On July 29th, 2010, I was pacing the floor of my apartment. Sweet potato strips were drying/baking in the oven, dog beds were freshly laid out, and we were about to begin a strange, wonderful adventure.
My dog was coming home.
We'd found her a few weeks before, but, as my boyfriend's father put it "the dog's got gigs!" After an assisted living home visit, a pet adoption gathering, and quick trip to the dentist, she was travelling from the 'burbs to the loud city.
She paced through the apartment, sniffing, and finally settled into the little bed I had scored at the White Elephant store, with an air of "that'll do, lady. That'll do." I must admit, despite hours of preparation for getting her into the apartment, I wasn't ready for the whining that came when her foster parents left. I freaked, thinking I had destroyed her existence.
Hysterics abated, and we went for a walk. Not knowing how far she could go, we went all the way to Wrigley and back, and I hoped she'd feel better. We had a connection when we met, but that didn't involve loud trucks and drunk Cubs fans.
These things take time. We noticed the milestones: the first lick on our hands, her first snuggle, the first time she pawed her way in between us as if to say "PERSONAL SPACE!" And from those milestones and beyond, we've learned a lot. For example:
1) The eyes will get you, in a "you don't want those eggs, right???!?!?!" kind of way. Pretty much anyone who has come to our house has fallen under the spell, and had to say goodbye to various scraps of food (whether they wanted to or not). I can't tell those stories much, 'cause it makes people hungry!
2) Panic is okay, but usually unwarranted. I called (and probably still call) the vet at the drop of a hat. Luckily, they get it... well, most of them. The occasional sarcasm generally gives me a clue that it was a ludicrous question.
3) There is no quick fix, especially in the first few months. Training is a process, which makes it all the more worth it when you all succeed.
4) In addition, your dog will always surprise you. Even in her "golden oldies" Twist is able to jump above door knobs, run faster than puppies, and fly through the air. It's probably a good thing we don't know her actual age, and my guess is it's younger than we think. That being said...
5) Age is always a consideration. Two people in their twenties are seldom suited to get a puppy. Lord knows we weren't. To this day, the only thing that has been chewed is a Tupperware. All figurines, breakables, and furniture have remained intact, even if they've been bumped a few times. Although we have had to surrender all of our socks...
I'm currently far from Twister, but the memories here and pictures sent to me daily help me know that we have an amazing dog. To whomever reads this, I hope you give a dog (or cat, up to you) a chance, especially a senior one. The time will fly, and you will love every minute of it.
Happy "birthday", Twisteroo.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Adorable "Mutts" Shelter Pet Video
Saw this video thanks to a friend on Facebook, and felt it'd be a good start to a discussion about the benefits of senior dogs. Enjoy! And watch the others!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
To infinity, and other places I'm not allowed!
Let me begin by saying that Twister gets extremely excited when we come home. The manifestation of that excitement is anyone's game.
Here's her normal process:
- Smell under the door as we come up the stairs.
- Wait for the key to go in the door.
- Start whining and making noises similar to a turkey gobble.
- Leap gently up onto whoever has come in the door and wait for the (undoubtedly overdue) attention.
Of course, there is always the serendipitous exception which inevitably brings belly laughs, and in this case, utter shock and dismay.
She's had her episodes. Our entry table has taken more beatings than the Pittsburgh Pirates (just a prediction), and we are occasionally punished for our absence by a sea of chewed Tupperware which forms a Hansel and Gretel-esque path to her napping locale.
This one was different.
After coming into my dining room, I took off my coat and pondered when I'd be able to throw it in a closet while singing the Hallelujah chorus. I put in on the chair, pushed the chair toward the table, and tilted my head up only to receive a surprising flurry of kisses.
Yup. My 25 pound, 9 year-old dog had jumped on the table.
Sometimes I think the rescue mislabeled her species.
I gave a quick "WHOA!" and commanded her down. My boyfriend and I both stood there stunned, and, in a tired moment of psychology-ignoring lunacy, I said "do it again" and pointed to the table. And she did, in one bound.
I have to say I'm impressed. At her top speed, she can soar forward about 7 or 8 feet ahead of her. I just never pictured her being able to clear a table. And thanks to a lack of camera charger, I have only my testimony as witness to the crime against gravity.
She hasn't done it since, but I wonder what kind of misadventures happen when we're gone. While I figure it out, our tablecloth and washing machine are becoming buddies.
Until next time....
Here's her normal process:
- Smell under the door as we come up the stairs.
- Wait for the key to go in the door.
- Start whining and making noises similar to a turkey gobble.
- Leap gently up onto whoever has come in the door and wait for the (undoubtedly overdue) attention.
Of course, there is always the serendipitous exception which inevitably brings belly laughs, and in this case, utter shock and dismay.
She's had her episodes. Our entry table has taken more beatings than the Pittsburgh Pirates (just a prediction), and we are occasionally punished for our absence by a sea of chewed Tupperware which forms a Hansel and Gretel-esque path to her napping locale.
This one was different.
After coming into my dining room, I took off my coat and pondered when I'd be able to throw it in a closet while singing the Hallelujah chorus. I put in on the chair, pushed the chair toward the table, and tilted my head up only to receive a surprising flurry of kisses.
Yup. My 25 pound, 9 year-old dog had jumped on the table.
Sometimes I think the rescue mislabeled her species.
I gave a quick "WHOA!" and commanded her down. My boyfriend and I both stood there stunned, and, in a tired moment of psychology-ignoring lunacy, I said "do it again" and pointed to the table. And she did, in one bound.
I have to say I'm impressed. At her top speed, she can soar forward about 7 or 8 feet ahead of her. I just never pictured her being able to clear a table. And thanks to a lack of camera charger, I have only my testimony as witness to the crime against gravity.
She hasn't done it since, but I wonder what kind of misadventures happen when we're gone. While I figure it out, our tablecloth and washing machine are becoming buddies.
Until next time....
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
First Spin
Welcome to Chasing Twister, a collection of crazy stories from our life, as well as an amateur guide to adopting a dog, especially a senior one.
To introduce this project, I must first pause and introduce the subject of this blog.
Meet Twister, our 9 year old beautiful, lazy, and slightly gassy Beagle. Twister came into our lives in July 2010, and the past sixth months have flown by about as fast as she eats. Her favorite activities include chasing small fluffy creatures, getting treats, and always finding the perfect nook to snuggle her owners, even if it means climbing on a laptop.
When people first hear "Beagle," they think nonstop howling, barking, and reacting to even the slightest noise. Don't get me wrong. When she howls, you can hear her two blocks away. However, it's rare inside, or in the car. We get happy noises when we come home, and her yawns could probably shatter glass. But all of it is fun. All of it.
And me? I'm Hez- dog lover and amateur blogger, hoping to get writing practice and help people understand why adopting a dog could be one of the best decisions to make.
So, for those who will hopefully read this, this is how this will work. This blog will start off with the process of adopting a dog, interspersed with stories, news articles, studies, etc.
Let me know what you think! If you have a topic or question that should be looked into regarding dogs, beagles, adoption, etc., ask away, and I'll get you an answer.
'Til next time!
To introduce this project, I must first pause and introduce the subject of this blog.
(Photo by Joyce Paschall)
When people first hear "Beagle," they think nonstop howling, barking, and reacting to even the slightest noise. Don't get me wrong. When she howls, you can hear her two blocks away. However, it's rare inside, or in the car. We get happy noises when we come home, and her yawns could probably shatter glass. But all of it is fun. All of it.
And me? I'm Hez- dog lover and amateur blogger, hoping to get writing practice and help people understand why adopting a dog could be one of the best decisions to make.
So, for those who will hopefully read this, this is how this will work. This blog will start off with the process of adopting a dog, interspersed with stories, news articles, studies, etc.
Let me know what you think! If you have a topic or question that should be looked into regarding dogs, beagles, adoption, etc., ask away, and I'll get you an answer.
'Til next time!
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