The Last Chapter of Freedom and Animals

Suggestions from Experience When It Comes To A Puppy

My son August’s black Labrador dog just died after a long drawn out illness, and here is what I didn't send along with my condolences, as it’s probably too early to even think of getting a new pup.

Hello August,

I know it's early to be thinking of getting another dog. I'm not too much for replacing an irreplaceable dog, but most dogs are so different that there are no comparisons to be made, so it's more like getting another kind of animal.

But it's difficult when you have a new puppy no matter what breed. It means house training, and it's best if someone is home all the time. When having to be away for several hours, I recommend having a crate (or dog carrier for a crate until he grows out of it) if you don't want to cordon off a kitchen or other tiled floor and put down papers for the pup for those times and its sleep area. We've ended up having the pup sleep with us, as they will wake you when they have to go to the bathroom... in the middle of the night. It's a bit like having to get up for the baby, and then having to change the baby's diaper in the back yard. Many a shivery morning I've been outside with a pup saying, "Get Busy!" until he'd get busy, then lavish praise as if his accidental peeing on the grass was something genius. When you do get a pup, the schedule for his house training is first thing in the morning; after breakfast; an hour later; and before lunch... Sometimes for a young pup, you just take him out every time he gets restless. If you haven't gotten another dog in between, getting a new pup in between, you forget how difficult it is having a puppy. In fact, you forget all the bad stuff, but just remember how cute and lovable the little pup was. But there are many books and puppy guides.

I've sworn off puppies, partially because an older dog's personality has already developed, but mostly because I'm getting too old for all the ins and outs of house training a pup. I'm sure I can come up with a house trained really lovable mongrel from the Humane Society, and end up saving a dog's life as well as giving him a home.

Here's my run-down on breeds I've experienced, and I'll take it from my first home dog for whom I have a conscious memory:

Heather... Mongrel dog who wasn't spay. Get your dog neutered... not worth the trouble finding homes for the pups even if they were thorough bred, but not to the kids...they love puppies, and would be willing to keep every one.

Jeanie [...with the Light Brown Hair] Scotch Collie. [...AKC regis.] Mom going into pure bred puppy raising. The pure bred puppies money raiser didn't work out, but had a nice litter of Collie/Wire Haired Terriers. Would not recommend raising pups for earning extra money.
The collie has too heavy a coat of hair. Needs grooming when all the winter coat wants to leave at one time. Otherwise nice family dog that likes to keep the family together because of her herd dog tendencies. Not likely to roam. Females are notably smaller than males. I think miniature collies would have the same personality, and either sex would be a nice size.

Blitzen... German Shepherd. When that stray was found it already had distemper. As a result, lost his ability to find his way home when out wandering. Another dog later on had distemper and couldn't stand noise. Do not get a dog that is prone to get distemper (like...who would?) But, get his shots, and remember... sometimes there are dogs who get the disease anyway. As for the breed being kind, remember Claude... that breed has been bred to protect or as police dogs. Good with families, but not with visitors. Don't do it. Maybe a female, but why? They shed a lot also.

Toby....Miniature Spitz. Yippy little dog. Again, not neutered. [Probably would have been nice if neutered]. Toby used to hump everything in sight but a female dog, but did so only once, and it was to another miniature spitz; beautiful puppies resulted, but old Toby went home with your grandmother and died with a smile on his face. His work was done.

Kiyoodle...Wonderful Wiemaraner. Judge not by Kiyoodle, we had one later that couldn't stand being alone, and learned how to open every door in the house, and if you left it locked, you ended up sorry while repairing the damage... also couldn't be left alone in the car. But Kiyoodle was wonderful. We could leave him better than take him until he got used to riding in the car and no longer tossed his cookies each time. Great with kids. Big dog.

Pup-up...Weimaraner #2... not so wonderful... see Blitzen... was the other one that got distemper even though he got his shots. Died diving under a noisy milk truck...couldn't stand any noise as an after effect of its distemper.

Kaiser... Weimaraner #3... see above described as not like Kiyoodle and became a Houdini.

Wendy... English Springer Spaniel... field breed. Wonderful with children. Good all round dog. [Tip]: Friends got male dog because of liking Wendy, only the male smelled stronger... so they said. Think theirs went hunting by himself or otherwise got in trouble roaming. Any hunting dog is going to want to team up with another hunting dog and ...go hunting. Wendy teamed up with a beagle next door... would come home to eat, otherwise, out hunting, until the beagle and family who owned him moved.

Claude... Male German Shepherd. Great with family, but wanted to be King of the World. Wanted to be the only male dog, then only male anything. Only Muffin the cat could live around him, be a smaller male animal, and live. Make good guard dogs if that's what you want or need.

Gayle... Yellow Lab... bred to be a Guiding Eyes Dog. Was wonderful with everybody, and practically invited company to come in even if a burglar... "Come in... take anything... Here... Woof! Woof!... take my chewy bones even!" But, then, you know a totally other story on Labs.

Millie...English Springer... not so wonderful with children: "What the hell are those mis-formed humans... Yuck! Growl! Keep those midgets away from me...Grrrr..."

Polly... Beagle/Basset mix... good hunter until later became gun shy. Millie jealous of Polly and knocked a tooth out... later pierced one of her ears for same reason. Polly not jealous until after Domino, and we got Bear... The "Bad News Bear." Polly was great with children until she adopted Millie's attitude about children, but is coming around again because of Bear's saving grace... I'll get to that.

Domino... German Shorthair... think personality of Kiyoodle. The second most loved dog I've ever owned. Unable to get through writer's block to write about him. However, wanted to hunt and with the company of Polly. If let outside together, they'd leave for days. Wouldn't do that alone, so we had to let out separately, and had to have one or other leashed when taking walks. Definitely needs confinement... But, a shame not to use for hunting... bred for that. Domino made a perfect retrieval of a pheasant when he went hunting with Tom.

Bear...English Cocker Spaniel...Good dog if you don't mind having a ONE PERSON dog around. He'll fixate on one person and hardly let that person out of his sight. Bear is a bit hard to bear. He's very wound up. Cannot control his zeal if he thinks I'm going outside. Always tries to get ahead of me, sometimes tripping me up. Likes to bite the outside doorknob for good luck when leaving the house. Don't let him bite your hand if you are coming in and he's going out. Don't have to worry about this dog's wandering, as he's so obsessed with me, he stays close to home. Good on walks, but likes to dig, dig, dig. Also thinks his job in life is to carry an 8' stick through the woods without getting stuck between close set trees... and has been quite adept at doing so. He was so excitable and zany I was worried about how he'd be with small children, and he turned out to be absolutely enchanted with small children...especially infants. It was his saving grace. If he is teased by older children...or me, he'll sometimes growl. He has never snapped... at least not without giving a really good growling as a warning. They have to be groomed and have their hair trimmed about three times a year. Their hair tangles terribly. They have a top notch of curls on their head that kind of gives their clownishness away. Should take care not to ever let him get fleas. That's how he got so impossible for me to groom. He always blamed me for the problem, as if my grooming him gave him fleas and made him itch. It's also how I know that he'll snap after a really good growling warning. However, he's never purposely connected and bit me. Only time bitten, by which dog I don't know, was when in a battle for my attention in the middle of the night when both Polly and Bear wanted to accompany me to the toilet and jealously fought for my attention. I tried to break up the fight. Still have the scar. Don't know which actually bit me. Bear likes to get all the attention. Poor Polly, having loved Domino so, hated Bear from the beginning... And still does. They fight quite regularly like competitive kids. Bear likes to challenge poor Polly, and Bear always has the upper paw. Though the younger dog, he's the Alpha dog. Both Polly and Bear are good riders in the car, and it's the ONLY place that you can count on Bear to be quiet and placid. But he's king of the back seat, and unless Polly gets in first, she has a hard time taking her side in the back seat without Bear challenging her. [Maybe I should have called him Fluffy or some other wimpy name...wonder if that would have made all the difference. Oh, if it were only that easy.]

So... there is my experience. I think next time I'll get a Shiatzu or however you spell it. But it will have to be able keep up with my few brisk walks a day... so, I don't know. We'll see what the Humane Society has to offer if that time ever comes.

Good luck with your next dog.

Much Love,
Mom


NOTE: This was to be the last chapter of the book, but somehow this chapter, or my mood lately has loosened up my writer's block, and I can now face writing about the end of the lives, and the short but beloved life of some of our recent favorite pets of the last 11 years.