Talking to Dogs & other Empty Nest Weirdness

 Good day readers and followers.  Welcome to late summer here in the USA!   I came to a point of realization yesterday as I was getting ready for work.  The world has long since started to return to what used to be normal.  We don't all just work at home.  We go to the office, we go to see clients, we leave the house and for me that means leaving my dogs by themselves.  My pups don't really like when I leave for long periods.

First let me explain my two pooches again.  Skye, my girl, was adopted from a rescue at nine weeks old.  Skye was born at the rescue, a place where some of the volunteers come in just to play with the dogs.  The happiest dog ever, she was adopted to be a buddy to my aging Westie, Piper, who has since passed over the mythical "rainbow bridge."  Skye is a mix of mini-greyhound, Jack Russell and Chihuahua, 13 pounds of speed, happiness and fun.  My older daughter and my granddaughter lived with me for the first four years that we had Skye with Piper.  They moved out two years ago but live nearby and we see them about five days a week.

 After Piper died I took some time but then adopted Ripple from another rescue.  Ripple is my boy, he is slightly smaller and darker and the exact opposite of Skye.  He is a mix of Chihuahua and mini-Pinscher and was five years old when we adopted him.  In the year and half as part of the family  he has made progress from being afraid of everything, hardly making a sound and staying in corners where he felt safe.  He came from a sad situation where he was hoarded with 40 other dogs.  He was suffering from malnutrition, abuse and lost teeth and never had medical care,  He is now happy, wags his tail, barks and actually plays a little. Ripple went from absolute fear to trusting me.  I was here every day working through the pandemic.  I was the human feeding him and getting him outside.  

As the world moved forward Rip, slowly, steadily developed trust in me.  If I was getting ready to roll out he would get and still gets nervous.  Rippy likes sameness.  He went from fleeing at the sound of the leash cinch to running to the backdoor for a walk or car ride with Skye when I pick up the leashes. Both run toward the sound of my daughter Lauren and granddaughter Bella when they show up.  Ripple still hasn't figured out how to go down steps so he tap dances along the top until someone picks him up.    They love their humans.  They get excited when my other daughter Kelcie shows up smelling like her dog and cats.

A trip to the vet doesn't phase them.  The soft sound of female voices is soothing and intriguing to both pups- their vet office is about 90% female staffed. They fuss over them like a best friend.  To me they really are a best friend in what could be a very lonely world.  Skye will hop on my bed while I'm working.  Ripple gradually moved from one safe spot to another after finally learning, at five years old how to go up steps.  Finally he set up camp right next to my work desk.  Trust.  Lauren bought him a new big bed with matching blanket for Christmas that he likes to nussle under.  I talk to them like they're people.  

I have meetings with humans, I go to the office and interact with other people and see Lauren and Bella several days a week since the pandemic restriction loosened.  However, without my pups, the nest is empty.  It's an open nest and Bella will stay over once in a while when her Mom has to work the early AM shift.    I have a routine, I am very regimented and when Skye & Ripple see me packing my briefcase they get nervously clingy and follow me around.  If both are downstairs they will actually run to and block the door to my driveway.  As I was packing up the last of things to go to my office and a client they were whining and trying to block my way.  I turned and said "look, I will be back by 1:30 to work from home. I will be here all afternoon."  

After scooting them into the kitchen with a quick pat on the head I went out to go to work.  I paused and realized that I just had a conversation that was ridiculous.  I think dogs can spell, at very least Piper, Skye and Ripple.  To keep their excitement minimized i would spell w-a-l-k or c-a-r-r-i-d-e, both fave activities.  I swear they figured both out...but none could read a clock-not even a digital clock.  I shook my head and laughed at myself.  Skye and Ripple are great companions.  I take pride in the fact that Ripple has transformed from a frightened, underweight and somewhat sickly little guy with no trust in any human to where he is today.

Skye was so happy when he came home but once she realized he wouldn't play she dismissed him and became jealous when he got any attention.  Now they are both friendly and a little playful with each other, and compete for the whole family's of humans attention.  The Answerman says "Your dog(s) can be a best friend, they are not judgemental, appreciate all our efforts with happy wags, cheerful barks and sounds.  All it takes is a ball to fetch, some kind words, good food, water and treats, and they will love you boundlessly-- but they still can't tell time."

Be Good, Be Safe

Answerman