#issueswithbrothers

When we were little our parents got us a dog, Boston Terrier, we named her Jody. I was roughly around the age of 8 when we got her. So, I was not able to help clean up after her or train her to go to the bathroom outside of the house. Ken (older brother) is two years older then me, so he was 10, he was able to help clean up after Jody but didn’t want to, Andy (little brother) couldn’t help clean or train Jody because he is five years younger then me, he was roughly 3 years old. So, our parents had to clean and train her with a little help from Ken (older brother). We grew up with her, in the end we had to put her down because she was sick, she kept collapsing and having seizures, it was her time. We were all sad, and couldn’t imagine getting another dog, not within the year or longer.

The following rules were for Jody: 1. No pooing in pool area. (she did a few times, but it got cleaned up) 2. She’s the family dog. 3. Everyone pitches in when possible. 4. Kids don’t take her outside without a parent with you or around. 5. No biting. (still did but she learned) 6. Not allowed in pool. (got a life jacket, at beginning to young, then was allowed)

Not even a year later Ken (older brother) decides to get a dog (he doesn’t live with the family anymore, lives with his girlfriend and their dog and cat), a husky/bullmastiff/retriever, Mia, (older brother is allergic to dogs). I do not like his dog, she is very annoying, and Ken (older brother) and his girlfriend do not take care of her when they bring her over, they leave it to mom and dad and sometimes me (I only help if mom or dad couldn’t). I have said something to mom about Ken (older brother) leaving Mia to mom or dad to take care of when him and his girlfriend are in the other room and could just get up and take her out. But if they are just sitting there near a door they will just open the door and let her wonder out the door alone, they don’t go with her. We have a pool area, and the dogs are not allowed to poo there but they could care less. Mia has pooed there a bunch of times and they never cleaned up after their own dog, our Uncle cleaned up after Mia and his own dog, he would go outside with them because he doesn’t let his dog go outside alone, it’s not the right thing and neither one of them will go when they are outside alone. And even though I’ve said so many things so many times to mom, she keeps saying she will make sure that Mia’s owners will take care of her, and she will mention that Mia can’t poo in the pool area and if she does you have to clean it up, but she never does. (Which is weird because Ken (older brother) grew up with the rule of dogs aren’t allowed to poo in the area but he’s older and does NOT get that rule anymore!).

Rules for Mia when they come over:

1. No pooing in pool area, clean up if she does. (broken - they never cleaned it up themselves) 2. No biting. (broken) 3. She’s your dog, not mom or dads so you take care of her. (broken) 4. Let us know when you are going somewhere that we have to watch her well you are gone. (broken - they just drop her off) 5. When you are here she is still your responsibility. (broken - it’s always someone else’s responsibility when they are here)

A year after that, we go a dog, another Boston Terrier (because dad grew up with them so he’s making us grow up with them), named Laycee. Being just the four of us, me, the ‘rents, and Andy (little brother), we all wanted to get another dog. So we found a breeder and picked out our new family member. Everything going fine so far for the first few weeks, trying to teach her to go outside instead of inside. All four of us can clean up after her now and train her. But ‘rents aren’t around all day to actually take care of her, I’m off for the summer from college, so I’m home with her all day long picking up after her and taking her outside for walks. Andy (little brother) about to be off for the summer, (going off to college in the fall), he sees that Laycee pooed in the house, he will grab her take her to it and scold her for pooing inside but he won’t pick it up and throw it in the toilet! So he still won’t clean up or train her! He is 18, he’s suppose to be an adult, but he can’t handle cleaning up after a puppy! So, I’m home all day with the puppy, cleaning up after her, playing with her, taking her for walks, and trying to train her. Well, the ‘rents get to make the rules of what she is allowed to do and can’t do. Well, like all the other rules they made, these ones flew out the window with the boys as well! Ken (older brother) comes over once in a while, and tells us what we should and shouldn’t be doing with Laycee, I go with what the ‘rents say because technically it’s their dog (but they hardly take care of her), Andy (little brother) does what ever Ken (older brother) says to do. Well, Ken (older brother) told us to get her use to the water at a young age, mom doesn’t want Laycee to be in the pool yet, (we need to get a life jacket first). she’s way to young (this was when she was 8 weeks old, we just got her home), well as you can guess, Andy (little brother) puts Laycee in the pool, Laycee ended up hiding behind me and staying away from Andy (little brother) for a day or so. Laycee is now about 13 weeks, there are still things she shouldn’t be doing that the boys are making her do.

The following are rules for Laycee: 1. Not allowed in pool. (we need to get a life jacket, and she’s still somewhat to young) 2. No biting. (having a hard time getting that threw to her) 3. Goes to bed when mom does. (mom gets up early so Laycee gets up when she does) 4. Goes outside every 2 hours until she can hold it. (all puppies go out every 2 hours) 5. Everybody pitches in when able to. (only 2 of us have done a lot more then the other 2, and only one of the 2 that actually does more is technically her owner) 6. She’s the family dog. (2 actually take care of her and the other 2 hardly notice her or only play with her, and only one of the 2 that actually does more is technically her owner) 7. No pooing in pool area. (did once but cleaned it up - only did it because the ‘rents weren’t paying attention or keeping an eye on her)

Laycee also tries to play with Mia (older brothers dog), the way she played with her siblings. She is not always the one starting it, but she is always being blamed for everything, starting the playing, making a mess, and much more. I do NOT like that dad is blaming Laycee for everything. And when Laycee has to go outside mom or I drop what we are doing to take her because Andy (little brother) and dad won’t. If dad is watching something like the news or nascar he won’t get up to take her for a walk, and Andy (little brother) won’t get off his computer game to take her out, because it’s too important.

So, in the end, I am the one taking care of her more then the other 3, I’ve wanted another dog in this family for a while, I just couldn’t afford my own dog and this point, but they won’t just admit that Laycee is basically mine. They would rather leave her in a confined area for hours, basically the whole day then just admit that they aren’t the ones being responsible for her.

I have no clue what they will do with out me here to take care of her!