This week-end I have had two house guests, my daughter/son-in-law's two pet dogs. One is part chow with the turned back, twisty fluffy tail. The other a Pomeranian with the same type tail. Two very different dogs in temperament, but they are friends by circumstance. Cujo the small dog has been in the family for many years. He was a comfort after they lost a much loved sheltie named Bruno. As Cujo aged they thought it wise to have a companion so they found a rescue dog in much need of love and attention. She was nursed back to health with medical help and human love. I recall conversations about what to name this new pet. I heard, "Girl" first, then it was Rocky. Why Rocky?, well she looked like Rocky Marciano, the boxer.
On this particular Saturday afternoon, when it was sunny and mild, I decided to have a visit to the deck at the top level. I invited the dogs to come along, but only Rocky accepted. The sun being in the southern sky late in October, most of the deck was in shade. The plastic deck chairs were turned around and leaning against the wall of the house, in order to prevent dust, etc. from collecting in the seats. I took my chair over to the southern end of the deck where I could sit in the sun. By turning the chair to the north, I could enjoy the sun on my back.
It was a pleasant place to be. The warmth of the sun on my back, the gentle intermittent breeze on my face and occasional distant roar of an airplane all made for a lazy feeling. Rocky's behavior was one of exploration by observation. She went to various railings to stick her head out to the east, south and north. I could almost read her mind. "It looks different from up here", "I wonder if I could just step down there", "oh, if only I could get that yellow butterfly over the hill", "I will try this other spot", "nope, still too far away", "maybe if I just lie down and rest it will help".
The most interesting thing about being up high and in the open is being able to see the tops of the trees from this angle. The dogwood at the top of the pathway is leaning toward the house, not close or dangerously, just to show it is seeking more sun. I can see how crowded the camellia is making it for both the dogwood and the holly bush, also the gardenia and the azalea. There is much competition for rain and soil. I am looking out at the English Ivy which I foolishly started 15 years ago. It has made it up the hill and went beyond my expectations. It just naturally wants to climb and every tree on the hillside knows it. I make a mental note to find time to cut back this beautiful but damaging vine.
As my mind is wandering over the tops of the trees, a plane flying low brings me back to my task at hand. I had brought out my lesson for next Thursday to read and digest before our circle meeting. We are studying Revelations and the lesson is on the symbols of strength which various nations have used over the centuries. In this last book of the Christian Bible it is vividly comparing these symbols to the most powerful yet mildest symbol, the lamb. Quite a contrast with much food for thought.
Rocky is scratching at the door, his signal that his reverie is over and he is ready to leave this strange observation post. So, gathering up my materials and replacing the chair, I reluctantly leave this sanctuary for enclosed spaces.
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Kids Say and Dogs Do
Having two dogs in my care for a week gives me an opportunity to observe their behavior up close and personal. They communicate with body language. I often wonder what they would say if they could speak in my language. With kids however they use all means available to communicate. Sometimes it can be pleasing and sometimes comical.
I have noticed a new behavior in Rocky, the rescue dog. When I let him out he does not want to come right back in. I notice he likes to lie down in front of the closed storm door. I just left him there and he was quite content to just recline there, surveying his surroundings. I have noticed that Cujo sometimes wants to watch what is going on outside, although when it is hot he is happy to come into a cool house. Since they spend their time indoors just lying around it does not seem that big a change to me.
Kids are quick to let you know what they want from very early on. Mothers know that when a baby cries he needs something, usually milk. But it can be a frantic effort if a mother cannot quickly ascertain why her baby is crying. That is why mothers dread a colicky baby. A friend once told me of her experiences with a new baby. Her baby was crying constantly. Her mother came over to lend a hand. She took the baby and wrapped it up in a soft receiving blanket and the baby stopped crying immediately. You may have noticed in a hospital nursery the babies are "bundled". I think it is because in the womb babies are in a specified area, by bundling them you mimic that environment which they were accustomed to. Thus they feel safe.
When children have begun talking it is easier to understand their needs and things go more peacefully. In most families there is a story to tell of how one of the children used this tool of communication. I got my name from my first grandchild. He was watching out the window for my arrival when he was around two years of age. He ran to his mother and said "Bubbie is here". I have been Bubbie ever since.
My own son delighted us all by saying " I'm full of injury". He had picked up on my comment that he was full of energy. In turn many years later his son delighted me with a rhyming jingle. He was around age 4 or 5 and I was taking him to the movies. We were both in a holiday mood. As we walked from my car to the theater ticket booth we were holding hands. I began to sing a quickly made up ditty, while swinging our hands back and forth. "You're my buddy, you're my pal". Quick as a wink he came back in the same tune, "You're my girl friend, you're my gal". He has no doubt long forgotten this incident. But I have not. I was delighted that he could respond in such way. I thought it showed intelligence and surprising adaptability to a new situation.
Sometimes a child's actions will speak volumes without speaking one word. Many years ago when I was a first grade classroom teacher, a new student came to our school. I was told he was in the school office and would I come and get him. When I arrived he had crawled under a chair and no one could entice him to leave the spot. I sat down on a chair near him and began to talk to him. I explained who I was and what was going on down in my classroom. His mother had enrolled him and left as she had a job to go to. He was trying to protect himself from any further insults by hiding under a chair. I was able to gently and casually get him to go with me to see what the children were doing in our classroom. When we came to my room he did not want to come inside. I told him that was okay, as I would bring his desk out in the hall. I put his desk where he could observe what was happening inside and as time went by I would walk by his desk and say a word or two to him, just as I was circulating inside the room.
At some point as I came by his desk I asked him how he was going home at the end of the day.I needed to know if someone was picking him up or if he was going home by bus. He tearfully said he did not know. I said "Well, don't you worry about it. If need be, I can take you home myself in my car". Without one word, he stood up and walked into my classroom. Actually I knew some other option was open to him but he needed reassurance that he had not been abandoned.
About this same student I learned later that he and his mother were homeless and had been living in her car. She had just found shelter with a family member and had gone out looking for work. No doubt, she had so much on her mind that she did not consider the anguish her small boy was experiencing . Perhaps if she had not rushed away without meeting his teacher the transfer could have been much different.
Years earlier I got a surprising response from a young student. He was a very confident young man and diligent in his work patterns. I paid him a high compliment one day and told him if he ever ran for president I would vote for him. He said, "You would be dead by then". At the time I was 50 with no plans for an early demise. I wonder what happened to this capable young man.
I can conclude by stating, don't count out dogs or children as one never knows what they will say or do.
I have noticed a new behavior in Rocky, the rescue dog. When I let him out he does not want to come right back in. I notice he likes to lie down in front of the closed storm door. I just left him there and he was quite content to just recline there, surveying his surroundings. I have noticed that Cujo sometimes wants to watch what is going on outside, although when it is hot he is happy to come into a cool house. Since they spend their time indoors just lying around it does not seem that big a change to me.
Kids are quick to let you know what they want from very early on. Mothers know that when a baby cries he needs something, usually milk. But it can be a frantic effort if a mother cannot quickly ascertain why her baby is crying. That is why mothers dread a colicky baby. A friend once told me of her experiences with a new baby. Her baby was crying constantly. Her mother came over to lend a hand. She took the baby and wrapped it up in a soft receiving blanket and the baby stopped crying immediately. You may have noticed in a hospital nursery the babies are "bundled". I think it is because in the womb babies are in a specified area, by bundling them you mimic that environment which they were accustomed to. Thus they feel safe.
When children have begun talking it is easier to understand their needs and things go more peacefully. In most families there is a story to tell of how one of the children used this tool of communication. I got my name from my first grandchild. He was watching out the window for my arrival when he was around two years of age. He ran to his mother and said "Bubbie is here". I have been Bubbie ever since.
My own son delighted us all by saying " I'm full of injury". He had picked up on my comment that he was full of energy. In turn many years later his son delighted me with a rhyming jingle. He was around age 4 or 5 and I was taking him to the movies. We were both in a holiday mood. As we walked from my car to the theater ticket booth we were holding hands. I began to sing a quickly made up ditty, while swinging our hands back and forth. "You're my buddy, you're my pal". Quick as a wink he came back in the same tune, "You're my girl friend, you're my gal". He has no doubt long forgotten this incident. But I have not. I was delighted that he could respond in such way. I thought it showed intelligence and surprising adaptability to a new situation.
Sometimes a child's actions will speak volumes without speaking one word. Many years ago when I was a first grade classroom teacher, a new student came to our school. I was told he was in the school office and would I come and get him. When I arrived he had crawled under a chair and no one could entice him to leave the spot. I sat down on a chair near him and began to talk to him. I explained who I was and what was going on down in my classroom. His mother had enrolled him and left as she had a job to go to. He was trying to protect himself from any further insults by hiding under a chair. I was able to gently and casually get him to go with me to see what the children were doing in our classroom. When we came to my room he did not want to come inside. I told him that was okay, as I would bring his desk out in the hall. I put his desk where he could observe what was happening inside and as time went by I would walk by his desk and say a word or two to him, just as I was circulating inside the room.
At some point as I came by his desk I asked him how he was going home at the end of the day.I needed to know if someone was picking him up or if he was going home by bus. He tearfully said he did not know. I said "Well, don't you worry about it. If need be, I can take you home myself in my car". Without one word, he stood up and walked into my classroom. Actually I knew some other option was open to him but he needed reassurance that he had not been abandoned.
About this same student I learned later that he and his mother were homeless and had been living in her car. She had just found shelter with a family member and had gone out looking for work. No doubt, she had so much on her mind that she did not consider the anguish her small boy was experiencing . Perhaps if she had not rushed away without meeting his teacher the transfer could have been much different.
Years earlier I got a surprising response from a young student. He was a very confident young man and diligent in his work patterns. I paid him a high compliment one day and told him if he ever ran for president I would vote for him. He said, "You would be dead by then". At the time I was 50 with no plans for an early demise. I wonder what happened to this capable young man.
I can conclude by stating, don't count out dogs or children as one never knows what they will say or do.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Man's Best Friend
My son-in-law said that I had neglected to tell of the sainted dogs which he calls my grand children. So, in all fairness I shall tell of the dogs I have known. Some of the memories are not happy ones. I shall get that out of the way quickly.
Years ago when my 18 year old grandson was around four years of age, he was spending some time with me here at the lake. I tried to give him different experiences when he was with me. We would go to the park nearby and under the shade of a huge willow tree set up camp. Those were happy endeavors, as we could play in the water and even do a bit of swimming.
Occasionally we went to a park which had an emu farm next to it. Also there was a fine walking path, all paved and used by visitors to get in a nice walk or run in a safe area. One day we were walking around on this path and out of nowhere came a vicious dog baring his teeth and on a definite mission to bite one of us. The sight of him plus the speed of his approaching alarmed me so I picked up my grandson and turned around so he would not be bitten. I have heard to never turn your back on a dog, but if I had not, things could have been worse. The dog jumped at me and took a bite. What he got was a mouth full of lavender shorts. I got a triangle shaped wound which proved to be more bruise than bite. My shorts forever had a triangle tear and so did my undies. My screams and the animal growling alerted the owner of this dog. He called to his dog and he retreated to his owner's property.
Going straight home, I called the sheriff's office and a deputy came to my house. I filed a report .He took a picture of my wound and followed up on the incident. The man lied about the dog having had his rabies shot. The county took the man to court and I had to appear. I took the "evidence" with me but the judge did not ask to see it. He had pictures that the deputy had taken. The dog was quarantined for the prescribed time and I stayed away from that park. This was a shame as it was fun to see the emus in the field , walk on the path and for my grandson to play on the play equipment there.
But, it could have been worse so we shall put that aside and focus on the fine qualities of man's best friend. The canines of this world have proven in many ways to be extremely valuable. They can be trained to detect illnesses in humans, serve as guide dogs, to track lost children and evil doers. They make excellent assistants to those who serve to protect us in many ways. Not to mention the companship they provide for their owners.
Some are trained to develop natural tendencies as sheep dogs to herd sheep. My son Jim, had a Shetland sheep dog who was lovable, protective and much beloved by all of us. When his master, as a small boy, would be swimming in the lake this dog swam with him. He impeded Jeff's swimming as he continually swam around him in circles to protect him. He was a family dog and took his job seriously. We all mourned his passing. He lived a good, productive life and there was no replacing him.
As a dog lover you tend to want a dog in your family. So as time passed, they found a Pomeranian. A prettier little fur ball would be hard to find. His master gave him the unlikely name of "Cujo". Cujo is engaging , sociable and so very entertaining. He lives to chase tennis balls. This had to end as it was ruining his teeth to jump up and catch the balls in mid air. Cujo has what I call a prissy walk. His short legs and curled back tail help to convey this appearance.
Perhaps his masters thought he needed another dog to keep him company. So, they found a rescue dog which needed a lot of love and care. She was just a puppy but had already seen the hard side of life. They nursed her to good health and Jim began to train her to be a good companion. They thought to call her by several names but settled on Rocky as her face reminded them of Rocky Marciano.
As I see it, Rocky has one flaw. She cannot resist a roll in a good mud hole. I became all too aware of this the first time I kept the dogs for a week. My daughter and her husband went to New York and brought the dogs to my house. Not too long after they left I let the dogs out for a quick run. Cujo was back in about five minutes. Rocky was not. When she did appear from the direction of the lake she was covered in mud and proud of it.
It was nearing dusk and I could not leave her outdoors so something had to be done NOW. My sister Ruth was here and she helped me get a leash on her. Then I wiped her feet as best I could. I led her upstairs and with my left arm in a cast, somehow managed to get her in the bathtub. With my one good arm I was able to spray her, soap her up and spray again, three times. For she was really muddy and also stinky. When it was all over with, I had a very dirty cast from my wrist up to my armpit. But I also had one clean dog.
Since then I have kept Rocky and had no mud incidents. The training collar is a big help. She is able to communicate very well and is a more relaxed kind of dog. Her whine means "let me go out now or you will be sorry". The paws up on my chair says " Get off the computer and pay attention to me as I want to play." Cujo communicates well when necessary. When he wants his food bowl replenished he turns it over with his nose. The noise tends to get your attention.
After the dogs leave my house it seems empty. I feel vulnerable without them to alert me of any approaching cars, or a deer they spy from the front window. They are good at chasing the deer away and that is best for my garden.
I have never owned a dog and do not feel competent to care for one on most occasions. But having one visit from time to time is a nice change. Do I want to have a dog of my own? Well, noooooo. I have too many projects going on now but having a wireless alarm system like Cujo and Rocky can be a comforting feeling for me.
Years ago when my 18 year old grandson was around four years of age, he was spending some time with me here at the lake. I tried to give him different experiences when he was with me. We would go to the park nearby and under the shade of a huge willow tree set up camp. Those were happy endeavors, as we could play in the water and even do a bit of swimming.
Occasionally we went to a park which had an emu farm next to it. Also there was a fine walking path, all paved and used by visitors to get in a nice walk or run in a safe area. One day we were walking around on this path and out of nowhere came a vicious dog baring his teeth and on a definite mission to bite one of us. The sight of him plus the speed of his approaching alarmed me so I picked up my grandson and turned around so he would not be bitten. I have heard to never turn your back on a dog, but if I had not, things could have been worse. The dog jumped at me and took a bite. What he got was a mouth full of lavender shorts. I got a triangle shaped wound which proved to be more bruise than bite. My shorts forever had a triangle tear and so did my undies. My screams and the animal growling alerted the owner of this dog. He called to his dog and he retreated to his owner's property.
Going straight home, I called the sheriff's office and a deputy came to my house. I filed a report .He took a picture of my wound and followed up on the incident. The man lied about the dog having had his rabies shot. The county took the man to court and I had to appear. I took the "evidence" with me but the judge did not ask to see it. He had pictures that the deputy had taken. The dog was quarantined for the prescribed time and I stayed away from that park. This was a shame as it was fun to see the emus in the field , walk on the path and for my grandson to play on the play equipment there.
But, it could have been worse so we shall put that aside and focus on the fine qualities of man's best friend. The canines of this world have proven in many ways to be extremely valuable. They can be trained to detect illnesses in humans, serve as guide dogs, to track lost children and evil doers. They make excellent assistants to those who serve to protect us in many ways. Not to mention the companship they provide for their owners.
Some are trained to develop natural tendencies as sheep dogs to herd sheep. My son Jim, had a Shetland sheep dog who was lovable, protective and much beloved by all of us. When his master, as a small boy, would be swimming in the lake this dog swam with him. He impeded Jeff's swimming as he continually swam around him in circles to protect him. He was a family dog and took his job seriously. We all mourned his passing. He lived a good, productive life and there was no replacing him.
As a dog lover you tend to want a dog in your family. So as time passed, they found a Pomeranian. A prettier little fur ball would be hard to find. His master gave him the unlikely name of "Cujo". Cujo is engaging , sociable and so very entertaining. He lives to chase tennis balls. This had to end as it was ruining his teeth to jump up and catch the balls in mid air. Cujo has what I call a prissy walk. His short legs and curled back tail help to convey this appearance.
Perhaps his masters thought he needed another dog to keep him company. So, they found a rescue dog which needed a lot of love and care. She was just a puppy but had already seen the hard side of life. They nursed her to good health and Jim began to train her to be a good companion. They thought to call her by several names but settled on Rocky as her face reminded them of Rocky Marciano.
As I see it, Rocky has one flaw. She cannot resist a roll in a good mud hole. I became all too aware of this the first time I kept the dogs for a week. My daughter and her husband went to New York and brought the dogs to my house. Not too long after they left I let the dogs out for a quick run. Cujo was back in about five minutes. Rocky was not. When she did appear from the direction of the lake she was covered in mud and proud of it.
It was nearing dusk and I could not leave her outdoors so something had to be done NOW. My sister Ruth was here and she helped me get a leash on her. Then I wiped her feet as best I could. I led her upstairs and with my left arm in a cast, somehow managed to get her in the bathtub. With my one good arm I was able to spray her, soap her up and spray again, three times. For she was really muddy and also stinky. When it was all over with, I had a very dirty cast from my wrist up to my armpit. But I also had one clean dog.Since then I have kept Rocky and had no mud incidents. The training collar is a big help. She is able to communicate very well and is a more relaxed kind of dog. Her whine means "let me go out now or you will be sorry". The paws up on my chair says " Get off the computer and pay attention to me as I want to play." Cujo communicates well when necessary. When he wants his food bowl replenished he turns it over with his nose. The noise tends to get your attention.
After the dogs leave my house it seems empty. I feel vulnerable without them to alert me of any approaching cars, or a deer they spy from the front window. They are good at chasing the deer away and that is best for my garden.
I have never owned a dog and do not feel competent to care for one on most occasions. But having one visit from time to time is a nice change. Do I want to have a dog of my own? Well, noooooo. I have too many projects going on now but having a wireless alarm system like Cujo and Rocky can be a comforting feeling for me.
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