A Tale of Two Dogs
According to blogging experts, writers shouldn't blog about their dogs because readers don't care for it.
Honey, if I've never commented on your blog, you have a far greater chance that I will if you do talk about your animals. But that's just me.
Honey, if I've never commented on your blog, you have a far greater chance that I will if you do talk about your animals. But that's just me.
Tank is getting old. It hurts my heart to see him grow gray.
In all fairness, it hurts my heart when I grow gray too, but Miss Clairol blinds me to the obvious.
In all fairness, it hurts my heart when I grow gray too, but Miss Clairol blinds me to the obvious.
Recently, Tank had one of those days. He didn't feel like playing, and his biggest joy in life, FOOD, had only minor appeal. He had to be coaxed to my bed that night. This from a dog who stakes out his half of the bed before you get there.
I don't like to admit when my dogs get old, but sometimes it hits you square in the face. Tank has gone through so many trials in his life. We rescued him when he was two years old, already a big hulking dog with a heart of gold. Judging by the way he behaves around strange men, knives and guns, he wasn't treated well, but he never let it color his affection for those who showed him pity.
Iko, now two years old himself, has never known a sad day in his life. --well, maybe once when a scorpion stung him. But he's never known hunger, or beatings, or a life on the street. He's spoiled rotten. And he truly believes he is the center of the universe.
Thank God he got over his chewing stage! That dog nearly drove me to drink. I stopped tallying how much that 'free' dog cost me, but it's in the thousands of dollars.
I could count on two fingers the number of transgressions Tank has committed. He once stole cooked liver from the stove top. (I was cooking it for him, but I don't like dogs to help themselves.) He also committed adultery.
Tank had been with us a whole day when Chelly came into heat. Actually we thought she was over it because she was an old lady by then. Tank was fixed, but evidently the lure was too much for him. I was mad at both of them. But apparently they had a VERY good time.
Luckily, Iko will never know the charms of feminine wiles since he was clipped when he was very young. Hmm...maybe that's why he chewed for so long. Was this the result of repressed sexual tension? It might've been worth getting him laid if I could've saved my furniture.
...nah. I like my new furniture.
...nah. I like my new furniture.
So that's my tale of two dogs. One who's led a full life, and the other, full of life the devil.
We love them both regardless.
Comments
Hope Tank is having a better day today. Does he still have all his pieces and parts. Maybe a little female companionship would lift his spirits. (Oh, I did not just suggest that.)
Tank does like the ladies. :P And he adores baby animals. He's such a gentle giant.
I'm sad to hear that Tank is getting older. That sucks. Dog's shouldn't be allowed to age. That's so sad about Tank's past. I hate people who abuse animals. I think they should be abused themselves. I'm glad you gave Tank a great life though.
So glad you shared about Tank and Iko. They both sound amazing, and I can tell they're both very well loved.
I'm smiling after reading this post. Thank you for that.
Hope you have a peaceful day!
Watching a wonderful dog slow down is hard. My Bandit just passed away last month. He was very old, though, and we knew this summer was likely to be his last. He had a full life of chasing baby bunnies and roaming the woods in defiance of our electric fence. I'm just grateful for all the time we had with him, and for being able to give him a loving home :)
Bandit's sister Freckles is still hanging on, but she's slowed way down too. I pet her tons when I visit (they're at my mom's house) since I know we won't have her much longer. Such good dogs!!
I think you should blog about whatever YOU want. :)
Iāve only just got my little dog . . . a nine week old Dalmatian, and sheās chewing everything including me! But sheās a real sweetheart.
Sarita: I always wondered why people say not to write about animals. Those stories always seem the most entertaining.
Claudia: I think it's just age. He's slowing down and it's probably more noticeable because Iko is getting into his prime.
Lynn: I remember your story about Bandit. It breaks my heart to see people suffer when their babies grow old and die. It's a reflected pain that only those who have lost appreciate the most.
Lydia: The dogs have always been top draws here. LOL. Maybe I should make this their blog.
The Blogger Former Known As: I saw that this morning! You're on my visit list when I take another break this afternoon. Nada is adorable! Bitey, but adorable. LOL.
Mac: If you follow Facebook, you'll want to 'Like' Nikita, the unconquered Rottie. I love reading those posts.
But now your post is scaring me...
Krista: It makes you wonder what makes them experts.
Mike: The vet I used to work for (decades ago) used to debark his show dogs because we had a noise ordinance in the city and he had a lot of yappy terriers. But I think it's very cruel. I would never do that to one of my dogs.
Seeing Tank and Iko in that picture warms my heart.
Aww, Iko always wanted a temple. At least he thinks he deserves one. I decided to terrorize him a little more for the upcoming Friday post.
Hope Tank and Iko both live good long lives.
May Tank have many more good times in the future, treasure every one of them to help you get through the bad times!
Iko on the other hand still has many years of mischief and glad he helps keep "Ole" Tank young.
Anyway, I feel for you about Tank. It's hard to see beloved pets getting old. My siamese who we rescued from the pound the day before she was scheduled to be put under when she was a year old is getting a bit long in the tooth, as they say. She's been going gray for years, but now at 15 she's finally starting to slow down. It always hurts my heart a little to see her unable to make the great leaps onto things she used to be able to accomplish.
Oddly, on the subject of dogs, my two dogs are similar in temperament to yours. The rescue dog who clearly had some harrowing adventures before she came to us is the best dog we've ever had. The other, gotten from a good breeder and raised by us from puppyhood is a spoiled diva! They're all lovable though. :)
~Lia
Lia: Hi Lia. Long time. I think we are molded by our experiences. I haven't had an adult rescued dog yet who hasn't shown gratitude. The puppies that never had it hard have always been hooligans.
Madeleine: How does someone who wanted dogs get cats? LOL. I understand though. I didn't want rotties, but somehow we ended up with four and counting. They are the biggest sweethearts.
And ... seeing your gray-muzzled Tank reminds me so much of my Bailey. *sigh*
Wishing my many more happy years with you and Greg.
Kind of like the same thing there is a rule that says stick with only bookish things if you have a book blog, well like yours my online followers like more than just talking about books.
Seriously, I like reading the little bits of life, especially when these bits are written by a person who knows how to make it interesting. I would read about dogs any day.
Tank makes my heart go mushy too. IKO is like my dogs. My furniture and my floors are toast. They've never known a day of hardship either really, except maybe when Harley got knifed while I was cutting up the old carpet. But it was a total accident and he's okay now.
Jackie: That's how I see it too. We're more than just one thing. And I figure if it bores you, you'll just come back another day.
Renee: You KNIFED Harley!? OMG! Poor dog. PS, Tank says if you come over he wants to hide the knives. Safety first.
Only you would accidentally knife your own dog. Bet he's careful around you now. ;-)
Our new pup, Dally, has fit in like she'd been here all her little life. Our old dog, Bailey, tolerates her wrestling then the two curl up together. Even the cats treat her like they'd always been around her.
You need to do a group photo.
Dru: All the comforts of dog ownership without picking up poop. LOL.
Hmmm... I should try it sometime. My dog is so weird, she should have her own blog. :D
It's so hard when pets get older and I hope Tank has more good days than bad. He's lucky to have you Maria! Wishing you all many, many more years together.
Tank reminds me of my Heeler, rescued her the weekend before she was due to be put down because she'd been there too long. Don't get me started on that one. She had been dumped when barely weened, picked up by animal control thankfully before she could starve to death, and I got her as a 5 month old. Best dog ever. It was like she knew she had been rescued.
Angela: What is it they say to actors, never work with kids or animals because they steal the show. So true.
Raelyn: I know you're not supposed to assign human characteristics to animals, but I swear my rescued animals act far more grateful than the 'fancy' ones.
Love the story of Tank and Iko. They have fab names - where did the name Iko come from?
It's so heartbreaking when they get old. Poor Bella still gets called Scotty, yet I wouldn't trade the time spent with either dog. They're great company and give so much back for so little in return.
I always enjoy hearing about your dogs.
Iko we struggled to name for days. I wanted to call him Moose (which I think is still appropriate) but we settled on Iko, from the 60s song Iko, Iko by The Dixie Cups.
Ref: chickens
I'm waiting for Greg to come back so he can take some video of the chickens RUSHING out for breakfast. It's unreal.