Just a couple more memories from yesterday’s dogs.
I mentioned that Sherlock (a Lhasa Apso) came into our
family and immediately settled in. His
only negative trait was that he got car sick.
Like driving from the house to the end of the block. Since he had to go to the groomer regularly,
on those days he got nothing to eat and had an early morning appointment (he
still had the dry heaves going to and from).
He went early, came home early and once, with four feet on the ground,
immediately went to his food bowl to eat.
One trip to the groomer was a bit troublesome because there
was a miscommunication of sorts. I told them to
give him a “summer cut” (as in cut it short) and they shaved him to the
skin. When I went to pick him up they
brought out a dog I’d never seen before.
Are you sure this is my dog? sez
I. Doesn’t look like my dog. Not
acting like my dog. Yes, yes, I was
assured, he just had a bit of trauma with the “cut” – cage says Sherlock. Oookkay
doubtfully said. Put said dog in the
back of the station wagon and went home.
Odd, no throwing up. Humm! Once home, this dog ran under a sofa and
refused to come out. As I was looking
for the phone number to call, it rang – groomer – ooops, gave you the wrong
dog. Yeah,
I told you so. So, I went back got
my “thank god you’re here happy to see me” dog that was also shaved to the
skin. We didn’t go back there again.
Now, I wouldn’t want you to think I’m an irresponsible pet
owner. When Bandit came to live with us,
he was a fully mature male dog. MHN had
never had him neutered and in fact, turned a little green whenever it was
mentioned. I believe I told you already
that Bandit was a lover of all female dogs in heat (he liked people too but the
problem was mostly the other thing). After
many phone calls of “please come get your dog”, I finally said – Bandit had to
be fixed or go live with MHN’s parents.
Enough was enough. Honest-to-god,
it was a major deal – he (this would be the human ‘he’) whined and whimpered
and fussed and boo-hoo’d. You’d though
MHN was going to the vet. Bandit –
couldn’t have cared less. When all was
done, Bandit pretty much stayed in the yard, with only the occasional trip out
to sit on somebody’s car (sigh).
As I said previously, after Gus died, I did not want another
dog – ever. We moved away from Galveston
in the summer of 2004 and in November of 2004, MHN came home one day and dumped
a fat little black and white puppy in my lap.
If you don’t like
her, I can take her back was his only comment. Cheating – who doesn’t instantly fall in love
with a cute little puppy. MHN insisted
on a “tough” name for her (nothing frilly or girlie) and she informed us her
name was Morgaine LeFay. (King Arthur –
Camelot - powerful enchantress) From the
get-go, Morgan was a very opinionated girl.
Play – yes, play, a lot. Play
meant – I throw the ball. She chased the
ball. She picked it up and bounced it a
couple of times. She put down the ball
and pranced back to me. And, then waited
for me to get the ball and throw it again. Well, she was an only child. Sometime later, while I was in Arizona visiting,
during a phone call to MHN, I commented that when I got home we might discuss
getting another dog as a companion for Morgan.
Later that same evening, I got a call from MHN. I got
the dog, sez he. Huh, what
dog? Morgan’s
brother – so she has a playmate.
And, Merlin arrived.
The two of them were a good match. Morgan was bossy and Merlin was obedient to
his sister. Now, during play time, if I
threw the ball, Morgan raced to get it first, picked it up and dropped it, then
Merlin would pick it up and bring it to me.
All worked out well. Anytime we
left the house, both dogs would howl, yip, yowl, and yodel to the point that
more than one person asked me – how many dogs are in there? Two, just two.
Merlin was a digger.
And he was known to dig under the fence (and dig a hole large enough for
his sister who was quite a bit larger) and wiggle out. Eventually, the fence had cement blocks all
around everywhere he could dig.
A few years ago, Merlin became very ill and ultimately left
for the summer lands. It was very hard
on both Morgan and me. So, now Morgan is
once again an only child and pretty much rules the house.
Take care
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