Different as Night and Day

As most of you know, we have two dogs. Sparky is a 12 year old toy fox terrier and Wrigley is a 2 year old mixed breed. Our dogs are very, very different. Just like kids raised in the same house, the exact same way all turn out different, so do dogs. Let me explain.

Wrigley would walk all day if you had the time to take her. Sparky's idea of exercise is moving to wherever the sun is shining on the deck.

Sparky checking to see if the grass is wet. If it is, she will pee on the sidewalk.

Wrigley loves to be outside. She prefers the cooler weather, and rain and snow don't bother her in the least. Sparky will pee on the rug by the back door if it's colder than 60 degrees and if there is even a forecast of rain, because you never know, she might get out there and start to pee and a drop of rain might land on her precious little head! Winter....HA, that's a joke. If you force her to go out....by shoving her out the door, she will squat the second you put her down...right on the door mat, pee and then turn around and jump on the door to come back in.

Wrigley enjoying being outside

When you are fixing their food, Wrigley just sits over by her spot in the kitchen waiting patiently. Sparky on the other hand makes noises that you can't even believe are coming from a dog. She jumps up and down until you think she's going to collapse, but no, that's when she starts going in circles....and don't be late feeding her or you will pay....dearly!

Sparky waiting for her food. I caught her standing still for a moment. I should have taken a video of the dinner time dance she does

Wrigley lays on her little bed. Sparky has to be under an afghan on the couch...even in the summer.

Sparky checking to see if it's warm enough to come out from under her blankie

Both of the dogs sleep with us. Wrigley curls up at the foot of the bed. Sparky sleeps in the middle of the bed, under the covers. In the winter she has to be under the top sheet and blankets and in the summer she has to be under just the top blanket...and don't try to pull one over on her. It doesn't work. She'll scratch at the blankets until you do it right. And don't encroach on her space during the night either because you will get four feet full of little nails stabbing you in your back!

Wrigley just being happy outside

Ah, toys. We now buy them the exact same toys. Wrigley loves all of her little stuffed toys....at least the ones that Sparky doesn't destroy. Wrigley will take them to her bed with her and just chew on them lovingly and cuddle with them....Sparky dismantles them, limb by limb and pulls every bit of guts out of their cute little bodies.

Wrigely's "buddy" after Sparky got a hold of it. We caught her though so she only got one ear off and chewed up the other ear and one leg

Sparky's "buddy"....need I say more?

So, yes, even dogs raised in the same home the exact same way can turn out different....very different...just like kids!

Siblings

Do you have siblings? I have three sisters and one brother. My oldest brother passed away many years ago. My mom married very young, had three children and when they were little, their dad passed away. Years later, my mom and dad were married and had three kids. There is a 10 year gap between the two "sets" of kids, which made things a bit unusual....I didn't really get to know my brothers very well, because they both spent 20 years in the Navy when I was growing up.

My sibs all live out of state....Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina....do you see a pattern there? They all took off for warmer weather and left me here all by myself!

Did you get along with your brothers and sisters when you were young? How about as teens and young adults?

My sisters and I fought like crazy when we were younger and then got closer as we grew up. My younger sister Kay was able to come up from South Carolina for the wedding last weekend and we decided that I must have been adopted! I have always been the black sheep of the family...I've always marched to the beat of a different drummer.

Kay and I have absolutely nothing in common, but we love spending time together. The only things we have in common are our parents and our love for each other. We don't look alike, think alike or act alike. We don't like the same kind of clothes, we don't eat the same kinds of foods, we don't enjoy the same kinds of activities and even though we both like to travel, our idea of a great vacation is not even remotely similar!

How is that we all grow up in the same house being raised by the same parents and we all end up so different? I realize we are all individuals, but wouldn't you think there would be some similarities somewhere?

Do you see that with your siblings and with your children? My kids are all very different, and my siblings and I are all so very different. I guess it would make for a boring household if everyone was the same.

Being different is what makes life interesting. Do you and your siblings have similar personalities? How about your kids?