A Week with Cooper

Cooper is my favorite of my three nephews. He likes to snuggle and give kisses and gets excited when he hears my voice on the phone. Of course, his brothers are almost 20 and they would rather text than speak on the phone, so they're too old for snuggling I guess. Coop is spending the week with me because his mom and sister have gone on a girls' getaway for a few days. I love having someone here with me to talk to and help keep me to a schedule, especially with all this snow. It makes me want to just stay in bed and read, so with a guest I get up, get dressed, make food, etc.

He sits at attention and looks right at the camera.

You've probably figured out that Cooper is a dog. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, to be exact. He is fluffy and silky and his bulgy eyes are plaintive and sweet to me. He loves everyone and will climb up on your face and give millions of kisses if you allow it. In my family we've always had dogs that were part terrier, so one thing I like about Coop is that he is not yappy.

Unfortunately he is a big cry-baby! He whines almost as if he is in pain when his people leave or when they arrive. If he goes in the car to pick the kids up somewhere he enjoys the ride until the destination is reached and then he starts crying and looking around for his sister or brothers.

I'm sure he adores them so much because they take him tubing. From his expression, do you think he enjoys it?
Another silly thing about the Little Coop is his reaction to thunder. Most dogs are afraid of thunder, but I've always seen them go hide in a place of safety, their crate, under a chair, in a tight corner, etc. We even had a dog who would run and hide in the tub! For Cooper, the sound of thunder means run to high ground. He will go up on to of the couch, or the top of the recliner, if someone is sitting in it, which then upsets the balance and knocks him off.

In general, he enjoys climbing on people if he's scared, or excited to see you, or hungry, or just if you'd like to take a nap. He wants to nap with you and be really close.

I miss him when he leaves, and for several days I'll start to talk to him, or a pillow on the couch seen from the corner of my eye will make me think he's there. I'd like to have my own small dog, but I just couldn't take of one physically all the time. If he's here just for a week I can put him out with a long line from inside the house, and since its winter he wouldn't want to go walking, but year round would be too much.
Do you have a pet? Are you a cat or a dog person?