Dog stories....

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 13 Jun 00 - 04:28 AM

Slightly lateral, but I finally found out the meaning of "Dog Days of Summer" yesterday. I am probably the last to find out, but in case there's anyone in the queue behind me, it relates to the rising of the Dog Star, which rises in the northern hemishpere in June (I think).

Dave, you ancient traveller of sea and star, put me right, so I can hang the Dog Star in my rigging on those balmy nights off Blakeney.

All the best

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Kim C
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 05:54 PM

Dogs. Gotta love 'em.

I have two: Zenith, a 10 y/o Norwegian Elkhound, and Belle, a 5 y/o Murfreesboro Mix. (I think she's mostly German Shepherd with a little Lab thrown in. She has webbed toes.) We got Belle because 1)Zenith had let us get robbed, and 2) we thought she was lonely. (Turns out, though, she likes being by herself.)

Zenith was a pet shop dog. We had never intended to buy a dog from the pet shop, but we always looked in the window. She kept getting bigger, the cage didn't, and the price kept going down. We wondered what would happen to her if no one bought her. So we did a little research on Elkhounds. They are often described as being stubborn. Well, we didn't really think about that, and Zenith came home with us for well under $200.

Stubborn? STUBBORN? Ha! You would think this girl is deaf sometimes. Well, she's not. She just has a mind of her own. (Like us.)She was fairly destructive as a puppy and hard to train, probably from being in a pet shop kennel for so long. One night things were awfully quiet, and I went back to the bedroom to see what she had gotten into. I found her sitting amid a flurry of hot-pink feathers ---- the remnants of a slain feather duster. She had them stuck to her nose. The duster had only cost me fifty cents and I just couldn't scold her with those pink feathers on her muzzle.

The first time Mister got out his guitar, Zenith barked at it as if it were an intruder. She got over it, until I got an accordion. She's also afraid of thunder and fireworks.

Belle, on the other hand, is a bonafide pistol. Being mostly Shepherd, she likes to herd Zenith around. Well, Z doesn't like that very well and once in awhile that results in a little tussle. Belle is one of those dogs that looks right at you all bright-eyed when you talk to her. She was pretty scrawny for about three years but she finally filled out and grew in a nice glossy coat.

We also have a kitty named Thumper, who hides behind the washing machine when strangers come to the house...

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Banjer
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 07:08 AM

I would think Lonesome that Old Blue would have much rather been where ever you were than left behind. I think you did right taking him with you. Animals will let us know when they have reached their limits. We humans sometimes surprise ourselves when we attempt to exceed our self imposed limits. We could take a lesson from our animal friends.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 10:16 PM

Kendall, it was a mistake to take him on the climb, and it was a mistake to leave him while I went to the summit. The only thing I can say is that I found it very hard to leave him behind when I took one of those trips, knowing how he loved them. And his hip displasia was something he was born with, that gradually worsened over time.

Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 06:43 PM

Or, piss poor judgement lol

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 11:47 AM

Sledge...Ben was lucky that the little guy didn't take a chunk for a snack.. I know that my little guy Taz would gladly take on dogs three times his size..I think most small dogs suffer from delusions of grandure...KGH

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 08:59 AM

I cant imagine taking a 12 year old dog with hip problems mountain climbing. What ever were you thinking?

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: sledge
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 10:42 AM

A Chihauhau (overgrown rat) used to live over the road from Parents and would constantly yap at all and sundry. Our dog Ben, a Lab cross, tolerated the overgrown rats presence on his patch until one night, when out for his constituional, the rat challanged him, and commenced yapping. Displaying great skill Ben turned and pee'd over the rat with a look that said "did someone speak".

The rat became something of a recluse for some time.

We lost Ben some time ago but I still miss him.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: IceWolf
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 10:19 AM

When I was growing up, we always had dogs. Now, though, my wife can't stand canines so we have two cats.

One night (about 2:00am), as the cats were playing tag, one or the other of them managed to open the freezer. Naturally, we didn't notice until morning by which time the contents had degenerated into a melted morass.

I cleaned out the freezer and yelled at the cats -threatening to turn them into winter underwear. Then my wife and I went off to work.

That afternoon when I came home, I found my tomcat sitting on the floor in front of the Yellow Pages, flipping through the Attorney's section.

Hmmmm.

IceWolf

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Banjer
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 04:25 AM

Good story Leej, Old Blue is indeed waiting for you to catch up. One of these days you will find him again, healthy and unemcumbered by hip problems, waiting to lead you up that last trail. See 'Spaws blue clicky to the Rainbow Bridge if you haven't already.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 01:43 AM

Thunder and fireworks would always send my dog under the couch, which would be quite upsetting if you were sitting on that couch, considering Old Blue was a Newfoundland/Labrador mix who weighed in at 145 pounds.

When he was a puppy I took him on his first backpacking trip, up a narrow trail by a rushing creek. He scampered all over the trail, up the side of the hill, down to the creek where he'd hit the brakes, then back up in fear only to scamper off again. While executing this maneuver, a piece of the bank crumbled away and he plopped into the fast-moving brook. Encumbered by my heavy pack, I couldn't grab him, and he was swept away yelping down the stream. Luckily he was carried into an eddy near the bank where I fished him out. But he was so traumatized by this that he wouldn't go near any water except the water in his dish for nearly a year. Finally on a trip to Idaho, my wife and I were playing frisbee in a shallow pool while Blue watched from shore. Watching the frisbee sail through the air, he began to yip and jump around on the bank. Ana made a mighty toss that went over my head, and I had to swim fast for it before the current took it away downstream. That's when I got pushed aside by a major slab of paddling Lab as he nailed the frisbee with his jaws. From then on, you couldn't keep him out of water, which made him the world's lousiest fishing buddy.

He was a great pack animal. I could get two sixpacks and most of my food on him, and it wouldn't slow him down. He would run 30 feet in front of me, then stop, tongue out and ears up, waiting for me to catch up. He was a veteran of several 14,000 foot peak ascents, including Mount Elbert where I nearly lost him. He was 12 and had hip displasia, but I took him anyway. It was an exhausting climb, and 300 feet below the summit he could go no further. I left him there with a dish of water and finished the climb. When I returned he was gone. I looked all over the summit, but no sign. I decided that he had gone down to the camp, so I made my descent. He wasn't there, and so I decided he must have gone down to the car looking for me. Not there either. I went to a local restaurant and borrowed paper to leave notes on the windshields of the cars in the trailhead lot, then drove the 100 miles home. A woman called that night, saying Blue had followed her down to the stream where we had camped, and though he was exhausted, he wouldn't drink but kept trying to walk back up the trail. She said they made him lay down in a shady spot next to a large rock, a spot I remembered. I returned the next day and made the 5 mile climb to the spot, but didn't see a sign of him. I worked my way to a point where I could see the summit ascent, but I couldn't see him. At last I went home. The next night I got a call from the restaurant. Two climbers had stopped there saying they had found a dog on the Elbert summit, that they had carried him down, and were taking him to the sheriff's department. I went back the next morning and got him. I remember my feelings of both guilt and curiosity as I put him in the back of my car. I wanted him to tell me how he endured two nights on that cold and barren peak with no water. I apologized to him for deserting him there, but he looked at me with the same brown eyes that always said the same thing, that he was my best friend and nothing would change it.

He's been gone nine years now. I can still see his face inches away from mine, licking my nose to awaken me in the morning, a piece of cat-litter stuck on his nose. I can hear the sound of the pine branches he would retrieve from the forest, and then gnaw and chomp to splinters. But most of all I can see him, his pack tied on his back standing on the trail ahead, and waiting for me to catch up.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 12:16 AM

had an old dog..sort of a terrier/shepherd mix. Needed medicine, but was totally against having pills shoved down his throat. So, we tried mixing them in hamburger balls, but he was too good for us...he'd gulp the hamburger in...roll it around in his mouth, cross his eyes, and *poot*....spit out the pill.

Well, this went on a couple days, and I had an idea, The dog REALLY was jealous of the batch of half-grown kittens we had, and had to be practically held back when they were fed. So...I took some chicken scrap leftovers and began tossing pieces to the kittens. Dog was quivering...tossed MORE chicken to cats...dog was big eyed & frantic!...then I sneakily just tossed a dog medicine pill into the air near dog...*snap*...*gulp*...pill was gone!...*big grin*..In the weeks that followed, pulled the trick every day....it never failed....he'd still spit it out hidden in his food, but greed got it in him...must be amoral there somewhere.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 01:59 PM

I have a story ..Our daughter Dog Sat for folks while she was in college. One family owned a very needy Border Collie named Jamie..Well Jamie is terrified of thunder, fire workes, backfires any thing that goes bang..Chelsey was well aware of the problem and made all preperations for the problem..However one day she was teaching at summer school and a midday storm blew in..She raced home and no Jamie.. he it seems had crashed through the window and screen..of the second story bed room where he had been left for safety. You see if there is a bang Jamie will run away from the sound...Well Chelsey was in a panic.. she was scared to death for Jamie and for facing the family who owned him.. To make matters worse the family came home early and no Jamie...The child in the family just sat down on the floor and screamed...Chelsey was in a fit...They set out on a search of the neighborhood in the rain and thunder.. Well to end on a high note there was Jaime cowering in the corner of a garage the last house on the street.. He survived the fall not even a limp and Chelsey retired from dog sitting.. Jamie is still afraid of loud noises....KGH

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 11:54 AM

One more brief story this time. A number of years ago friends of ours had rented and older house. One night shortly after they moved in, they were awoken by a rhythmic clanking sound, coming from the upstairs hallway towards their bedroom. Thinking they were being broken into or worse yet a ghost? Rob grabbed a baseball bat and threw on the hall light. Looking down the hallway from the bedroom he saw nothing amiss. They settled back down and again heard the eerie sound from the hall and again turned on the light to see what the source was. This time Rob looked at the floor and there was his son's hamster making its way down the hall with a teaspoon in its mouth, that clanked from side to side on the bare wood floor as it struggled along with its heavy prize.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 10:31 AM

I have a cat who discovered the Redial button on my FAX/phone and placed 35 long distance calls to Buffalo, scaring my sister-in-law half to death several times at 3AM before I discovered what he was up to.

Another is subject to fits of depression and has to be hand fed or he pulls a Ghandi act.

The last is a kitten who cannot understand mirrors and spends hours crying for the people in them to come and play with her.

I think I need a dog.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 08:07 AM

I was doin' OK til the "We've got rats in the house" line and I damn near died laughing!!!! Geeziz Banj, cracked me up man....REAL VISUAL in that sitcom sort of way.....Great story!!!

Morning news on CBS Early show has a nice story on right now about a dog who was put into the wrong compartment on an airliner and the pilot made an emergency landing so the dog wouldn't die....nice story. All the passengers cheered him, even if it did delay them.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Banjer
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 05:53 AM

Hamsters!!! When all five kids still lived at home the three boys shared one room and the two girls had the other. The youngest of the two girls had the bad habit of not leaving other peoples things alone, she was about eight years old. One afternoon the oldest boy reports to me that the hamster that belonged to the oldest girl had died and that he had buried it for her. I praised him for handling the situation for me and consoled his sister, who was the oldest of the five and missing her pet. This being the last of the hamsters we had, all the others having previously gone on to their just rewards, we disposed of all the various trappings, cages, etc.

All is normal so far, right??.....Not in this household!!!

About four days later, actually about 3AM I'm awakened by a scurrying noise on my side of the bed. Then I feel a light tugging on the sheet, that followed by a sensation of pressure on my leg!! I look over at wifey and she is sound asleep! I consider myself a brave person, but there is just so much brave anybody can muster at 3AM. I reach for the light, scream at wife to "wake up dammit!!!!, we've got rats in the house!!!" and jump out of bed, all in the same instant. Once I gather what few senses I could muster I look to see the "dead" hamster reincarnated and looking up at me, obviously annoyed at all the commotion.

It turns out that the youngest daughter had taken the hamster out to play with, let it get away, and in an attempt to cover her tracks put part of a furry stuffed toy which, upon exhumation could have resembled a dead hamster, back in the cage where her sister would find her pet dead. Being rather squeamish, the oldest girl of course called her brother to handle the situation! Mr. Wannabe Pet Funeral Director scoops the "deceased rodent" out of the cage with a plastic scoop and conducts a hasty ceremony without a post mortem and the rest is history!!

We now find our hero (ME) at 3:30AM, going to the local all night (at that time) supermarket which had a large area of pet supplies. Try explaining to a clerk at the checkout why you need to buy a hamster cage, wood shavings, and an excersize wheel, water bottle, and food at that time of day!! Many morals to this story....pick one you like!

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 10:54 PM

Spaw that was a great way to end my day.. What a funny, sad story..It reminds me of our son who was playing with his sisters kitten next to the garage..I think you know what hapened..Its about those garage door openers..Well Gabe came in screaming "I'm going to go to hell Ive killed a cat" He had just made his 1st communion and the hell thing was firmly planted in his brain.. He still gets teased and not too kindly by his sister for that one..It was a family tragedy ...KGH

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 10:06 PM

It also triggers a hamster story...........My Dad loved animals and his dog was the Cocker and indeed had some reasonable success as a breeder. I loved them, but it fell to me as a young boy to care for them when he was gone (railroad engineer, ran freight, never knew when he'd be in or out). Co I also wanted other pets and like most kids in the 50's, the hamster thing came along and I had to have one. Dad bought two and we built a nice little cage together. They stayed on the basement steps, but we could bring the cage upstairs of outdoors.

Got real cold......Found hamsters were belly-up so to speak......Felt real bad..........Dad felt bad.........Mom felt bad...........Had a little ceremony and buried the hamsters...............Found out later that hamsters hibernate.

My Dad never did get over it. Years later I could always get him by reminding him he buried the hamsters alive. He was a practical joker and a gentle man....I shouldn't have rubbed it in, but then again, he'd have done the same to me. I miss him a lot.

Spaw

Spaw

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Metchosin
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 09:16 PM

Thank you kendall. Dogs do have a way of triggering memories and putting us in touch with our feelings, don't they?

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 08:10 PM

Metchosin..that was beautiful. Extremely touching.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Metchosin
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 01:46 PM

You asked for dog "stories", so please bear with me.

Prior to our present dogs, we had two others, Rupert and Sadie, an occasionally white, father and daughter mix of Maltese, Wirehaired Terrier and Lhaso Apso. My husband always joked that when they died, he was going to have them made into large fluffy bedroom slippers.

Neither of these dogs was particularly bright or talented, although Rupert had a knack for getting into difficult situations on occasion (one of which, involved me taking a plunge into an icy river after he had been swept over a waterfall). They were however, much loved.

By the time Rupert turned 14, he was stone deaf, (something that seems to happen to our dogs). I don't know if it is the result of the sound levels of the music in this house or just a predilection of the small breeds that we have managed to collect over the years. However, it should be noted, our daughters' Teddy Bear Hamster was found dead the morning after a rather loud jam session. Unfortunately, the cage was perched on one of the amplifiers. (My poor husband, even after all these years, still feels he has a lot of karma to work off).

Rupert's deafness and failing eyesight was of concern to us and we had been discussing what should be done with him, as he no longer came when he was called and we were concerned with his tendency to go on, sometimes, very long "walk-abouts" in our rural neighborhood. We decided that he was in no pain, despite his handicaps, so we would just confine him to the house except, for jaunts outside on leash.

One morning, shortly after this discussion, we had just given him an uncustomary bath and grooming and in a panic, noticed that he had managed to slip out a door left open by small children. We discovered that, on his usual visit to our neighbour across the road, Rupert had probably failed to hear an oncoming car and our first fluffy bedroom slipper was deposited ceremoniously in a resting place beneath the large maple tree in our front yard.

Sadie, his daughter, lived on until the ripe (and I use that word deliberately) old age of 17 years. For most of her life, she was one of those dogs that never seemed to cause any trouble whatsoever and for that matter, was not even particularly personable, consequently, at times, you tended to forget about her existence. Sadie just was.

With an upcoming Christmas to prepare for, along with two small children, I finally decided that it was becoming too much for me to look after our snoring odiferous couch potato. She had an oozing growth on her chest and had finally lost all control of her bladder and I was beginning to flag under the constant cleaning of dog and furniture.

On the last day of school, prior to the Christmas holidays, I made an appointment to take her to the Vet and load up on groceries for the Holiday. I set off with Sadie and my youngest daughter's coveted "Aminy Blanket", with which to wrap her for the last ride home. It was a very difficult shopping trip.

Unpredictably, on the drive to town it started to snow and by the time I had finished all my "errands", the snow was beginning to pile up. I decided to pick up my daughters from school early, as the school buses do not run in our neighbourhood, when there was any great accumulation. Upon my arrival, I was further delayed at the school, because the staff had decided, due to the weather, to cancel the evening's Christmas Concert and hold it in the in the afternoon instead. For awhile, I was lost in the wonderful sound of children caroling and forgot all about my sad bundle in the car.

We finally headed for home and I was confronted with further deteriorating road conditions and two very upset little girls, one particularly, even more distressed, because Sadie's rather malodorous old body had been wrapped in her precious blanket.

One of last stretches of road to where we live is a long steep grade, which I can usually make in the snow, if I can maintain constant speed on the uphill climb. Not so this day. When we were almost to the top, we met a shit for brains, joy riding 4X4er coming sideways down the hill towards us. Consequently, I had to pull to the deep snow on the edge of the road to avoid being hit, and there I lodged, crying children, numerous bags of Christmas larder and dead dog.

Upon abandoning the vehicle, amidst the further tears of my children, I explained that we would have to carry our fast disintegrating bags of groceries for the last half mile stretch up hill to home and that, "No, we couldn't manage to carry Sadie too", and that they "Shouldn't worry about leaving her in the car in the snowbank, it was really cold out" and it was "OK, this was sort of thing they did to bodies in morgues" and "Nobody was going to steal Ceilidh's "Aminy Blanket" and even if they did, "They were going to be in for a helluva surprise."

We were trudging along, with many stops to retrieve the various tins that were working their way out of the bottom of the bags, when we were rescued by a neighbour in his 4X4 and we gratefully piled ourselves and groceries into the back of the truck for the trip to our driveway. I stayed with the groceries at the bottom of the drive, while the girls went up to the house to get their flying saucer sleds to pile the Christmas goodies on. While I was waiting, I was greeted by the neighbour's Golden Retriever, who promptly liberated a garlic sausage ring from the pile of groceries. After a brief chase and tug-of-war, I returned, but Sage had got the lion's share of his prize.

That night we promised the girls that I would rescue Sadie the following morning, when the weather cleared. The following day I tundled out, pulling the saucer sled to unbury the car and bring Sadie home. After digging it out and chipping the ice from a frozen door I loaded her on the sled for the final trek up hill. The incline caused her now frozen bundled body to constantly roll from the sled and skid back down the hill. Eventually I abandoned the sled as a dumb idea and carried her the rest of the way.

My husband explained to the girls that because of the weather we would have to postpone Sadie's funeral, so Sadie "laid in state" for another week on a table under an overhang at the front of the house. Eventually the dog who for most of her life, had never been a problem, was buried with our other "bedroom slipper" under the maple tree and Ceilidh finally got her freshly laundered "Aminy Blanket" back.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 01:27 PM

I had a hundred dollar bill sitting out on my desk after a late gig and our dog (Blossom) was going after the cookie that was holding it down from being blown away by our fan. Blossom ate both the cookie and the cash. I was pretty upset and I gave her an entire bottle of Milk of Magnesia. When that didn't do the trick, I gave Blosssom another half of a bottle. To make a long story short, she couldn't pass it. It was counterfeit.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 10:23 AM

Dogs are such individuals that you can never replace one. Even within a breed, or within a litter, everyone has something different to offer. From the first moments of our relationship with them, each begins to develop a personality. I thought I'd never want another Weim after Gretchen....How could any compare? But they have all had something very special, very personal.

Possibly why so many of us get locked into a breed is because the basic traits are generally there and the individualism comes through more brightly. All my Weims have had different tastes and likes. All have been very individual. But below lies that goofy, Odie-like, pleasure in being with you that I find so appealing.

Go get yourself another dog Den......Won't be the same, but you'll see something in each one and though they may not be Max, the new one will give you another set of memories and years of friendship.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: GUEST,Den at work
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 09:37 AM

Some wonderful stories there. We lost our Max last year. He was 15 and we had to have him put to sleep because his arthritis got so bad that he couldn't walk anymore and keeping him alive was just being selfish. He left us with some great memories though and was such a joy to the family. He was our first kid actually, a little fat ball of fur. Part border collie part lab part whirl wind.

We got him from the pound. They had a whole litter and we were having a tough time choosing. So we decided to go away and think about it as the pound was closing. As we went to leave this little guy came running/waddling out from the back and latched himself onto Andrea's (my wife) coat tail and wouldn't let go. Well that did it. He came home with us.

He was so smart. He used to herd the kids in the play ground and keep them all in the area where the swings and slides were. The neighbours loved it because they knew when Max was there the kids couldn't stray. It drove him nuts if they took off in different directions. He loved to go on the slide and would line up with the kids, taking his turn. He was able to climb the ladder and then slide down the slide. We have it on video tape and the kids still love to watch him.

He liked a little Guinness from time to time and so I'd pour some in his bowl and he would lap it up. When there was just a little left, I would say, "now knock it back", and he would lift the bowl in his mouth tip his head back and swallow what was left.

He was though a great companion and I always felt that he sensed when you weren't in the best of spirits and he would sit with his big head (he had the body of a lab and the colouring of the border collie) in your lap looking into your eyes as if to say I'll worry for you.

I don't know if he liked folk music but if I played a certain frequency on my tin whistle he would nudge my elbow with his nose. So much so that I was unable to play...or maybe he just appreciated good whistle playing.

He will always be remembered.

We have since looked for a dog but we keep looking for just a little something of what our Max had he was just so much a member of our family. Den

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 08:32 AM

What has 4 legs and an arm? a Rotweiller.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 01:24 AM

One more story about Toby (the dachsund we used to have). She had this doggie bed that she slept in during the day, but she never slept in it alone. We also at that time had an old siamese cat. They were both around the same age. He would always crawl into that bed with her, much to her displeasure. She would growl and carry on making quite a fuss, until they would both go to sleep. This was a ritual that happened several times a day. She always seemed to hate sharing that bed with him. But the funny thing is that after he died, she wouldn't go near that bed until the end. When she got sick in her final days....

Amergin

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 12:37 AM

Its reassuring to be in the company of other saps as far gone as yourself.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 11:05 PM

BarbaraLynn, we need to hear that other story...KGH

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: BarbaraLynn
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 09:30 PM

I've had several, the latest (and longest) having been Laddie, a blond Cocker Spaniel. Laddie and I had a loving relationship but I raised him just like I raised my kids -- to think he had a mind of his own -- and he took full advantage of that. For a time, I had a number of Hispanic friends, and the story went that my dog's name was short for "Ladino", because they so often heard me snapping: "Laddie, no!" He got into everything. He got into my purse and tore up paper he found in it (so much for the grocery list). He was a wizard at yanking things off the kitchen counter (thawing meat, boxes of doughnuts, etc.), and woe betide you if you got up from the dinner table for any reason as when you turned back you were likely to find Laddie nimbly walking on your plate! Oh, I did indeed try discipline, but Laddie would plant himself on the floor, set his jaw rigidly and glare right back at me. And then proceed as if I'd said nothing at all.

Though I've had many breeds and dogs of no breed in particular, I think there is nothing like a Cocker Spaniel for presenting a picture of True Unbridled Joie de Vivre -- to watch Laddie run and play, laughing mouth open, ears sailing, eyes a-light, never failed to raise my spirits.

He had most likely been deaf for about 3 years before a vet discovered this and told me. Laddie read me so well that I hadn't an inkling he no longer could hear me. I took then to resting my neck on the top of his head when I talked to him so he could at least get the vibrations from my throat. His failing eyesight did not stop him in the least, and it was left to me to become his eyes after the day he ran off the lip of a culvert and fell two feet into grass (luckily)-- although he sprang up and took off undaunted, I came more slowly under the weight of the new responsibility.

He passed in his sleep a year ago April at the age of 16. We were away that weekend -- how strange, one of only two weekends in the whole year that we were not at home...I think he somehow chose the time, because he had shown no signs of illness.

And up until at least several months later, he was still guarding his food dish in the backyard, but that's another story entirely. All dogs go to Heaven unless they are On Watch.

BarbaraLynn

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: JenEllen
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 09:06 PM

Well....you all know about my 'Goose, but Im going to gush anyways!

I was working my way through school as a waitress at a summer resort in the mountains. One afternoon a guy cam in with two puppies he'd found by the road. The rest of the litter was dead in a bag in the ditch. He said he'd take one of them, but the other one needed a home. I did NOT need a dog, but I got one anyways.

He was a terror from the start. I named him Angus after Angus Mac Og. He truly had the power over day and night--well at least MY days and nights anyways..

I worked at the resort from 6am til 8pm. Long days with small trips up the hill to make sure he wasn't tangled around a tree or something, Scratch him and say hi. It was only in the second week that I had him that I ended up having to work over. Around 8:30 my boss came in to the restaurant and said "Your escort is here..."

Out on the back patio sat the pooch. He'd figured I was late, untied himself from the tree, and came to the restaurant to get me. It was like that the entire summer. I never did figure out why he didn't untie himself during the day and go play or something.

When I was in school, he was the perfect gentleman. Allowing us to poke and prod him, use him for practicing blood draws, radiographs, and bandaging practice. And when I brought home other animals in need of help, he gave up his bed, food, and attention in favor of the ones who needed it more.

He loves the mornings. We go walking before I leave for work. Some days he goes with me to the clinic, some days not. When I'm home, he's my black shadow. Curled up with his head across my feet so he can tell if I get up. He watches the goings on in the house with his paws crossed just like Kendall's pooch.

Last year, my house was broken into while we were home. Angus took off like a shot and attacked the guy. The last thing I saw was the two of them running into the woods at the back of the property. Angus came home dragging a leg and covered in blood. I took him in and my partner checked him over. I was a wreck. My partner came out shaking his head and I thought the worst. Turns out he was covered in blood, but none of it was his. It was the one and only time he's ever turned on another creature.

I've always loved animals, and always shared my home with them, but I can't say that any have affected me as much as this dog. Sometimes it feels like he's a guardian angel sent to give me a little boost. I can't sleep in, the black destroyer comes and pulls the blankets off the bed if I do. If I'm working too long, he'll lay his head on my lap and give the great big sigh....can't we go play or something?

And of course, no matter what I do, he thinks I'm wonderful. That kind of unconditional love is unbelievable. Totally unswayed by the money you make (just so long as you share your chow), and what kind of car you drive (just so long as I can go for a ride). Just scratch me on the ears and tell me I'm a good dog, that's enough.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Amergin
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 08:13 PM

Well, I used to have a dachsund many years ago and everywhere we lived she had a specific route she would take daily. Along that route and various points she had these "saps" who for whatever reason adored her and they would feed her their scraps and whatnot. The most famous (at least in our house) of these folks lived right next door to us, in North Idaho. He was an old German immigrant and he used to absolutely adore Toby (the dog's name). He would feed her so full of crap like ice cream, sausages and all sorts of other things. I swear he was just trying to fatten her up so he can have some sausage for breakfast. And fat she would get, her belly would hang down so low, it would scrape the floor. She's been gone seven years, I still miss her terribly. My first love....

Amergin

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 07:57 PM

My daughter gave me a sign to hang on our kitchen wall it reads...."HUSBAND, KIDS AND DOG MISSING....$10,000.OO REWARD FOR THE RETURN OF THE DOG."...KGH

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 07:08 PM

Indeed we do, kendall, but I don't regret a moment of it. We currently have 2 Pembroke welsh Corgis. I have never met a more "human?" breed of dog. Someone asked me a while back why I chose that breed, and I said, "Because they are perfect". The only serious drawback is that they are double coated, and boy, o howdy, do they shed.

I am so "critter oriented" that last weekend, camping at the lake, I took pictures of all the dogs (8) in camp. The hell with the people, they are only in the pics if they were accidentally in the frame with the dogs.

We also provide house service for 4 cats, and I move spiders outside (except for THOSE 2 kinds--they do get squished).

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: kendall
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 05:37 PM

One who loves, gives hostage to fate.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 07:29 AM

Banjer,I could'nt have said that any better..all of what you said if as if it was me talking..I guess animal lovers have a lot in common..KGH and Dulldan

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Banjer
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 06:48 AM

Yes Jim, I think those of us who are 'saps' lead a richer and fuller life than those that for whatever reason (fear, health, etc., in many cases no fault of their own) haven't experienced the wonderful feeling of those big watery eyes looking up at you, that long wet tongue brushing your hand, and the I LOVE NO MATTER WHAT look on the faces. As I sit here later in life I often regret not having been able to pursue the career in Veterinary Medicine as I wanted to at one point in my life. So I settle for the next best thing. Sharing what I can with the animals I love!

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: JamesJim
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 10:42 PM

What great stories. Our little dog Missy is a cockepoo, but looks like a minature cocker. We have had her since she was 8 weeks old and now she is almost 13 years. One evening, about 9 years ago, my wife was walking Missy and a little stray cat followed them home. Missy would normally bark her head off at cats, but not this one. She seemed to know it was in trouble and needed rescuing. After a visit to our vet, "Lilly" (derived from the Cheers character, Lillith, whom I think had a perfect cat personality) became a part of our family. They have gotten along beautifully.

There is a tiny bit of jealousy on Missy's part. In fact, the very first night Lilly spent with us, she followed us upstairs to the bedroom and jumped in bed with us. Missy had been perfectly content to spend her nights in the laundry room (behind a closed door), in her bed, but when she heard the cat getting all of our attention, she went crazy. From that point on, both Missy and Lilly have slept with us. They each know their position on the bed. Thank goodness for a king size bed. Yes, I'm a sap too. But ain't it fun? Jim

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:47 PM

Banjer and Wildlone/Dave, nice to see you both on here amongst the rest of the Sappy Critter Lovers' Lot!

Hi, my name is Kat and I am an animal lover, too! May it ever be so!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 07:24 PM

That site is wonderful SPAW.. it is great to know that there are others out there that are saps...KGH

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Banjer
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 05:54 PM

I knew of the Rainbow Bridge and had even considered putting a memorial there for Dee-Dee, just never got around to it. Like Kat and 'Spaw I too hope that it will happen that way, someday reuniting with my animal friends. Oh what a wonderful reunion that will be. Let's see, there will be Dee-Dee, Buzzy, Kelly, Heinz, Darby, Lady, Duchess, Cognac and Brandy, and a host of others that for one reason or another adopted me. There will also be cats, rabbits, a couple of birds and the list goes on and on.

Hello, my name is Ray and I'm an animal lover. If that is an illness, it's one I never hope to recover from!

Like Wildone said, animals ask so little and give manyfold in return. Just today I had a visit from my oldest son and his two dogs, (my grandpups). One is about two years old, a boxer/labrador mix and her "little brother" about 10 weeks old. He is a result of the same parents that she was. While Jimmy and I had a very pleasant visit, I must admit to spending more time playing and talking to the two grandpups!

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: wildlone
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 04:04 PM

I have a rescued corgi cross sheltie who adores loud noises including thunder in a storm she will keep running to the door to be let out and then looks up at the lightning.
During the firework displays for the millenium she was in her ellement.
Dogs give us so much and expect so little in return.
dave

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Metchosin
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 02:48 PM

Still no luck kat. My computer will import the midi but as soon as it starts playing, the whole thing crashes. It says it is caused by a type 2 error, which I think is a memory thing, but I have never had any trouble with sound files before, even large ones. I'm using Netscape and not Internet Explorer, perhaps that could be the problem?

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 02:06 PM

Try again, Metochsin, it has a midi file which takes a while to load. Dammit, Spaw, I already had tears enough!**BG** You'd better bet it'll be that way, if not I am not going!

katlaughingreally

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Metchosin
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 01:54 PM

Banjer, thanks for the story, she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Spaw, I don't know if it's just my computer acting up, but I've tried your link twice and my computer crashed both times. Too bad, I would have loved to have seen it, I'm a sucker for schlock, especially regarding animals, too.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 01:00 PM

Well, this thread wouldn't be complete without mentioning The Rainbow Bridge....scroll down a bit. I'm a sucker for schlock, but this is of course the way I'd like to think I'll meet all those wonderful 4 legged friends again.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 12:46 PM

Banjer.. What a touching story..I too have had a friend like that..her name was Pokie..She was a dear loyal little Lahasa..We got her when our son Gabriel was two years old and he (Gabriel) was her (Pokie) constant companion.. She was almost 15 years old when suddenly she was unable to use her hind legs.. She was in a lot of pain and after talking it over with Gabe and Chelsey we felt that it was unkind to allow her to suffer.. It was the saddest day we have ever faced.. The house felt like a tomb when we came back..I have never cried so hard..We miss her still and feel ( stupidly) that she lead us to Tazzie.. who is our new family member ....KGH

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Catlin
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 10:39 AM

My dog (who is sat at my feet ATM)is a sort of rescue dog. Her old owner works with my partner, and we got her when she was a year old. She was given to us because she ate the pet rabbit. She still is partial to a rabbit or two! She is a Border-Collie/German Sheperd cross and we call her Vixen.... because she looks like one!She is three nearly four now and still acts like a big puppy.

*Hugs* Catlin

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Banjer
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 10:20 AM

Ah, where to begin? Can't remember a time that there wasn't at least one dog around. Sometimes also cats, but loveable though cats can be, their independence makes them stray sometimes. Not so dogs. The current boss here in the house is a Chow/Shepherd mix about eight years old. He's been with us about seven and a half years. His intelligence knows no bounds. The facial expressions and body language he uses to communicate never cease to amaze me. His primary love in life is a tennis ball. Looking around the house I can see about a dozen of them in various stages of destruction. I don't set an alarm clock any more. Bear will come in and wake me each morning when it's time to get up. He doesn't do it on Saturday or Sunday, knowing that I'm off those days. Sometimes I'm already awake when he comes in, but lie around until he comes to do his job. It seems he takes a certain pride in prforming his duty.
Last December 27th I had to perform one of the hardest things a dog owner has to do. My 13 year old Shepherd, a faithful companion for over 12 years had contracted cancer and it was time to say goodbye to her. I have had have dogs put down before, but my Dee-Dee was the hardest I ever had to face. She was constantly by my side. If I sat in the chair in the living room, she lay beside it. If I moved to the couch, she also moved next to it. In her early years she knew when I got up from my chair in the living room it must be bed time and followed dutifuly down the hall. In later years she would get up and stand in the hall watching to see if I was coming, walking back to nudge me if I didn't move fast enough to suit her. She was everything a person could ask for in a companion. I chuckle occasionally when I think of her antics with the cat across the street. April (the cat) would come to the front door and meow until Dee-Dee was let out and took up the chase. April would then head for the nearest fence or under a vehicle knowing that the 65 pound dog would not fit where she would go. This game lasted between the two until April and her family moved away. As I sit here thinking of Dee-Dee and all the love she brought to me I can't help but feel sorry (not condemn) those that think dogs are 'stupid beasts' Unless one knows the unconditional love of a dog such as Dee-Dee or Bear, or any of the many others in my life, one cannot understand what real love is.

Subject: RE: Dog stories....
From: Metchosin
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 08:45 AM

In honour his Chihuaha "Butch Henry", and my two dogs Maddy and Old Wort and generally of dogs everywhere, my brother wrote a fiddle piece called "March of the Dogs" that can be heard on the Walter Bodega Band CD.

I am hoping Max will play it on Mudcat Radio on Wednesday. A reviewer said it was hard to listen to the music and not picture a parade of dogs coming down the street, tongues lolling and tails wagging. So for all dog lovers, hopefully you can hear it and if you aren't that fond of dogs and just like good music, you will probably still enjoy the tune.