Muses and Musings: Life with Three Dogs
It has been requested that I update this blog more frequently but more succinctly. So here I go, as told. But my compromise on that suggestion will be to write lengthier prose approximately once a month or so. This is not that once. This is my shorter observational update. I have been wracking my brain for a topic. Nothing comes to mind readily other than what has been forefront in my brain. So you are getting that. Be patient with me please.
I miss Merlin. Very much. But not only that. His non-physical presence has made my other dog’s personalities much more apparent. Of course, I knew my other dogs well when Merlin was still alive. That isn’t it at all. But without him being here doing his regular thing, I have noticed much more about them.
Some of the things that I have noticed: none of my other dogs is much of a question asker or a status quo shaker upper. Of course they are intelligent. That isn’t what I mean. They are interested in life. They don’t readily accept boredom. But they are more accepting of my decisions. You’d think that a dog trainer would like that trait.
But I now sit on the computer far longer than Merlin would have tolerated. No one comes to ask when dinner is going to happen like he did. They just accept that it will and are far too patient with me. No one asks for a particular path while walking or hiking like he did. They go where I lead them quite happily. No one thinks of things to do after dinner like he did. We relax rather than toss a few toys about before relaxing. No one objects if we don’t go through a drive-through something after a walk or hike. Merlin would poke his nose up front in my car and “ask”. And the answer for him was always “of course”. He had fans everywhere. I could go on about the things that are different but you get the idea.
My dogs personalities are emerging, but things are almost too relaxed these days.
My other dogs are loving, charming, sweet, affectionate, smart and possessing of many individual traits that I absolutely adore. But they are not the inquisitive, insistently interactive, busy-minded, innovative and amazingly adoring of being with me all the time creature that Merlin was (and is still, somewhere, but not with me physically at the moment). So I have a void. A large void. I am not sure how to fill that void just yet. I am working on that. I know now that I need that challenge in my life though, so thank you once again Merlin, for the lessons that you have taught me.
All this contemplation leads to what I actually wanted to ask of you all who are reading this and being so patient with my ramblings. I want to hear how YOUR dogs differ from one another and what you value from each dog that you currently share your life with or did share your life with. Use the comment lines below to share that with me if you please. I’d love to hear it. “Tis the season for appreciation.
In the meantime, hug your dogs, all of them, and appreciate their individuality and love them for it. Happy holidays to you all, regardless of which one you may celebrate, from me and mine.
Its odd that I am reading this tonight or maybe just appropriate. I have been pondering how different all three of my dogs are and oddly enough the pup whom the “public” would view as my best behaved would be the one that creates the most tension and the worst behaved is actually the most loving. But I digress as you all don’t know my dogs. Debbie, you have seen them on video.
Let me introduce them to you:
Bagley~My old man. I have had him since my first marriage. I got him in the divorce, he lost two fur siblings but I don’t think that bothered him much. He was my teddy bear in bed. But I was young and ignorant when we got him when he was around 6 months of age. He had been a stray found by a friend of mine. Came to us with horrible resource guarding, though at the time I didn’t know what that was, so I didn’t try and train him right to decrease the tendency of it. He is now almost 10, lives with a totally new set of circumstances. A new man in his mother’s life and two new fur siblings…neither of whom he likes very much, one he tolerates and the other I think he would eat if he had the option. I have tried to work to decrease the resource tendencies but have found the best option at this point is management. He does what we call the Buggles-Snuggles. He is 80 lbs of furry lovin’…it starts with him laying on your feet and he squirms and flays until he reaches your chest, in which point he grinds his hard head into your chest while rolling on his back…hence the Buggles-Snuggles.
Cali~Our gorgeous yellow lab. Gotten because my new hubster lost his yellow in the divorce. She was described by the breeder as having “personality”. Now we weren’t sure what that meant, however, should have had the inclination that when we went to pick her up she was more interested with the surroundings than us…odd for an 8 week old puppy. She has turned into my little learner and shaper. There isn’t a task that I don’t think I can shape her to do. She is such a thinker. We used to joke that she would sit in her cage trying to figure out what we wanted her to do in order to get her cookie. She has been our athlete participating in Flyball and Dock Diving, though that has taken a back seat since she has discovered dog-dog aggression is much more exciting. We have been working on those issues along with a lot of impulse control tasks, which goes against her whole shaping thoughts. She likes to give us loving, but on her terms, unless it is a belly rub…she won’t turn those down. For the most part she is pretty easy going, unless there is another dog snarking at her. She is pretty content to lay around, but every night she brings us her toys so that we can play fetch. Though she is our priss dog…she won’t go outside if it has rained for more than a day until it dries up. My next adventure with Cali is to do C.L.A.S.S class with her so she will be Dr Cali (giggle) and then to join a K9 Crisis team that goes and gives comfort to people who have gone through major catastrophe.
Hydro~He is the one that holds a special place in my heart. We rescued him from a shelter who had rescued him from a kill shelter where he was scheduled to be euthanized. He was 4 months old when we got him. Still uncertain to his breed mixture but its a non-factor to me. We chose him because of his love of water and thought he would make a good addition to our family. He immediately (within a day) made a connection with me. In retrospect we should have named him Velcro or Shadow. He has fear of humans, dogs, cars, and environmental changes. He hugs, cuddles, snuggles, and sleeps with his head on your chest. For me you take the good with the bad. I would trade him for the world though I have been told that he is darn lucky that someone with knowledge of behavioral issues, compassion, and patience adopted him. We are currently through a 3rd session of Relax Class, doing BAT work, and he is now on Reconcile (prozac) and life is getting easier for him outside of his house. Inside the house he is about as good of a dog as you would want after working on MANY impulse control games. He is an amazing athlete and actually has been able to compete in Disc competitions (and place!) because of his ability to leap and catch. He is my little man and will do just about anything for me. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he would protect me if the need arose and I root for him every step of the way. He is very curious about life and has to check everything out. If there is something new, he needs to see it and once it is deemed “seen” he is ok with it.
Those are my 3 in a nutshell. I hope this is what you were looking for as a reply. Thank you for letting me write about it. Happy holidays to you and your brood!!!
Debby, I have learned so much from reading about your experience. I look at Schatzie differently now since you lost Merlin. I also see Princess in a different light. I never thought about how life would be after they are gone until you described your feelings after he died. It was shocking to think about coming home to a house without either one of them gone. However, Schatzie was my first and I almost feel like he and i are one person, one spirit. Princess jolts us back to reality because she is so insistent upon constant affection, so it’s actually a good balance. But now I think of Schatzie and I as true soulmates and Princess and I as bffs. I decided to walk fewer dogs professionally and start walking my own dogs more. I had actually hired professional dog walkers to walk them but they did not seem happy. When I walk them, we are in Nirvana. It’s because of Merlin that I appreciate them as much as I do. So you see, I have learned much from your experience…I could go on and on but Schatzie looks like he needs a hug :-)Take care, my friend. We have never met, but I feel very close to you. Give yourself time. I had one client whose two labs died within months of one another. It took him two years of suffering and agony but he now has a new life and is happy. It just takes time and everyone is different. You are doing great. Keep writing; I love to read what you write. Peace to you, my dear.
Debby,
I was just talking about my Nash and how much I miss him. He was a partner-dog rather than a follower dog. After some growing pains, we got into a groove in which he respected that I was in charge, but would certainly voice his opinion. I love my other dogs for their own traits, but they are now adrift with no leader when I’m not around.
I love Brewser’s dog-ness, his love of people, food, and cuddling. I love Georgie’s quirks and happy looks, scary barks, and ability to get along with and play with any other dog or kid. I love Grace’s dedication to me and her happiness when I even look at her or say her name, and how much she’s matured and relaxed in our time together. And I love Clem’s puppy joie de vivre and catlike qualities. But no one will ever fill the hole that Nash’s passing has left.
Thanks for the reminder to remember my Nash and to appreciate the unique qualities of my brood!
Amy
Boy oh boy, a topic everyone loves: talking about their babies! I of course am no different!
In the past couple of years since adopting my three boys my life has been filled with so much warmth and love. Even though I have friends and live in a wonderful community, I have never felt so complete as living with my boys.
Scrappy, my presumed eldest dog since he was a stray, is the athletic of the bunch. He is a big goof who could care less how he looks or behaves in public, as long as people love him. It’s funny to take him and the others out on walks because kids will ask to pet my dogs, but then only pet the other two. Which is fine, but I find it funny considering the fluff of dog scraps is my most friendliest boy. I adore how much energy he has, even if it can be a pain on my lazy days, and also how goofy he is. From rolling around to playing fetch by himself. He’s basically a puppy in an adult body. And even though he looks like a Frankenstein of other dog breeds, he still has the cutest smile.
Then there’s my second oldest Tibias aka Tibs! An adorable chihuahua mix who I friend gave me when they unfortunately had to move and couldn’t take him with them. Despite his size he is a playful child. He loves sneaking up on you while your reading and giving you play bites until chase him. He is slightly weary of strangers and can easily be intimidated by bigger dogs, he’s still cautious of Scraps. Despite that, his tail never stops wagging. He also has the most expressionate eyes I’ve ever seen, making him also my emotional boy. Who I baby way too much according to colleagues. Literally has me swooning.
Last but certainly not least, is my youngest Mel, a miniature schnauzer. I adopted him when he was a pup as a hopeful friend to Scraps. Unfortunately the height differences and the personality variation makes them a funny duo. Mel is the kind of dog who prefers to just exist in the background. Whenever someone comes to visit, he prefers to hang out to the side and observe. He very rarely participates in play time, unless he initiates it. He reminds me of a cat in so many ways. As he also only cuddles or joins in with the family time when HE decides to. However it is for that reason I love him all the same, as he also seems to know exactly how I feel. When I’m stressed, exhausted, or upset, he’s always right there ready to simply just lie near me in case of cuddles. So while my friends don’t seem to care for him, I know his softer boy side that is truly refreshing.
I only recently have found your blog, but I’ve been I guess binging it like mad!! I love your writing style and your perspective on matters. Keep doing what you love! And thank for giving this comment section to let me and other dog enthusiasts ramble about our babies.
-with much appreciation Kendra and Co.😁