“LARRY THE LOSER”
We have two dogs. Larry and Lola. Larry is older than Lola, he’s a little over six years old and Lola is a couple of years younger.
By the way, it wasn’t my idea to get either of the dogs. I nicknamed Larry, “Larry The Loser,” right after we got him. It was an easy call because he started doing bad things right away.
Let me give you a little background info for our story and on our cast of characters. I’m not an animal hater, the truth is I like animals. I still miss our old cat named “Box,” he died when Lar (pronounced Lair) was around one and a half.
The reason I didn’t want the dogs was the same both times. I didn’t want to clean up after them. All three of our girls gave the emotional pitch for the dogs, especially the first one, Lar. I got the perfect parent snow job. “We promise to clean up after him, and feed and water him everyday”! “You guys won’t have to do anything”! “You promised we’d get another animal”! etc, etc, etc…
Guess who cleans up the backyard smellies? You guessed it, me… McKenzie and Ali are gone off to college, but it wasn’t much different when they weren’t. Gurm picked up some bad habits from her sisters and struggles with the coordination of holding the shovel in one hand and the collapsing plastic bag in the other.
Lar is a good natured dog. He’s friendly and loves people. He’s also smart as a whip and although difficult to admit, has a better personality than me. One of his favorite past times is to entertain. He loves guests and likes to sport his black bow-tie for the occasions. He might be a tad conceited, but he knows he looks good with his “slick duds” on.
Lar has it all, personality, good looks and charm. He can shake, roll over and dance. In fact, it might be possible for Lar to learn anything, due to his addiction to “jerky treats.”
Lar has one big flaw, he’s male and he likes to mark his territory. It doesn’t matter where to him… He wants it all… I’m OK if he thinks he owns the outside, but he and I have come to a complete disagreement about the inside of the house.
He won’t pee in the house when any of us are around. No, he’s pretty sneaky as well. He’ll wait until no one is in sight to declare the couch, chairs or drapes his new conquered territory.
Lar knows he’s not supposed to pee in the house, but he does it anyway. He’s got a lot of talents, but playing poker isn’t one of them. He gives himself away. He puts his tail between his legs, licks his lips and turns his head from side to side looking longingly for the backyard.
Lar doesn’t look so proud these days. He doesn’t strut around like he used to when he didn’t have to wear a diaper. Once the diaper is installed Lar hangs his head and heads straight for his basket.
Lar is my little buddy, we are friends after all. I don’t know if I’d call him my best friend, but we’re pretty tight. We’re a lot alike Lar and me. We’re both stubborn and strong willed, but I have an advantage over Lar… I have thumbs!
I wonder what kind of diaper or control God will place on me for my stubborn and sometimes willful disobedience? I know the rules my Master has for me to live my life by, but sometimes like Lar, I just want to get my way regardless of what my Master wants.
I know that when I screw up and go my own way pleasing myself my Master will still feed and water me. He’ll still provide protection and provision. I know that despite my disobedience He’ll still give me treats occasionally whether I deserve them or not.
All this love and forgiveness from my heavenly Father and I’m not near as cute as my little buddy “Larry The Loser”!
NOTE* (If you care to see Lar, he’s in a video my wife shot for a contest that she won. Go to youtube and type in “larry the loser.” My youngest daughter has a small cameo appearance in the video as well.)
Stefani laub
Wednesday, September 8, 2010 @ 12:08 am
Okay first of all you and Larry are best friends! You just don’t show it but I have seen you two together bonding! Me and lar go way back and I just LOVE hanging out with him so much. I mean he is a loser just like you, but it takes one to know one, right?:)
patty
Wednesday, September 8, 2010 @ 6:39 pm
Floyd,
You have done it again! I love the story about your Larry your buddy the dog! I’m going to go on you tube to see Larry the loser
I know I will love it! I love animals, I have a little pick name Bailey and he is the boss! He thinks!
Guess who Patty
Chelsea Jones
Monday, September 13, 2010 @ 8:41 pm
Hey Floyd!
Glad to hear something about Larry, he is truly awesome, even if he does have to wear the diaper…
My boyfriend and I recently got a dog ourselves, we have had her about a month now and her name is Scout. Last weekend we were sitting in a little traffic in Flagstaff, ready to take Scout on her first overnight camping trip. All of the sudden I heard screeching breaks and then there was impact, we got rear ended (HARD) by a drunk driver. Scout ended up on the floor and quickly jumped back in my arms, she was shaken, I had some whiplash, but my boyfriend was all right for the most part. As I tried to talk to police officers and paramedics Scout growled with all the ferocity that a 17 pound dog can muster, protecting me even after such a scary event for her.
Dogs take care of you more than you know, even if they have to pee on a few couches in the process…
As far as I go, please don’t worry, physical therapy, swimming and a pain killer when my back really hurts, will get me better in no time! 😉
Helen
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @ 7:34 am
I suppose we are also guilty of marking things as our territory that really aren’t. Great insights.
Floyd
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @ 10:28 am
That is a great point that I hadn’t even considered! Wow! So true. We live our lives marking all the things that belong to God as ours, “that really aren’t.” Talk about insights! Thanks for that perspective Helen.
HisFireFly
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @ 12:05 pm
Wondering right along with you — how rebellious are we?
Just as you would prefer not having to put Lar in the diaper, I believe that God would prefer us to control ourselves instead of needing His hand of correction.
Floyd
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 @ 3:25 pm
I couldn’t agree more, that’s a tough reality to realize in God’s economy that our animals, or at least mine some times does a little better than me. The sad part is the dog just has instinct, I have the Creator of the cosmos in me. A little scary. Thanks for the pointed observation.
Hazel
Thursday, June 30, 2011 @ 11:56 pm
Diaper control, now I had not thought of that one. We watch our dogs when they are in the house, but they forget and “Did you do this?” brings shame and repentence for a while. Loved your dog story!
Floyd
Friday, July 1, 2011 @ 8:22 am
Thanks Hazel. Loved your “Benefit of the doubt” post. Still nursing the wounds from the “heaping coals” on my head!