Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Dec 15, 2012 - 12:04am PT
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Omg dlintz, that is one well behaved dog. You can see how much he wants that burger, but he will not disappoint.
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dlintz
Trad climber
Neebraskee
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Dec 15, 2012 - 07:06am PT
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Lol. Thanks, guys. That was his "will you just take your damn picture so I can eat already" look. The more photos I shot, the less cooperative he became....but he did wait until I was done.
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eKat
Trad climber
ecokath.com
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Dec 15, 2012 - 07:11am PT
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CAMMIE!
:-)
And. . . dlintz. . . WHOA!
ox
P.S. I love ALL doggies. . . TFPU, everybody!
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Dec 15, 2012 - 12:00pm PT
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I probably tell the story every year on this thread....
My old dog Kaya was my best friend and companion for 15 years. She was the only constant in my life during a time of many changes.
She was the best crag dog and barely ever needed accomodating but in the last few years of her life , she needed help and I was happy to oblige.
On December 15th she finally let me know it was her time to go.
A mobile vet came to my house and administered the shot. I hugged her and spoke to her as she took her last breath.
I was gutted.
I cleaned the house fastiduously and tried to convince myself that her passing would open up so many possibilities for me. Those overseas trips I turned down, those places I couldn't take a senior dog- I could do it all now, free from guilt or worry.
Time passed differently after she was gone, and I realized I hadn't been missing out on anything since her passing. What I was missing out on was the love and companionship of a dog.
A year and a half passed before I entertained the idea of another. I searched shelters on line but I still couldn't do it, it didn't seem right or I wasn't really ready.
Then one day a little black dog appeared at my door, literally. I had been looking for a mid sized dog, maybe a cattle dog- a smart, dialed in, and agile breed. This little black dog was a chihuahua, definitely NOT who I was looking for.
I was set to make the drive back to Arizona for a holiday visit and had to make the decision quickly. Would this dog fit my lifestyle? Was I ready? A chihuahua, really?
Well I made the call to take her. She was a bit timid, as a street dog may be, but we hopped in my little Honda and started the seven hour drive, fueled by many Grateful Dead discs at high volume.
On I-10, right about at the turnoff for Josh, It dawned on me. It was December 16th.
Two years to the day of Kaya's passing, this little black 1/8th scale model shows up out of the blue on my doorstep.
I guess it was meant to be.
By the time we reached Blythe, she was dialed in to the program. I was able to let her out of the car with no leash, tell her to get back in and get in back- she followed commands perfectly and waited for the next. After less than 24 hours, she was my dog.
I named her Rosebud, after one of Garcia's guitars.
In Arizona she blew the minds of friends and family "you've only had this dog for HOW long?".
She was obedient, friendly, relaxed, and so perfectly trained you'd think I'd been working at it for years.
I took her to the vet for a once-over and to try and see how old she was. The vet said probably two years old.
I told the vet the story of Kaya and how two years to the day this little dog showed up.
Her response- "I think it just took her two years to find you".
Well, Rosebud has proven to be an amazing dog- a beyond capable crag dog and perfect companion. I love her so much, as you've probably seen in pictures on this thread.
So today, December 15th is a very special day for me.
Rest in peace sweet Kaya and Happy Birthday Rosebud.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Dec 15, 2012 - 12:08pm PT
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^^^^^^. Mmmmmmm.... Have you read "The Art of Racing in The Rain" or "A Dog's Purpose"? Yes, I'm a true believer they live on...
Susan
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Dec 15, 2012 - 12:28pm PT
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That's a great story, jefe.
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Tobia
Social climber
Denial
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Dec 17, 2012 - 04:31am PT
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drljefe, Kaya's story isn't much different than that of my 17 1/2 year companion, Ziggy, pictured somewhere on this thread. I had another black lab named Bob; but he met an early demise. Our dog's names are seemingly from the the same source.
I wasn't ready for any dogs after Ziggy passed either; they came to me in odd ways. Emma, a border collie mix and Lola, a lab mix. I haven't trained them as well as I did Ziggy and they stay home for the most part; but I don't know what I would do without them.
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bookworm
Social climber
Falls Church, VA
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Dec 17, 2012 - 08:19am PT
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i think i've mentioned Merle's Door somewhere on this thread...the best book about a dog (a real dog)...beware, you will cry through two chapters
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Gal
Trad climber
a semi lucid consciousness
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Dec 17, 2012 - 08:40am PT
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I loved that book!
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Gal
Trad climber
a semi lucid consciousness
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Dec 17, 2012 - 08:45am PT
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The girls are getting together again, time to bust out the Christmas sweater...
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Timmc
climber
BC
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Dec 17, 2012 - 10:22am PT
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Donald Thompson
Trad climber
Los Angeles,CA
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Dec 17, 2012 - 05:43pm PT
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Excellent story Mr. El Jefe
My dog Kip ( a Basenji) passed away a couple years ago at the age of 19'years 7 months.
4 days later I obtained an 8 week old Border Collie. This puppy , unknown to me of course, had parvovirus and almost died. I once had experience working for a vet so I nursed him back to life and health. The rest is history, as they say. I later learned that all 5 of Chip's litter mates died. He is the soul survivor.
The bond we developed from our earliest time together, when master and dog faced the grim reaper ,and triumphed, has been very special and rewarding.
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Dec 17, 2012 - 05:55pm PT
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Gotta love the dog thread.
No fussin' or fightin', just cool dogs.
All of 'em. Love all of 'em.
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zBrown
Ice climber
chingadero de chula vista
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Dec 17, 2012 - 07:22pm PT
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ziggyBrown?
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Dec 18, 2012 - 12:13pm PT
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Rainy day, and I'm stuck indoors with three big dogs, one of which needs exercise and wants to play.
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Bad Climber
climber
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Dec 18, 2012 - 01:29pm PT
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Got to the top of our local mountain with the wife and the hound. Here we are living a great moment--so many good ones with the doggie around.
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eKat
Trad climber
Less than a second shy of 49 minutes
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Dec 21, 2012 - 08:33am PT
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Dec 21, 2012 - 10:15am PT
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hey there say, drljefe... i always love that story... and the amazing new dog,too :)
thank you all fro sharing these tender stories, along with all the fun ones that make us laugh--and cherish the OTHER reasons we have dogs:
because they are such 'clowns'... ;))
say, chaz:
as to your quote:
Rainy day, and I'm stuck indoors with three big dogs, one of which needs exercise and wants to play.
wow, i must say though, that i only know that part way--patty ann marie, is a 'couch potatoe' when she is not being her 'race whippet self' or her 'lab fetching self' or her 'sharpei whatever they do' self, :))
thus, i do okay on cold rainy days... she only needs a quick 'once aroung' so:
the CATS get elected, unless she brings a toy to me, due to THEM ol' cats, being hiding, :))
however, a day ago, or two, she got a GREAT workout--yep, just a one-minute one--but enough fun to keep her happy through yesterday's cold rain, and this blizzardy thing here now:
:)
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splitter
Trad climber
Cali Hodad, surfing the galactic plane ~:~
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Dec 21, 2012 - 11:59am PT
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;)
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