Reflections about the Dogs Who Have Loved Me
By Jim Holbrook
I was 38-years old when I got my first dog. Emma was an Irish Wolfhound, who lived a full life expectancy and died at six of metastasized cancer. Irish Wolfhounds are called “Gentle Giants” and “break-your-heart” dogs. Emma was sweet and gentle and loving. Although she weighed 140 pounds, she ate very little. She was fey and would not willingly come in the house when the moon was full. She liked Guinness Stout, which was all she consumed during her last two days. I held her when the vet put her to sleep. I buried her in the back yard and placed a St. Francis statue on her grave.
Then was Molly, who was an oversized Airedale Terrier. Molly weighed 90 pounds and was actually “a person in a dog suit.” She was sweet and gentle and loving. She, too, lived a full life expectancy and died at 13 of complications from a stroke. She got sprayed by a skunk and quilled by a porcupine. She was extremely stoic and had an unbelievably high pain tolerance. She slept on a pad at the foot of the bed. I held her when the vet put her to sleep. Molly was cremated and her cremains are in a box in the bedroom.
Next is Maggie, who is a standard-sized Airedale. She weighs 45 pounds and is very willful. She hates cats, vacuum cleaners, thunderstorms, and fireworks. Maggie is 11 years old and is nearing a full life expectancy. She sleeps on the bed, curled up in the crook of my knees. Maggie is a chowhound who loves all food: she would be as big as a small blimp if I let her. It is too painful to imagine that one day in the not-too-distant future she will be gone, so I don’t think about it.
When it became clear to me that Maggie would benefit by having a companion, I got a Boston Terrier puppy who now weighs 14 pounds. Izzi is named after my mentor Izzi Wagner who died eight years ago. Like my mentor, Izzi the Boston Terrier is little, smart, and filled with attitude. He is completely deaf in one ear, which means he cannot be AKC-registered, shown, or bred. He spent the first seven months of his life in a concrete kennel and is very “reactive” (which is a dog-trainer word meaning he is highly un-socialized and frightened of strange dogs and strange people). Maggie is teaching him to hate cats, thunderstorms, and fireworks. Izzi sleeps in in a sun puddle during the day and in a dog crate next to the bed at night. He and I are pals.
It is always hard to lose someone we care about and I feel that animals are the same way. I in my life have had to bury many of my own animals and it is sad to have to think back on them because it really is like losing a family member sometimes. I think it is sweet that you have different methods of remembering each of the animals you had.
I too have lost a couple of canine companions in my life. My first puppy was Cinder. Cinder was a very active black Pomeranian. Cinder was my best friend, she was my confidant. Sadly Cinder came from a bad litter, her Mom had died having puppies, but we also had suspicions about a neighbor who always threatened to kill our dog. Cinder and I played together all the time, my Dad may have been the only one who could mess with her while she was eating, but she was my friend. I may have only been a little child during her life here on earth, but I still miss her dearly.
My Champion didn’t come around till I was about 10 or 11 yrs old. Champion is a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie). He’s in his last few years of life right now, he just turned 13 in February. I love my Champion there’s no other dog out there that could ever replace him and I’ll miss him when he’s gone. It makes my heart hurt just thinking about it.
My Golden; we got him from a pet store. Sadly they didn’t take very good care of their animals. He was a very little guy when we brought him home. He was a miniature Sheltie. We hadn’t had Champion for very long before we got him. Golden became overweight as he got older, he couldn’t seem to stop eating so much. He eventually got arthritis. I lost my beloved Golden May of last year. I was in my last semester at BYU-ID. I didn’t even get to hold him one last time or even say goodbye before he passed through the veil. I miss him all the time, and sometimes I still dream about him. One day I know I’ll be reunited with my beloved dogs again.
I think its funny how great of companions that dogs can be! They are the most effective listeners, and I often find myself talking to my dog when i am frustrated and he always makes me smile. Its always hard time loosing a friend who is always so loyal and so happy to see you when you get home! I feel like people need to be more like dogs in that aspect.
My parents bought a shetland sheepdog one year before I was born. They look like smaller versions of Lassie. That dog was one of my best friends growing up. She kept everyone company in my family. If anybody is wondering dog breed to buy, I highly reccomend that one. When we had to put her down it was a sad day for all of us. I felt like I had lost a family member. It is amazing how dogs can become such a big part of our lives. I enjoyed reading this post and reminiscing about my own dog. Thanks.
Defiantly enjoyed reading about this article right here, my family was very anti dog when i was growing up, at least my parents. When i moved out though my sister happened to bring home a puppy. Its amazing how a family can change for the better by just something so simple. I believe it all makes us closer because they all now have a goal together by keeping the dog happy and healthy. I believe its healthy for a marriage because it can take away from worrying about yourself and therefore both putting into something that needs your help. Its true about the change that dogs bring all the way!