Yesterday I was plugging away at my desk as usual when I heard a not-uncommon commotion from the living room. SuperSitter was scolding our 110-lb bullmastiff, Ty, which generally means he was either trying to get on the furniture or being a little too licky with the sippy cups. But then I heard her say, “Ty, NO!” and moments later Emmett let out a blood-curdling scream.
Oh my God, I thought as I leapt from my desk in slow motion. Ty stepped on him. Ty knocked him over and he’s unconscious. Ty bit his face off. Ty tried to play with him and broke his arm. Ty… It’s amazing how many thoughts you can have in a split second of panic.
I flung open the door to my office and raced into the living room, where I saw Emmett playing happily on the floor in SuperSitter’s arms and Ty about 15 feet away, completely ignoring them as he investigated the cat food.
“What happened?” I asked, breathless.
“I turned him to give him a bottle and he got mad because he couldn’t see the dog anymore,” she said, looking at me a bit strangely.
I slumped against the wall, heart beating normally again. “Oh.”
“Are you okay?” she asked, watching my face.
No, I’m a lunatic. “I just thought Ty stepped on him or something when I heard him scream.”
She thought a moment before responding. “Yeah, I guess it did kind of sound like that, huh.”
Yup. But I should know better by now. SuperSitter is the most attentive caregiver I’ve ever seen, and she is excellent at managing doggy-baby interactions. And let’s face it: Ty is a dog and dogs can’t be trusted alone with babies, but he’s not exactly a monster who’s salivating over the thought of eating the babies. He’s more of a pleasantly interested lump of fur who just wants to be around in case they drop something he might want to eat or play with.
Have you had any unnecessary moments of panic lately?