FORTITUDE

I was reading an article today about an actress who exhibited fortitude when tackling her obstacles.  Hm-mm, fortitude.  Now there's a word you don't hear often.  Synonyms for fortitude are boldness, braveness, courage, determination, fearlessness, nerve, perseverance.  Spirit, spunk, and stamina.  Okay then, I guess I can say that Cosmo Crispin used fortitude in refusing his bath today.  I took my big, white standard poodle to the car wash today for the sole purpose of giving him a bath.  No, I would never put him in a car wash, but the new feature here was an enclosed 10'x10' doggy wash building.  Five dollars will give you 8 minutes of wash time. 

 There is a ramp leading up to a stainless steel sink that is raised up off the floor so washing your pet will mean no bending over, save your back.  The choices for dog washing are-you can set it for a puppy shampoo, an oatmeal shampoo, or a skunk remover shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse, then a blow dry.  I chose the oatmeal shampoo.  Problem was Cosmo Crispin refused to go up the ramp, a simple short walk up to the sink.  He stood his ground with fortitude.   

  How do you move a 110 pound dog that has the strength oh, I mean fortitude to not walk up that ramp??  It was a battle.  He began barking, sassing me loudly.  I got nervous and looked out the window thinking someone will come over here to find out what all this noise is about.  Rosco-the seven pound morkie was in the building too, and he was going to let me know it.  His barking was right in line with Cosmo's barking.  I tugged on Cosmo's leather leash and with my alpha voice said, "Come."  Normally, that would have been all Cosmo needed.  He is a very smart and obedient dog.  Cosmo responded with loud barking, followed by Rosco and his little bark.  After five minutes of trying to get him up on the ramp, thinking that if he placed his two front feet on the ramp I could push him up, Cosmo was having none of it.  Cosmo and his fortitude coupled with his loud, loud barking made me stop for a minute.  It was getting really smelly in there.  Cosmo was telling me off and farting with his fortitude and barks.  

  I had an idea, I bought 3 plain doughnut holes for his after bath treat.  Cosmo is on steroids and loves to eat.  Everything is about food with this dog.  I ran to the car and brought in one doughnut hole in my pocket.  I showed Cosmo, he was motivated.  Now is my chance.  I showed him the doughnut, he opened his mouth, then I moved it over the sink.  Cosmo would surely go up the ramp to get the doughnut right?  Nope.  He barked and barked and farted.  I gave a piece of doughnut to Rosco to make Cosmo jealous.  I said, "Do you want some?"  Oh yeah, he did.  I held the doughnut over the sink again and gave the command, "Come."  Cosmo barked and backed up toward the door continuing to bark.  "Cosmo watch Rosco", I said as I picked up Rosco and placed him in the sink then gave him a piece of the doughnut.  Rosco started shaking uncontrollably, that's what little dogs do when they are afraid, but he ate the piece of doughnut.  It didn't convince the Cosmo though.  "Come on Cosmo, just go, get up the ramp, why are you doing this?"   "You have been getting in sinks and bathtubs for 11 years without any problem."  "Come up here if you want the treat." 

Well, the Cosmo with his fortitude, stinky farts, and loud barks won.  We left.  Cosmo didn't get a bath, and did not get his doughnut. I left the doggie wash with a dirty poodle, fortitude intact.