Look at that cute, fuzzy face! |
To us, they are amazing.
Friendly. Energetic. Smart. Teachable. Protective. Gentle.
Loyal.
And really, really fuzzy cute!
Our last breeding pair passed away several years ago.
Now, the house that used to be overrun with large, hairy,
four-legged beauties, is home to one.
Aldo.
The last puppy from our last litter.
Who just turned the grand old age of thirteen.
When Aldo was just starting to eat solids, we noticed that
he wasn't developing like his brothers and sisters. Something was definitely wrong. Concerned, we took him to the
vet, who promptly announced that he had Parvovirus and should be put down –
along with the rest of the puppies in the litter.
But I’m a veterinarian’s daughter. And his symptom - diarrhea - just
didn’t convince me that such was the case.
I put him in the bathroom in the care of my fifteen year old
daughter.
For two days, she made sure the tiny puppy ate and drank –
especially drank.
And then we discovered that he did just fine if he was fed
adult dog food. That the puppy formula was simply too rich for those sensitive
puppy innards.
Huh.
We changed his diet. He began to thrive.
But the time spent together in that small room created a
bond that we simply didn’t have the heart to try to break.
So Aldo stayed.
He has been an amazing companion to all of us. And boasts a
higher vocabulary than many people.
My daughter has him very, very well-trained.
We didn’t realize how well-trained until yesterday.
My daughter’s theatre job necessitates some late nights.
Yesterday was one of them as, following her production, she and her husband and
co-workers struck the set.
It was very late indeed before they opened the front door of
home.
Aldo, who usually waits quietly on the front hall carpet
until his mistress gets home, was nowhere to be seen.
Odd.
There was evidence that he had been there. A few crumbs from
a Dentabone were visible.
My daughter called him.
I should mention here that Aldo is in perfect health. He
just can’t hear any more.
Unsruprisingly, there was no answering scramble of dog feet.
She went to the back door – which had been left open into
the sunroom.
There she noticed something else. The screen door of the
sunroom was slightly open.
When Husby installed that door, he put brightly-coloured
strips of hard plastic at intervals across the screen so Aldo wouldn’t run into
it and harm himself – or anything else.
Ironically, Aldo figured out how to open the door – using those
handy strips of plastic. And his all-purpose doggie nose.
There is only one drawback. He hasn’t yet figured out how to
close the door afterward.
She went into the yard, still calling, and stopped at his
doggie run. Aldo’s run is cleaned after each use, but she found evidence that someone had walked him.
She went back into the house and finally to her room and
Aldo’s bed.
There he was, in blissful doggie-dreamland.
He noticed her, happily welcomed her, then flopped down and
went immediately back to what he had been doing.
Snoring.
Obviously not needing a quick trip out back because someone’s
mistress was doing who knows what instead of tending to him.
It took a moment, but she finally figured out what had
happened.
When his mistress didn’t appear at the usual time, he got himself
a treat. Walked himself. And put himself to bed.
The prefect dog.
His DNA is available on request . . .
Yep. Tired of waiting. |
A dog on auto-pilot! I'll take one. No, two.
ReplyDeleteI'll put in the order...
DeleteI don't know of any dog that would limit himself to one treat if he had access to the box. Aldo sounds like the perfect self-sufficient pet, no maintenance required.
ReplyDeleteKind of like a goldfish. With fur...
DeleteWow. The perfect dog, and a perfect gentleman with it. Only one treat? Unheard of.
ReplyDeleteI think he should teach classes.
DeleteOhhh ... what a sweet story, Diane. I'm so glad Aldo got the chance to live, and to stay with your daughter. This one pulls at the old heartstrings, all right ...
ReplyDeleteThere's not a day goes by that we aren't grateful.
DeleteI love a good dog story! And a good dog story!!
ReplyDeleteHeehee! And this is both!
Deletethat's just lovely - what a great dog : )
ReplyDeleteHe's a keeper, Leanne!
DeleteA perfect dog! How lucky you are to have him.
ReplyDeleteWe totally feel the same!
DeleteThat is one very smart and VERY well trained dog..oh yes....and CUTE.
ReplyDeleteI figured you'd like him, Delores!
DeleteWhat a sweet, independent dog. There were times when my kids weren't trained as well.
ReplyDeleteHeehee! Mine, either!
DeleteI love tis story, it reiterates how wonderful sheepies are, they have an uncanny ability to instinctively know what needs to be done and can read our minds and feelings. Aldo is such a sweet boy.
ReplyDeleteSo true! I just wish he'd do the dishes. And the vacuuming...
DeleteAgreed, if only it were possible.
Delete