For the Love of A Dog, or Two
Dog is known as man's best friend. They are called this for a number of reasons. Loyalty, courage, love, faithfulness. The list goes on, but with each of them there is a special bond that they form with their owner. I don't like to use the word owner, I don't own the dog, I care for them and they in turn care for me.
They come in every shape, size and color. From the funny looking doxie to the huge Mastiff. Solid in color, many colors, long hair, short hair, wire hair. No tail, long tails, big ears, little ears. They come in so many way's it's difficult to describe them all.
The one thing that they all have is love for their owner. Treated right, they will love you, protect you and always be by your side. Even dogs that are mistreated will love their owners.
Descendants of wolves, and many times you can see the wolf in them. They have been mixing with humans for thousands of years. We use them to herd and guard livestock. We use them as War Dogs, we use them for every imaginable task. And they, in turn, excel at the tasks that we give them.
I have had dogs all my life, and currently have two dogs. A mini doxie named Wiki, AKA, Wiki the Warrior Wonder Wiener AKA Hebrew National and Annie the Orphan, a mutt of about 35 lbs.
Most of you know the story on both. Wiki we found starving in a parking lot in Wikiup AZ, she was around three months old when we rescued her. Annie was a stray that was living in a house under construction in back of us. She is between 7 and 8 years old. When we found her she was starving and had bite wounds on her forehead, snout and hind leg. She was was fighting for her life as was Wiki.
Both times, the Redhead (my wife) and I said, no more dogs, we are retired and want to have the freedom to travel and not the responsibility of caring for dogs.
Well, seeing Wiki in the parking lot starving, no water and she had fought off other animals, shown from the bite marks on her. We simply could not leave her, once she was in the truck with us on our way home to Henderson NV. A couple of hour drive, we knew that we would do our best to save her and would keep her. Last year the second trauma befell her. A spine injury rendered her paralyzed in her hind legs, she was just short of 5 years old. She came through the surgery and is walking and running again. Annie has been with us since Oct. and is back in good health.
You're probably wondering what in the world am I babbling on about. Well you know what the dogs get from us. Food, water, shelter, love.
It's what we get from them that really counts.
Wiki our little 13 pound guard dog and Annie our 35 pound body guard for Wiki give us many things.
We were concerned about them taking up our free time, being retired we have a lot of free time and they fill in that time for us. I would rather walk in the woods with them and enjoy nature then take a cruise. I would rather play chase with them then go to a fine restaurant. They make us laugh with their antics. They never leave my side and for that I'm grateful.
Bath time is a three ring circus and one that I love, since I end up laughing and making a mess. Red isn't happy about it, but she tolerates it. They are my fishing buddies, and love being in the boat with me.
In the evening, Red will sit in her chair reading, Wiki will be there and wants to be picked up. Soon she is snuggled in next to Red, enjoying life. I'll be sitting on the couch and Annie will be sitting next to the couch. She's too big to be on the furniture, which she understands, but I'll have to get her blanket and lay it on the floor next to the couch. They she expects me to pet her while I'm reading. Soon the both of them will be fast asleep. Red and I will look at each other and shrug, what can we say, they are our best friends.
A few years ago, I was taking Wiki for a walk in the desert and we were approached by two coyotes. In the area we lived in they can be very aggressive and small dogs are a meal for them. As they approached, Wiki put her little body between me and them and proceeded to issue them a warning. She would not have stood a chance against two coyotes but she was willing to protect me at the cost of her life.
Annie on the other hand is 35 pounds of muscle, a very powerful dog, but one that loves everyone. If she feels that Wiki is in danger, she puts that powerful body right next to Wiki and issues a warning to everyone, do not try to hurt Wiki cos you'll have to deal with me.
As I said earlier, what do we get from them. Well my friends it's difficult to explain. We talk to each other, Red thinks I'm a bit nutty, but we do understand each other well. Wiki, Annie and me that is.
I guess what we get from them is that we all know that were there for each other. And that is what really counts.
In a couple of hours Annie will be awake and ready for her walk, we'll head into the timber and she will run free. Wiki is the sleep in type and isn't ready for a walk till around 11am. Then it's me, Red and the girls headed into the unknown. Since we live in the mountains the walks are really exhausting, but watching those nubbie little legs of Wiki, pumping away, trying to keep up with Annie makes it all worthwhile.
As we watch them romp, run and play, perhaps it reminds us of our childhood, when we were free to romp and play. Being a kid or a dog isn't all that bad a deal.
Kavika, all right reserved 2013
UPDATE...Wiki is now 10 years old, but still a puppy at heart, Wiki is her name, playing is her game. Annie is now around 13 and is very hard of hearing, some adjustments have been made for this and she is adapting well. A few months ago we discovered a lump on Annie's side. It was a mass cell tumor which was operated on, sadly it came back in a month and she underwent her second surgery. It was hard on her but now she is free of the cancer and back to her old self.
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The bottom photo is Annie recovering from her surgery. That sad face is now all smiles again.
You're the best advertisement for Daschhounds there is - After reading what you have to say, why would anyone want a different breed?
LOL, well I sure do love doxies. Wiki is the third one that we've had...But Annie is a wonderful dog as well. I call Annie my ''Sweet Girl''...
Great shots of your Fur Babies. I hope Annie's recovery is quick. Please give her a hug and kiss for me. ( you better give Wikki a hug and kiss also, or you may be in big trouble because you know she will be jealous! ) LOL
LOL, your right you can't give one a hug without giving the other one a hug Nona.
Unconditional love ♥ Isn't it amazing? Always love hearing how Wiki and Annie are doing!
It is amazing Uppy...The girls say your pretty cool for a human...LOL
I read a test to see, true, unconditional love. Lock your partner (spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/whatever) in the trunk of the car along with your dog, open the trunk after a half an hour and see who is happy to see you.
I've been thinking it's time to start looking for a new best friend, because mine has been gone a year and 4 months, but who is counting? Well, yeah, I am. Here's my beast:
And I miss her everyday.
LOL, that's a really great/funny test. I'm having a problem getting Red (wife) in the truck...
I can see why your miss her Spike, a beauty of a dog.
What a sweetie she must have been! Don't wait any longer, dear Spike. You need that dog joy in your life! And there are plenty of dogs that need loving homes!
I'm really sorry for your loss!
Thanks Dowser. I think my neighbors are getting a little tired of their dogs coming straight to me (and ignoring them) when I come over......dogs can tell who is one of their own.....
And my mom agrees with you as she's seen me with every dog I've ever had.......
Dogs just know. So do cats, but dogs are more open about showing it... There is something about a good dog at your side that makes you feel safe and content...
Yeah, cats that normally don't socialize come up to me and rub/arch on me.
They know who are good people... They can tell!
Some cats are just scared of people they don't know, but after they're around you a bit, they come to realize you really like them and won't hurt them... At least mine do-- all but Neve. She's terrified of everything! Even me, sometimes...
My three cats are very social! They'll say hi to just about anyone!
Many of my residents have pets...cats and dogs. They tell me all the time that their animal "adores" me! I get right down on the floor, at their level, and play with them when they come around my office for a visit. Jasper got so excited to see me the other day that his human had to come back down after taking him home to clean up a little "puddle"...oopsie!
LOL
I have owned dogs all my life, and cannot imagine living without one. Right now, I have 2,both terrier mixes, one about 25 lbs and the other about 35 lbs. Once I figure out how to post pictures, I will do so.
Man gives the Dog the food he can spare, the space he can spare, the time he can spare, the love he can spare. The Dog gives us... everything. It is the greatest bargain that Man has ever made.
I figured it out, Kipling is on the left and Maggie is on the right.
Great photos Rhyferys....If you want the comment to be above the photos simply write your comment then put in the photos.
Thanks for stopping by.