Technorati Tags: My Dogs, Nikki And Shorty

Isn’t it funny how our dogs (my Nikki) behave. I just put up a new little rug at the front door (it fits her perfectly)…and, right away she finds it and claims it. As if I put it down just for her

Smart dogs.

Technorati Tags: home dog training & lifestyle, My Dogs

I am writing a lot about my own dogs lately. After losing 2 of my dogs, so close in time, I feel compelled to write. So, I am starting a new series “MyDogHouse”. That is what I always nicknamed my home. This is an introduction into the many stories that lurk in my corners. I know it’s confusing. But, that’s o.k. It’s just an intro!
Finding The Right Dog At The Right Time.

When we first married, we got 2 little Miniature Long Haired

Dachshunds, Rusty and Dasher. Rusty was pure red, and Dasher had black on his ears.

They were really cute (and kinda funny looking) dogs. We had them both for almost 16 years.

Within that 16 year period my husband was diagnosed with MS. And, not long after we put our precious little dogs to sleep, my husband became disability retired.

At that time we decided to get a big dog. A Golden Retriever, Katie!

And, after Katie came into our house, a stray Black Lab, Sammy adopted the whole family J.

Sammy’s own young owners just divorced, and Dad got to keep Sammy. Sammy kept running away from his new home, into our backyard with Katie. We officially adopted Sam…a purebred lab. He was a most amazing dog. Katie and Sammy became instant buddies.

Then, my step son got a dog (black lab) for his birthday. He didn’t have room for it. So, we ended up with 3 dogs. Katie, Sam and Dukie. And, they became a great threesome. They never fought! Only played and did everything else together.

The kids after school always used to come to the gate yelling: “Katie, Sammy, Dukie” over and over. (We had a doggy door, and one by one they would run to the gate J

All our neighbours knew our “threesome”.

Well, the last of our threesome passed away last week. That was Dukie, he was 14 years old. And he was blind for pretty close to his whole life.

The first of the three to go was our Sammy. He got cancer. He was my husband’s closest buddy. It was a tough time for my hubby. He was going through 16 hour operations and MS related issues at the time.

We got Benny at that time. Hoping Benny would bond with my husband. Instead, Dukie drew closer to him.

When it was time for Katie to go, I was torn apart. She was my companion, friend. She was everything a dog could be. It was like a kick in the gut, and like my heart was ripped out.

I couldn’t stay without a Golden, so I got Nikki. Nikki, Benny and Dukie were awesome together. Then, Benny got cancer, and at the age of 7, (a few months ago) joined Katie and Smmy.

(A picture of Nikki, staying close by Dukie in his final days…she knew it. They always know)

Now, back to Duke. We know that Duke was going to die (not long after Benny), and that would leave Nikki grieving for both dogs, and alone. So, we decided before Dukie would have to leave us, we would introduce a new dog for her to bond with.

And, that dog is Shorty. A small 55 pound black lab, 3 years old, from the pound. There are issues with Shorty, as there are with a lot of “pound” dogs. BUT, she is absolutely bonded to both Chris, my hubby, and Nikki.

So now, after years of saying “My Three Dogs”, we are down to 2 dogs, young dogs, Nikki is 4 and Shorty is 3.

Wow, what a canine history.

Technorati Tags: Finding Right Dog, Lifestyle Pets, My Dogs

My Nikki & Benny. And, My Wonderful Dukie!

We had 3 dogs in our home. I nickname it MyDogHouse.

- A 14 year old black lab, Dukie, blind for 13 years – A Poem For Dukie

- A 7 year old black lab, Benny ( St John Therapy Dog), - A Poem For Benny- and a

- 4 year old golden retriever , Nikki (A “Therapeutic Paws” Therapy Dog).

In Late October I had to put my Benny to sleep; he had thyroid cancer. This was totally unexpected. It went so quick I am still in shock over this. This hit me like a kick in the stomach.

Yesterday, I had to put my Dukie to sleep. We knew this was coming. He was old. But, age makes it hurt no less!

After Benny left us, Nikki went into a very deep depression. They were best of playmates and did everything together, including visiting the elderly. She drew ever closer to her Dukie. But, we knew that Dukie would also leave us very soon.

So, we decided to bring a new dog into the house BEFORE Dukie left us. That way, Nikki could get bonded with the new dog before losing her Dukie.

We picked one out at the Humane Society – The Pound. Her name is “Shorty”, she is a 3 year old black lab. This is another long story in itself. But, I am happy to say that both Shorty and Nikki bonded by the time my Dukie left us.

Bringing a dog into the home, especially an adopted dog, always brings issues with it. But, they are solvable issues.

It is an exciting moment when you bring a new dog into your home. A little scary, depending on the circumstances. It is a happy moment, a new moment in time, but, it is also stressful, especially if there is another dog in the home already.

I will share moments of loss, of bonding of fighting and of love in future articles.

Our new “Shorty” will not only be Nikki’s friend and playmate, but also a “service” type dog for my husband, who has advanced MS.

Technorati Tags: My Dog House, My Dogs

I had to put my friend and companion of 14 years to sleep yesterday. Dukie (taking a walk in the park) was an amazing Black Lab, blind for the last 12 years. Two months ago I also had to put my Benny, a 7 year old Black Lab to sleep. I have a friend who sent this lovely poem to me. He also sent a poem in honor of Benny. These poems are pricelss, and worth sharing.

A Poem from Dukie

I closed my eyes and it all went dark
I couldn’t move and I couldn’t bark
And just when I thought that I was no place
All my old friends started licking my face

All my old friends that had left before
Greeted me at an open door
When I walked through I saw a beautiful place
Sunshine and forests and plenty of space
Meadows and rivers to my heart’s content
This is the place all my friends had went

But the on sad thing about all this bliss
Is that we miss our dear friends, Ruth and Chris

Goodbye for now………..
Love Duke

To my friends and readers: Just to let you know that today I put my Dukie To Sleep. He went very calm into his night. I remained with him the whole time. After 14 years, It is difficult to say goodbye. Dukie was also Chris’ buddy throughout the years. Chris is my hubby, who has advanced MS. Dukie was our faithful friend.

Technorati Tags: A blind dog in house, Dukie My Blind Dog, My Dogs