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Time for another ‘my dog is awesome’ thread

Patricio Swayze

By Patricio Swayze
in Daily Texan

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Sbbruin
Sbbruin

Well that was just about the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  How is it that an animal buries itself so deeply into your heart and soul.  He was my best buddy in the world.  Not seeing him waiting in th

Al_4_ISU
Al_4_ISU

Oliver left us last night. He waited until I got home from the field, brought him to bed, snuggled him, and tucked him in. Then he left. I could sense for the past 10 days that he was saying goodby

Reynolds Woodcock
Reynolds Woodcock

Had to say goodbye to one of my best friends of the last 14 years today. Her name was Avery. At 8 weeks old she was left tied up in front of my future father in law's vet clinic. Freshly out of c

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Deej

Deej 76944

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Yep. She was more than a normal rescue. Got her at 12 weeks old. At 16 weeks, she got sick to the point where the specialist we were referred to threw their hands up. I remember the vet tech bringing her back out to me with tears in her eyes. Lot of money and many trips to College Station, and here we are. 

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Deej

Deej 76944

Posted
Posted (edited)
11 hours ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Preferred puppy style harness?  Large triangle or simple strap?

I use the large triangle. I feel it distributes the pressure across their chest better, plus they tend to stay in place better. 

Edited by Deej
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futureman

futureman 22552

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nice little article, if you’re into that sort of thing.


https://www.wsj.com/articles/little-bit-karl-rove-dog-loss-passing-pets-joy-grief-cocker-spaniel-11631740732?st=pqkstz0zvtfe5zk&reflink=article_copyURL_share

 

Why God Created Dogs

Pets are a reminder to balance joy and grief. A fond farewell to the world’s greatest dog.

Spoiler

Just after 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, Little Bit Rove, the world’s greatest dog, passed from this life to the next. She apparently had an arrhythmia from birth and despite the best efforts of Dr. Julie Page of Palisade, Colo., and her Valley Emergency Pet Care colleagues in Basalt, Little Bit’s loving heart gave out. She’d have been three in November.

My wife Karen and I had been without a dog since our border collie Nan died in August 2015. On Christmas 2019, Karen decided it was time. Her gift was a promise: I could pick out a dog from a nearby hunting preserve. 

When we arrived at Joshua Creek Ranch, the cages on the hunting trucks were filled with a dozen or more dogs that the guides let out so we could see them all in action. From the scrum of animals, a sleek black English cocker spaniel emerged, running straight for us. She jumped on me, her little white tail wagging eagerly, as if to say “Nice to meet you! We’ll have fun today! If the rumors are true you’re looking for a dog, keep me in mind!” The issue was settled.

So Little Bit traded up, moving from a crowded kennel and the converted barrel in which she slept to a giant suburban home with doting parents. It was February 2020, just before we were all locked down and separated from family and friends. Little Bit’s arrival was fortuitous. Who knows what our mental health during Covid would have been like without her?

Despite the several dog beds scattered around our home, she set her eyes on ours as her preferred sleeping spot. At first she’d wait for an invitation, her snout and front paws perched on the bedspread. But a few weeks in she realized she was queen of the house and began jumping up into her rightful place in the middle where both her subjects could scratch and rub her. 

Little Bit loved long walks, especially at the ranch where she’d match each of our miles with two or three of her own, zigging and zagging over hills and pastures. She wouldn’t get into our pristine swimming pool but jumped enthusiastically into every scum-covered cattle trough. 
 

 

She required daily trips to the park and when she tired of playing chuckit—the brand’s launcher lets you huck a ball much further than your arm—she’d retrieve the yellow orb and run back, then swerve off at the last second, clutching the ball in her mouth and pointing toward home. She knew after meanderings through creeks, mud and foliage, she’d receive a rubdown with a beach towel, which she delighted in.

A great traveler, Little Bit loved riding in cars—any car, actually, which proved to be a challenge. Every open car door was an invitation to jump in. While riding in the back seat, she did two things with equal delight: observe the scenery and then fall asleep until delivered to her destination. 

Everyone loved Little Bit, and she returned their affection, offering enthusiastic greetings to friends. Dog sitters would fight over the opportunity to be with her, though we eventually started driving for vacations so that she could come along.

Little Bit especially enjoyed going to work with Karen, who’d take her across the street to run on the Texas Capitol grounds and say hello to her pals, the state troopers standing guard. 

She appeared in videos we shared with friends marking holidays or offering invitations to parties and ranch weekends. She even had her portrait painted by a former president, who captured her regal bearing, penetrating eyes and long ears.

For 18 months this loving, joyous spirit was a big part of our family. On vacation the Saturday before last, we slept in, Little Bit wedged right up against me for warmth. We went for her morning business, then she ran cheerfully through the hotel to report to Karen and snuggle more, rising after a while for breakfast. A few minutes later, she went into convulsions. She recovered somewhat on the frantic ride to the vet’s but was gone within the hour.

I’m no theologian, but believe God grants us pets to encourage us to give and receive unconditional love—to see loyalty personified and to remind us that we must balance joy and delight with loss and grief in this transitory life. 

Karen and I are so grateful Little Bit was part of our family, even for a short while. She’ll always be in our hearts. RIP, LB.

 

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Sbbruin

Sbbruin 21898

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, futureman said:

nice little article, if you’re into that sort of thing.


https://www.wsj.com/articles/little-bit-karl-rove-dog-loss-passing-pets-joy-grief-cocker-spaniel-11631740732?st=pqkstz0zvtfe5zk&reflink=article_copyURL_share

 

Why God Created Dogs

Pets are a reminder to balance joy and grief. A fond farewell to the world’s greatest dog.

  Hide contents

Just after 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, Little Bit Rove, the world’s greatest dog, passed from this life to the next. She apparently had an arrhythmia from birth and despite the best efforts of Dr. Julie Page of Palisade, Colo., and her Valley Emergency Pet Care colleagues in Basalt, Little Bit’s loving heart gave out. She’d have been three in November.

My wife Karen and I had been without a dog since our border collie Nan died in August 2015. On Christmas 2019, Karen decided it was time. Her gift was a promise: I could pick out a dog from a nearby hunting preserve. 

When we arrived at Joshua Creek Ranch, the cages on the hunting trucks were filled with a dozen or more dogs that the guides let out so we could see them all in action. From the scrum of animals, a sleek black English cocker spaniel emerged, running straight for us. She jumped on me, her little white tail wagging eagerly, as if to say “Nice to meet you! We’ll have fun today! If the rumors are true you’re looking for a dog, keep me in mind!” The issue was settled.

So Little Bit traded up, moving from a crowded kennel and the converted barrel in which she slept to a giant suburban home with doting parents. It was February 2020, just before we were all locked down and separated from family and friends. Little Bit’s arrival was fortuitous. Who knows what our mental health during Covid would have been like without her?

Despite the several dog beds scattered around our home, she set her eyes on ours as her preferred sleeping spot. At first she’d wait for an invitation, her snout and front paws perched on the bedspread. But a few weeks in she realized she was queen of the house and began jumping up into her rightful place in the middle where both her subjects could scratch and rub her. 

Little Bit loved long walks, especially at the ranch where she’d match each of our miles with two or three of her own, zigging and zagging over hills and pastures. She wouldn’t get into our pristine swimming pool but jumped enthusiastically into every scum-covered cattle trough. 
 

 

She required daily trips to the park and when she tired of playing chuckit—the brand’s launcher lets you huck a ball much further than your arm—she’d retrieve the yellow orb and run back, then swerve off at the last second, clutching the ball in her mouth and pointing toward home. She knew after meanderings through creeks, mud and foliage, she’d receive a rubdown with a beach towel, which she delighted in.

A great traveler, Little Bit loved riding in cars—any car, actually, which proved to be a challenge. Every open car door was an invitation to jump in. While riding in the back seat, she did two things with equal delight: observe the scenery and then fall asleep until delivered to her destination. 

Everyone loved Little Bit, and she returned their affection, offering enthusiastic greetings to friends. Dog sitters would fight over the opportunity to be with her, though we eventually started driving for vacations so that she could come along.

Little Bit especially enjoyed going to work with Karen, who’d take her across the street to run on the Texas Capitol grounds and say hello to her pals, the state troopers standing guard. 

She appeared in videos we shared with friends marking holidays or offering invitations to parties and ranch weekends. She even had her portrait painted by a former president, who captured her regal bearing, penetrating eyes and long ears.

For 18 months this loving, joyous spirit was a big part of our family. On vacation the Saturday before last, we slept in, Little Bit wedged right up against me for warmth. We went for her morning business, then she ran cheerfully through the hotel to report to Karen and snuggle more, rising after a while for breakfast. A few minutes later, she went into convulsions. She recovered somewhat on the frantic ride to the vet’s but was gone within the hour.

I’m no theologian, but believe God grants us pets to encourage us to give and receive unconditional love—to see loyalty personified and to remind us that we must balance joy and delight with loss and grief in this transitory life. 

Karen and I are so grateful Little Bit was part of our family, even for a short while. She’ll always be in our hearts. RIP, LB.

 

Nice, but a little flawed.  World’s Greatest Dog title went to Crosby long ago.

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AUS-97HORN

AUS-97HORN 11824

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2 hours ago, Sbbruin said:

Definitely her mother’s dog.  She is bonded to her way more than me, although she’s sweet.  But fuck me if she isn’t in full puppy disaster mode.  And Crosby was never a barker.  She is.

ahhh  I have a solution for you.

since she is a mammas girl, go ahead and get yourself a daddys boy pup as well....  may even help curtail Maya's energy.

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Sbbruin

Sbbruin 21898

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4 minutes ago, AUS-97HORN said:

ahhh  I have a solution for you.

since she is a mammas girl, go ahead and get yourself a daddys boy pup as well....  may even help curtail Maya's energy.

Uh, no.  This one dog is too much work as is.  I actually don't mind her being mamma's dog.  She has to deal with her more. Crosby was definitely my dog.  This one can be hers.

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Deej

Deej 76944

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1 hour ago, Sbbruin said:

Uh, no.  This one dog is too much work as is.  I actually don't mind her being mamma's dog.  She has to deal with her more. Crosby was definitely my dog.  This one can be hers.

Two dogs are easier than one. You get a lot more free time while they entertain and wear each other out. 

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pch

pch 1261

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Posted
9 hours ago, Deej said:

Two dogs are easier than one. You get a lot more free time while they entertain and wear each other out. 

This!  We adopted 5year old brother/sister miniature poodles and they do just this.  Nothing like having two lap dogs to watch football with.

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