Do You Have To Act Like Such An Animal?

Monday's Wash Line--- I have come to the realization that I frequently get very angry with my dogs for acting like dogs--which is kind of similar to getting very angry at a 2-year-old for acting their age--it is more stress than I need and a waste of energy. I quick-mopped my floor today and I let my dogs back in the house while I was on the phone--which prevented me from yelling at them but also caused me to just watch helplessly as one of my dogs tracked mud all over the very floor I had just cleaned. He was very excited so he ran ALL over. Why can't my dogs stop and wipe their paws before coming in the house. Don't they see the mat? It is such a waste of all those cute mats that say 'Wipe Your Paws' when I have yet to meet a dog that reads...I think it is safe to assume that my dogs don't stop and think about the difference between the ground and a kitchen floor. They're dogs. Not long after the floor incident I was once again getting angry at the same dog for standing too close to the open refrigerator and sniffing food I dropped while trying to look for something. He's a dog and he's a dog from a hunting breed that is always hungry. If I had it wired into my genes to hunt for food (well I think maybe I do) and ate the same food twice a day everyday and could only eat when someone fed me then I would probably be excited when someone opened the refrigerator too and I would most likely even look longingly if something appetizing fell at my feet. Well---I found myself so irritated that I told my dog to get out of my face---this is the dog that only chooses to respond to food, dinner, treat, and his name ---did I really expect him to listen? After all, he had 'found' some very good food--why should I be mad at him??? If only he could show a bit more restraint---but he's a dog. Later I spilled some cream of chicken soup on the floor (did I mention the floor was clean?) and my same trouble-making dog had the audacity to run right over and start licking up the spill--getting his toxic dog spit all over. Why couldn't he have waited for me to wipe it up and then politely ask if he could lick the can? Because...he's a dog---he saw an opportunity and he took it--besides, he sees no problem with having dog spit on the floor--there is dog spit in my other dog's dish and he thoroughly enjoys licking it--there is dog spit on the cushion he likes to sleep on and he finds it very comfy--and there is dog spit on him and he never worries about how he smells...he's a dog. I was talking with my oldest daughter about my dogs and how embarrassed I am about their behavior and she said that between the two dogs we almost have one good dog. That's true. My mess making, nosey dog is good with people and doesn't bite their heels in an attempt to herd them and he isn't neurotic. My other dog is neurotic and scares people but she doesn't chew up things when she gets bored or try to take food off of the table. Luckily for them they each have some redeeming qualities---which is why they both still have a place to rest their furry heads and leave their spit. I need to be so much better at training my dogs---as soon as I get better at training myself---and it's fine to have high expectations for them but I do need to remember that they are dogs and they are going to act like dogs. Sometimes I even like it when they act like dogs. After all, none of the human members of our household look so ecstatic whenever I come home or are willing to do several tricks for one small treat or cozy up to me when I tell them to get out of my face or are so patient or forgiving as my dogs are because well..they are only human...