Let’s talk dogs… the four-legged kind.
Since I graduated from college in 1978 I have had twelve dogs. All precious for one reason or another. One was bought (as a gift for someone else) from a pet store then given to me since they did not bond, one was purchased from a small-time dog breeder, one was sort of rescued from a family who couldn’t care for her anymore due to the new children in the house, and the rest, I am glad to say, were acquired from shelters/pounds. I miss the ones who have passed. All but two passed from old age, or complications from old age. One from cancer at age 8. And one was run over at 7 years of age. I hope to share their photos and stories in the future.
A few things I have learned along the way: 1) know the (primary) breed you are adopting, it helps in training… research!; 2) the first things you need to learn right away is what the dog likes, loves, doesn’t like, and hates; and use that to communicate what “Good”, “Very Good”, “No”, and “Bad” means; 3) pick one word or phrase (and gesture to use when silence is called necessary) for a command and STICK WITH IT!!! “Up” means so much, you can even make up nonsensical words as commands if you have to but STICK WITH THE WORD/PHRASE/GESTURE!! The problem with using unique or nonsensical commands compared to using standard commands, they won’t allow anyone to communicate with the dog if they get loose or are with veterinarians or other folks.
But let’s start with the current sweeties living with me now.
Babies currently residing with me.
#13 BLUE is a rescued full breed Pomeranian with papers. Still with me.
Blue *deaf*Also he is a Merle and probably a double Merle due to many unique physical characteristics for such dogs. First characteristic is an unexpected tan splotch on his all-white coat; Blue’s is on his back (oddly very similar in shape, size, and location to ZsaZsa’s; a previously adopted dog from the same rescue business, read below). Secondly, he is totally deaf. And finally, his eyes are an intense baby blue… hence the name. When adopted in January 2023 he was 5 years old. In the past year it has been a hoot figuring out sign language for a dog (I hope to provide on this website videos of how we communicate for those who help care for Blue every so often). It has taken a full year for him to bond with Maxie, and visa-versa. This was mostly because of the hospital stays twice of which Maxie had the most trouble adjust to another dog AND never been alone overnight since she came to live with me. But with little guidance they are now allowing each other to eat from the same plate (but they are usually fed separately, just something I think is a good practice); and playing a bit; and able to allow me to pet one at a time even when they are near each other without much disapproval. Adopting “special needs” dogs has been such a joy to me, they each give me a unique challenge helping them be all their (predominant) breed says they are.
#12 MAXIE rescued Wirehair Terrier; 4 years old when adopted in 2019. Still with me.
This skittish 20 lb. baby is brave… to a point. I know that sounds contradictory, but dogs, especially the mixed breeds, can surprise you. One of the benefits of adopting a dog. It took me a while to make her feel comfortable. She liked sleeping in corners and under hard-to-reach places. So, I gave in and set up a “Maxie’s Cave” under a Trindle bed (you know, where one bedframe can be folded down to slide under the other bed frame). Since then, slowly, she had come out of her shell. She comes when I call, and even will jump up on the bed when I am sitting there. Of course, she always gets her belly scratched and rubbed and a full body massage when she sits next to me. She also very quickly caught on to when I called my other fur baby, Tessa (when she was still with us), and she did not come, I guess it wasn’t fun for Maxie watching me seek out my Pomeranian and hearing me scold her for not coming when I called. (Come on I don’t scold them often, but I do expect obedience to certain commands for their safety.) So, on her own, Maxie would go find Tessa and gently herd her to me if she didn’t come at a second call! It was so cute and impressive on Maxie’s part. Now that I am retired, I am planning on testing Maxie’s IQ with more training, and maybe some mobility/agility training, which is good exercise for me.
The following babies will always be in my heart.
#11 TESSA rescued Pomeranian, 8yrs when adopted in Spring of 2018. Passed January 8, 2023, due to complications with her chronic bronchitis.
When I went to find a new pet for Zsazsa and me, I was not thinking Pomeranian. Especially one this small since I was uncertain if Zsazsa would think it was one of her many, many kids and I wanted her to forget those bad times. The main criteria was to adopt a special needs and older dog small enough for me to easily pick up, yet one with enough energy to get Zsazsa off of her bed when I was gone to work, like Genghis did in the past. Tessa matched my criteria and when Zsazsa and I met her we all clicked. One of the signs (from God I believe) was that I was told she didn’t jump onto sofas… guess what she did within a few moments of meeting me. It was magically odd that there was this tinkling sound as Tessa moved around the meet-n-greet room, I finally pinpointed the sound as being her “cat collar” … that is why one of the possible names would have been “Tinkles”. She was special needs in that she had no teeth, so her tongue hung out the left side of her mouth. They said she was a stray and, for the two weeks Midwest Animal ResQ had her, they called her Mariah. After a Facebook query I agreed with the consensus and named her Tessa. I mean Contessa is an Italian Countess, and Poms are very matronly… but I wanted a 2-syllable name. Within the first week she had not only gotten Zsazsa off her bed when I was at work (I watched via home camera in the dogs’ room) but she used every one of Genghis’ beds. I was thinking I was going to have to toss them when he passed. Also, she followed me around and performed some of the neatest tricks (I will try and upload videos sometime). So, for me she was healing my heart from Genghis’ passing.
#10 ZSAZSA rescued Pomeranian, *puppy mill mamma* 7.5 years, in 2015. New Beginnings rescue. Died Dec. 20, 2019.
She was a first time Puppy Mill Momma rescue for me. Little did I realize how much my efforts to train her would have to adapt to her circumstances. They adopt the mommas out at 7 ½ years old. When she first came to me she couldn’t walk through ANY doorway with out checking it out, must have been in a cage most of her life. She still won’t eat off a plate, but this has worked to our advantage since my other dog (Genghis) needed medication mixed in his food… this way there is no chance she will accidentally get the meds. It took me over a year to train her not to worry about doorways and to use the dog door by herself. Even though I was told she’d probably never play with toys, she loves plays with them daily now (especially the ones with squeakers in them)… and we play together with them. As of this update (2018), she still is not leash trained. She’s used to the harness now, but once on the leash she freezes… she actually becomes like stone. I fear for her heart when this happened. I recently talked to an adoption owner, and she told me some puppy mills use “rape sticks” that hold the female still as the male mounts her. So, this could be why the severe reaction. But I have a few ideas on how to help her overcome this so she can enjoy being all the Pomeranian she can be. Sept. 2018 Zsazsa collapsed, I rushed her to the ER (Blue Pearl Emergency Pet care in Overland Park, KS… BEST PET ER EVER!) After $1500 worth of examination, she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart with other complications of the heart. Her cardiologist (yes there are dog cardiologists, but each visit is $500 and they like to see them at least once a year if doing well) put her on 3 prescriptions ($100 a month) with a life expectancy of 6 months… and she got better. Later that year Genghis died, and 4 months later we got another Pomeranian Tessa. Tessa was the best thing for Zsazsa… now she had someone to show her how best to be a Pomeranian. She came to life like I had never seen before (remember Genghis was blind and not very social). Zsazsa lived another year and 4 months!!! She was happy and playing until the day I came home to find her dead… Dec. 20, 2019.
#9 GENGHIS rescued Shih Tzu age 10, blind, adopted from Great Plaines SPCA 10/2013. Passed: 12/27/2017 at 15 years and a few months, peaceably at home.
When Bonnie had passed I was out of work due to a layoff so I didn’t feel it right to adopt another dog until I could pay for it fully. But after about a month and a half of coming home to an empty house, my depression was getting to be serious. I heard of an adoption event at Great Plains SPCA for $35. I had a part-time job at this time and decided to check out the available dogs the last hour of the last day of the event (expecting not to find any small dogs). Well there was Genghis. He had been surrendered by his owner, he was 10.5 years old with one eye removed and a bad cataract in the other eye. Easy going, gentle. I first saw him when he was in a “meet-n-greet” room with another lady and her baby. Thank God she did not take him. I fell in love and, surprisingly, took him home that day. To this day, in many ways, I feel he saved my life. He loved cuddling and was always a slow mover, but when you held him he was like a limp rag… so trusting and open to all sorts of lovin’.
#8 BONNIE rescued Australian shepherd dog from Wayside Waifs/ 2yrs old but they said she was 4. Passed after a seizure at home July 2013.
I didn’t/ have Bonnie long, but it was a trying time. Again I got her from a local shelter, but I will never use this shelter again. They guaranteed me she was 4-5 years old. I knew that neither Bailey nor I could handle anything younger. My vet informed me she was 2 years old “if that.” But knowing she was days from being killed when I adopted her, and feeling that she was very loving, intelligent, and somewhat willing to learn; we decided to keep her. She’s Australian Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and German Shepherd mix. At 40 lbs. she’s not that tough to handle when she see’s something to tare after, but inside she doesn’t give Bailey or me much time to relax. She was the only dog that had an IQ higher than me. I’m not joking. She got out of the fence at least three times, an Animal Control Officer once helped me catch her. I even resorted to keeping her chained while in the back yard… I hate chaining dogs!!!! Once when I put her in the basement she figured out how to reach up and turn the knob to get out… and this was while she was standing on the stairs. But she had a blessed soul. Kind, loving, gentile, playful with Bailey and me. I even bought her “toys for the intelligent” dog. She figured them all out in a matter of minutes. Anyway as time went on she had a growth on her head, behind her ear that got to be golf ball size. The vet said there was every chance it was entangled in her brain with tendons. She was in no pain, so we waited for the seizures to begin when it got too large. Then one morning I woke to find her in the garden, having obviously had a seizure with the markings in the dirt.
#7 Bailey rescued American Eskimo 5yrs old from Lawrence Humane society. Passed via injection due to breathing issues primarily caused by a crushed trechia.
She was a once in a lifetime pet (actually I’ve had two, more details on Mally coming soon). He lavished me with attention many of us only dream of. I’ve had him for a little over seven years, he was five when I brought him home. I’ve come to believe that this breed was created to be a PROFESSIONAL companion! If you ever get the chance to visit with or care for one of these sweeties do it. According to the info I can find out about this breed is that they were originally bred to be circus dogs in this country. So they each are born with the ability to do a trick… some can dance, some can do flips, some can catch things in their mouths (like Bailey), with no training what so ever. The other great thing about her breed what that NOTHING stuck to her hair long. Once she got some kind of grease on her back fur, but before I could give her a bath… it was gone completely… NO residue! That was one of many times; uh, not the grease part but he part where she got gunky dirt on her fur.
#6 MAGGIE rescue from family who could not keep her anymore. Golden Retriever
Died via injection/euthanasia due to her contracting a blood disease only a short while after I took her in, about 4 years. The blood disease was diagnosed only about 4 months before she had to be put down. The doctor at Blue Pearl ER was fantastic in helping me understand the situation and then he sent me a sympathy card. Loosing her was such a loss for both me and Bailey.
Maggie was a sad dog. For a Golden Retriever she was pretty listless and standoffish. But we bonded especially after the first time I shaved her for the summer. And she became fast friends with Bailey. I may upload the videos I have of them playing when I decide the best way to do that. But I will remember this face that told me she was the happiest she had been in a while. As most retrievers she was mild mannered and very smart.
#5 MOTOR purchase from pet shop… more later.
#4 MALLY gift from breeder…. more later.
… my soul mate… if that’s possible.
#3 FOXY rescued spaniel mix 1yr. … more later.
… from Wayside Waifs in 19__
#2 MOTOR rescued poodle age 1…. more later.
#1 BOBO rescued poodle age 10…. picture later.
He was an older poodle when I adopted him. This was way back in the late 70’s. He was such a sweetie, but he had a mind of his own. Not liking to sleep with anyone, we had a pillow on the floor where you could find him a lot. He loved food, but somehow early on during one of his Vet visits I discovered he had diabetes and needed a diet restricted on salt. This required me to buy very expensive canned dog food from the vet, which he reluctantly ate. But on one of my visits I noticed the dry dog food would be much less expensive, after talking with the vet, I decided to try a 5 lb bag. Monthly cooking a whole chicken, deboning and removing the skin, I cut the meat up and put as much of the special dry food into the chicken water. Froze it in ziplock bags to thaw and warm when he needed it, and he ate it up like it was a meal fit for a King… which he was to me. A few years later (he’s about 13 or 14 now), he messed up his leg while walking one night. Vet said the tendons were shredded and he was concerned that even if the $2000 surgery fixed it, the other leg would succumb to the same malady. We chose to put him down. I gotta tell ya folks, being the first dog I owned that I put down I left him with the vet. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AS I LEFT THE ROOM AND THE VET SLOWLY CLOSED THE DOOR. IT HAUNTS ME TO TODAY! Since then, I am with the pet when euthenized or as they pass from old age no matter how much it hurts. They deserve at least that. And you know what, God created animals, the bible says there are animals in heaven. When I see Bobo again, I will spend as much time making up for leaving him as he sees fit to forgive me.