Happy 10th Birthday, Buddy!

Having owned, bred and shown Shih Tzu, when I came to Texas after marrying Keith, I brought my last two Shih Tzu, Sadie and Harry. When they went to the Rainbow Bridge, I thought, like so many, that that was it: no more dogs.

Well, that lasted five weeks and I began wondering . . .and looked in the local newspaper. I did not want another Shih Tzu, mostly because I was used to my own line, my own breeding. I had had a Boxer and I had had two Lhasa Apso.

In the paper there was a Boxer, but I called the Lhasa Apso number first. A lady answered and I got directions to a street called, yes . . . Martha . . . in the next town.

It was a cloudy day and I put a crate on the back seat - you know, just in case!

As we drove over, I tried to recall everything I had ever learned about selecting a dog.

Mr. Tom Lucas greeted us and there were some puppies scampering around.

I asked Mr. Lucas if he had a table to put a dog on for me to go over. He obliged and I went over a pup who was not too interested in me. I glanced down and saw an older dog watching me very closely. I asked Mr. Lucas if he was available and how old he was.

He was 10 months old and gladly got up on the table. I tried to remember everything to go over. He had bright brown eyes that were pretty much staring me down. I went over his body which was very solid. He had nice coloring and a pretty tail. He was a little . . . let us say, Texas-sized, but I had no desire to show him.

We went into a sitting room and met his mother and saw more dogs, who had access to a doggy door. They were in and out and happy! We saw an album and clearly, Mr. & Mrs. Lucas had been showing dogs for a long time.

Long story short, Mr. Lucas helped Hubby Keith out with the fellow to the back seat where he went into the crate. On the way back, we thought we would call him "Buddy" and stopped by Wal-Mart for a few things for the "new" fellow.

At the very top of the page is a picture that our friend Nina Stambaugh took when she and her husband, Will came by to be the first people to see Buddy.

Buddy was jumping up on them and he was pretty nervous. It is a beautiful picture and portrays him as he was . . . a little afraid, a lot nervous.

After finding him a special toy - a soft purple and red stuffed teddy bear brought from Canada - and calling it Canuck, Buddy started to realize that he had a specal "friend" and maybe two human friends as well. He started to settle in and one of his favorite things was - and is - to jump up to sit with Keith and me.

Buddy is now a senior just as we are. He patrols his large yard; barks to protect us (Lhasa Apso was originally a guarding dog) and hits his Dad up for ice cream and cheese sticks whenever he can.

Buddy now has Lucky Puppy come to the house for his very own grooming session that only lasts 75 minutes.

Do we spoil this dog? You betcha! He has been great for us and we hope he stays healthy for a long time!

Let's Go To The Dog Show In Our Living Room!

Monday, Feburary 11, 2013 and Tuesday, February 12, 2013, you can turn on your TV and watch Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show right at home! This show takes place in Madison Square Garden, New York City and will be live on CNBC Monday and USA Network on Tuesday. Both nights, the time is 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m., Eastern.

Monday night, the Groups judged will be Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. Tuesday will be Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups as well as Best In Show. 

During the day, watch individual breeds in various rings live at http://characterchatter.usanetwork.com/wkc/show.php

This is Buddy, our Lhasa Apso. His Group is Non-Sporting, although Lhasas were originally in the Terrier Group. Buddy is our super family pet and from my knowledge of show dogs, he is a little big for competition. We are glad of that because we love Buddy just as his is . . . our companion. FYI, Lhasa is the capitol of Tibet. I have had other Lhasas but the breed I was most involved with was Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu originated by crossing a Lhasa and a Pekingnese. 

Enjoy the show and REMEMBER . . . there is a written standard for each breed and the judge is looking for specific points indigenous to that breed. 

There is a Facebook Page for Westminister and David Frei, a judge himself, has been feeding us lots of historical facts the past few weeks. He generally is narrating the show and makes it very interesting. 

By the way, he is inviting you to send a picture of your dog watching the show . . . 

If you would like to see what order the groups will be, and when your favorite breed will be shown, go to this link:

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2013/show/news/judges_052512.html

Shih Tzu dog, a photo by cheriejoyful on Flickr.

What Happens When Dogs Die . . .

Yesterday, one of my friends lost her dog. Her dog was very sick but was able to get to the wonderful blessing of the animals at a church in our area.

When a friend's dog dies, I often send a copy of a poem by Rudyard Kipling which in essence says that when we give our heart to a dog, it will be broken. 

There is a belief among dog lovers that our dogs go to Heaven and wait for us at The Rainbow Bridge. Then, when we arrive, they will scamper with us over to Heaven.

No matter what you think, our dogs are very very special to us. They ask very little - some food, a pat, a hug. Some of us probably indulge our dogs too much and some perhaps not enough. 

Your dog thinks you are the Best Person in the World. He/she thinks more highly of you than probably most humans. (Well, perhaps your spouse should be excluded there.) 

Your dog waits for you at the door till you come back. Give him a new toy and you would think it were diamond-studded. 

Dogs and people bond together exceptionally well. But, yes, as Kipling said, one day your heart will be broken. 

When I was active in the Purebred Dog Fancy, we had more than one dog and so the blow was a little less. 

Now, we just have one dog. And before Buddy, the Lhasa Apso, there was Harry who had survived when Sadie (both Shih Tzu) died.

When Harry died, I know I said, "That's it . . . no more dogs".

I lasted five weeks and was so very fortunate to find Buddy. Buddy was not a puppy; he was 10 months old. I think perhaps his Breeder had waited to see if he would like to show him but Buddy is a little larger than I usually like to see a Lhasa. Not a problem (as they say) because I had no intention of showing him. 

He was placed on the table for me to go over and he had a wonderful body, good spring of rib, strong legs and . . . most of all, Buddy looked up and me and said,

"Take me to your home and I will LOVE you so much! Please pick ME."

Well, that was over 8 years ago and Buddy has been a perfect fit for Hubby and me. 

Yes, I think lovingly of Red the Boxer, and Bobo the Lhasa and all the Shih Tzu . . . Fanny, Sadie and Harry who were housedogs. 

There is another dog out there for my friend. Not today. Not tomorrow, but there is a dog out there for her. And that dog will look into her eyes and say . . . 

"Take me home with you and we will take care of each other and I will love you, love you, love you!"

We Love Our Dogs . . . Too Much?

Boxer dog outdoor portrait, a photo by robertgrubba.com on Flickr.

The first dog I "owned" was a Boxer named Red. He was similar looking to this dog but his ears stood up because they had been cropped. Red went 60 - 66 lbs. and I trained him with the help of a book called Training You To Train Your Dog by Blanche Saunders. I suspect that book has been out of print for many years, but the concepts were excellent.

We lived in an apartment and once it was spring weather, we started working on his "manners".

He was a gentle dog - good with babies and children and well-behaved with company. We taught him lots of commands and he loved his life which only extended to age 6.

I remember telling a youngster of about 10 that not all dogs were as gentle as Red and one needed to assess a dog before approaching him with the back of one's hand. I guess she forgot, because one day on her way home from school, she was bitten by a German Shepherd.

When my daughter - who only lived to 6-1/2 months - would be in a baby seat in the living room, Red would stand right beside her, never licking or touching her and come for me in the kitchen if she was fussing. He was a loving dog indeed. So, he got an "A" in just about every subject they have to measure dogs.

My second marriage was to an all-breed dog show judge who assured me we would never have a Boxer because it was too big. We chose a breed for me to have as my own - Shih Tzu - but I quickly had to learn about all breeds. We would be at a dinner of Dog Show people and many of them only knew about their own breed. So, I had to know at least a little bit about all breeds just to converse!

I will generalize for you here. Some giant dogs are gentle and some tiny dogs are terrorists. I mean that! I believe the philosophy behind that may have to do with size. Some small dogs feel the need to defend themselves and some large dogs are confident within themselves. THAT IS A GENERALIZATION!

Here in Texas, many people have an "outdoor" dog or a hunting dog. I know house dogs . . . family pets.

We bring dogs into our family and especially if there are no children in the household, these pets become our children and we subliminally forget they are animals, not humans. Dogs and other animals are not motivated the same way as humans are.

Purebred dogs are divided into seven groups according to their purpose or their talent, if you will.

I recall a very fine dog judge yanking me out of the way of a Bull Terrier at a Terrier specialty. I don't think that dog intended to harm me and he was on a handler's lead. But perhaps that man had had a bad experience with Bull Terriers.

Myself, I have seen lots of problems with little dogs who have been in families where they bit some or all of the family members at some time. I think they feel insecure and this is why this happens. But I am not a dog psychiatrist.

I think we need to be cautious of all dogs. Some are guarding their own property. Therefore, if you step onto that property without the owner, you could be at risk.

When I meet a dog I do not know, I generally present the back of my hand to him for him to sniff. I speak quietly to him. If you watch any televised Dog Shows, you will see many judges doing this also, even though there is a human on the end of the dog's lead. The judge is going to touch the dog - go over him, as it were - and he wants the dog to be friendly and ready.

One of my friends had a horrible experience with her dog losing its leg which she put through the garden fence. Fortunately, she is recovering but will have to adjust to having only three legs.The dog on the other side is to blame. I am not going into details because I trust that only smart people read my blog. The owner of the other dog, a senior, is helping with the vet bill and patching the fence. I can only imagine how bad she feels.

Now, I am not talking about people who have dogs that they train to fight. Oh, no! I am telling you that each dog is an individual and if you step into his domain, well . . .

I feel so bad for what my friends have been through. Their little dog will adapt. I can see her - just from her pictures - getting better and healing every day.

And what shall I tell you about our Buddy, the Lhasa? Well, he is more spoiled than my Shih Tzu ever were! He does a few things I would rather he not do. But Buddy is 9 now and he is probably the best companion dog my Hubby or I have ever had! He is loving and wants to be with us all the time.

Has he ever bolted out the front door? Yes. Does he always come when called? No. Do we spoil him with all manner of treats and toys? You bet.

Just remember I cautioned you that not every dog is gentle and loving, no matter his size. Be careful to watch your dog - that he is carefully fenced in when outside. When you see a dog you do not know - no matter his size, please remember to be cautious and not assume he is kind until you have been formally introduced, preferably by his owner.

Life Can Change In A Heartbeat

Do read my friend, Lauren's blog about what happened to her sweet dog, Leia yesterday. Simply go to her website at:

 http://www.laurenfromtexas.com

We have been praying for Leia and her humans since we found out.

True animal lovers have stories of how their hearts were broken, but I think this is going to be a story about a young couple who have just moved to a new home with few ties who are about to grow in every way.

Lauren is the Social Media expert who wrote about Hubby & me and how we met online in a support group for widowed people 16 years ago. (That is how I became the Yonge-Street-Texan.) 

Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine - Yes: Our Hearts Will Be Broken

old dogs and children and watermelon wine, a photo by monkeyc.net on Flickr.

(Song was by Tom T. Hall)

The other day, my writer friend posted on Facebook that her dog will not make it. What is there to say? Nothing.

I have written about dogs for so many years - a little over thirty years of published writing and editing and publicity and promotion - and still the toughest part about being a dog fancier is that their lives are so short.

There are two pieces of old written wisdom I often give to people. One is by Rudyard Kipling, "When You Give Your Heart To A Dog" (it will be broken) and the other is a piece about "The Rainbow Bridge" where it is believed your dog will be waiting for you when you reach Heaven.

When you read my Yonge Street Texan blog, you can see my stepson died a few weeks ago. So, Hubby and I have been dealing very much with this. We also attended a visitation and a funeral for two friends' fathers.

I think all of them had dogs waiting for them. . . . And I think they had loved ones there waiting for them. But that is another blog.

This one is about how we cope when we lose our dogs. It hurts us so very much that some thing so precious who asks nothing of us but a pat, a meal, a kind word, a toy would leave us.

I did not have a dog as a child. My first dog was a Boxer named Red who only made it to six. He was my benchmark for how obedient a dog can be. Red was a wonderful learner. He was handsome reddish brown with beautiful white markings. He was with me when I weathered the second death of a baby. Red would sit beside Carrie Jane and he knew not to lick her because her skin was so fragile. He also knew to come and get me if she was crying or he thought anything was wrong. At age six, Red was diagnosed with cancer and the vet put him down. I stayed with him though my heart was breaking. It was very peaceful - for him. Horrible, horrible cancer.

I went a long time without a dog and then married an international dog show judge. So, I pretty much had to have a dog! We wanted a "new" breed for me and we looked at Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and Shih Tzu.

Shih Tzu it was and I acquired my first and was hoping to show him. I was so fortunate to have a wonderful person, the late Garrett Lambert, to take him under his wing and show him for me. It was not long before we realized Taury's back leg had a double-jointed hock. So, now he was a pet. Odd to tell you that Taury also died at age six. When I called him to come in with his old Lhasa pal, BoBo, I found him lifeless on the back step to the garden.

Because I had wanted to show and breed Shih Tzu, I approached Wenrick Kennels in Azilda, near Sudbury, Ontario. They leased me a wonderful girl named Miss Bobbin. Lease a dog? Yes, that seems funny to someone not actively breeding or showing purebreds, but yes, I leased Miss Bobbin - a Black and White little gal who had a lot of character and was used to having litters. She had that first litter before we got home from work and was just having the last when we walked in. You don't find many dogs like that!

Beginners Luck on that litter: 2 gold and whites and 2 black and whites! Wenrick Kennel let me lease her for a second litter. I can keep in touch with them on Facebook today . . . thanks to Mark Zuckerberg!!

Since this blog is really about dogs dying, I should tell you that my beloved Fanny (from that first litter) died under the Christmas tree before I got home from work. (She was looking at the gifts including a toy for her that made a noise even wrapped.) She was a truly wonderful companion dog and produced very nice puppies..

When I came to Texas, I brought my last two homebred Shih Tzu - Sadie and Harry. They were half brother and sister and their mother was Fanny.

Hubby let them out one morning first thing and clicked the kitchen gates when they came back in. He went back to shave and all the stuff men do first thing. When he came back, Sadie was lying on the kitchen floor, lifeless and Harry was standing right by her.

Our minister at the time, David Chancellor, came over and dug Sadie a grave at the back of our yard on a rainy and muddy morning. I always thought that was a very special thing for that man to do.

Harry - Ayr of Importance - was the last. He began to have seizures, something I had not seen in dogs before in dogs. The Vet was not sure how he would do and warned us the medicine might not help.

On a Saturday morning, Harry began seizing and he was literally rolling across the carpet. I had never seen this before. It was frightening and I could not even imagine how this beloved and very intelligent dog was feeling as this was happening.

We tightly bundled Harry in a blanket and he lay on my lap in the back seat as Hubby tried to navigate us out of our subdivision during a major garage sale morning.

So, that was it! That was the end of being hurt my these precious beings. Their lives were short (compared to a human's) and I said that was enough.

As they say on the infomercials - BUT WAIT!

Yes, after five weeks, we found a wonderful Lhasa Apso breeder in the next town and that was when Buddy entered our lives. He was 10 months old and he will be nine this month. He is a wonderful companion. I think that is why we come back for another round because dogs ask so little and give so much. Their love for us is immeasurable. . . .

I wondered if my friend could write about her Jasmine. She did. Yes, she wrote one of her best columns ever.

When you give your heart to a dog, it will be broken.