as if she heard me and decided to make me out a liar.  She shakes herself all. the. time.  

Iris is also one of those dogs who has a tendency to smell "doggy".  I can bathe her, but in a day or two she's back to stinking.  I put one of those plug-in perfume-y things here in the computer room, since this is where Iris spends a lot of her time.  I'm not sure I wouldn't rather smell the dog.  

Looking on the bright side, at least she doesn't pass gas.  

Oops, I shouldn't have said that.  

No way can I make her an outside dog; she's spent her life inside.  It's what she expects.  

Am I sorry I have her?  Oh no; she's a lot of fun.  She makes me laugh.  I like her.  

Will I think about what I'm doing, next time I'm looking for a dog?  I hope so.  But if I'm in the throes of grief, who knows what I'll do.