Sometimes when I see someone walking their dog down the sidewalk, I watch the dog’s tail swish around happily, head bobbing, taking in all the sniffs. I see dogs stop to greet other people and other dogs out on their walks, or–even better–I see dogs walk past and ignore other people and other dogs out on their walks, and I feel jealous.
Oh, to love a dog who can walk down the street in a calm (even happy!) manner. To stroll the neighborhood without my head on a swivel, spotting and assessing who or what’s ahead and rerouting as necessary. To go to the park and not have to wait in the car until the coast is clear to unload the pup.
None of those things are Cooper, though. They’re just not. And that’s really, truly OK. We love him so thoroughly, quirks and all, that we’re more than willing to adjust our habits and our walks and our routines to make sure he’s happy. Of course we are.
Even though he makes me nuts sometimes, I’m so grateful for Cooper and everything that makes him him.
I found myself frustrated with him the other day because I feel like we’ve plateaued in his training and maybe even back-slid a bit. For a long while, he was OK with people out and about as long as they didn’t have dogs with them and as long as there wasn’t something startling (like getting out of a car right in front of him or, you know, sneezing). Recently, though, he’s started to react to people who talk to us when we’re out, even from afar.
For example, there’s this lady at the end of our block who’s going through chemo, and she’s started this big flower garden in the front of her yard along the sidewalk. Clearly it’s therapeutic for her because she’s often out there working in the dirt, or I’ll go by after a couple days and there’s a whole new patch of flowers planted. Last week, we happened to be out for our walk when she was happily working in her garden. I commented to her how beautiful it was, and she replied–I have no idea what she said though because as soon as she started talking, Coop barked his face off at her. Cue embarrassed wave, mumbled “sorry,” jog away…
I steamed for the rest of our walk. Why can’t he keep his shit together?
Then we got home. He sipped some water. He let the baby climb into his bed. He kissed her cheek.
He followed me up to my office, swishing his tail. He settled behind my desk, and every time I looked at him or talked to him, he’d lift his head. Wag. Scootch closer to me.
He’s my guy, through and through. He’s a family guy. He adores the kitties. He adores friends and family who come over and pet him. He adores the baby. He loves being home. He just is a homebody. He loves laying in the yard and watching the birds. He listens so well and behaves so well at home. He comes when he’s called.
Sure, I wish he could relax and enjoy life outside the house a little more. I feel like he’d get to go so many more places with us and do so many more things, but that’s just not him. And, I’m so grateful for all the things that make him him.
My best friend lost her dog recently. It was an unexpected, sudden, fluke tragedy. My heart is broken for her family, and I miss his easy smile. He was a good boy.
Their lives are too short already. Being cut even shorter is astronomically unfair.
I think about Cooper and all the things that make him Cooper, and I think about him turning eight this summer (EIGHT!), and I’m just so grateful for having him grace my life. I’ve learned more from Cooper than I realized possible–another post for another day, perhaps–and he’s changed my perspective on everything from health and wellness to perseverance.
Yes, we still see other dogs walking nicely on leash in public places, and we turn to each other and say, “Wouldn’t it be nice…”
But then it wouldn’t be Cooper, and Cooper isn’t perfect, but he’s perfectly ours.
They’re all Good Boys. Though Denim has taken to throwing full on temper tantrums half an hour before mealtime. It starts with quiet whines, evolves to full yowls, and ends at barking for attention, before she lets out a huge huff and leaves the room. We’re working on ignoring her drama, but when it’s not driving us crazy, we’re trying not to laugh at it.
Not laughing is SO HARD!!! And Denim’s face seems so expressive that I’m sure it’s nearly impossible when combined with a huff! Good luck with the ignoring… it takes an iron will.
Oh, how I get you, Maggie! We have two boys at home, each with his own share of quirks. Scooby is great with people but hates other dogs. And Buttons loves dogs but is not particularly people-friendly. Scooby has motion sickness and hates the car while Buttons likes long rides. Scooby will eat anything while Buttons is picky as hell. Scooby loves cuddles but isn’t interested in games or puzzles while Buttons doesn’t like being cudfled, but loves games! I could go on and on.
With the two being polar opposites, we are often at our wits’ end trying to find common family games or plan trips and outings everyone can enjoy. Needless to say, it’s a job.
When we look at other people’s ‘normal’ dogs, we sigh to ourselves. But we would never ever swap places with anyone else because their quirks are what make B and S who they are and we wouldn’t hanger that for the world! 🙂
Polar opposites does add an extra layer of complexity. It sounds like you know them both so well, which just shows what amazing relationships you have! Scooby and Buttons sound like they’re just such fun loves, and you’re right… quirks make them unique, and there’s no way I’d trade anything about Coop either! Thank you for sharing your pups and their proclivities with us!
I wrote a post about Jake today and someone asked me what I miss most about him. And there are a million things I miss but I answered with: his meatballs. Nothing drove more exhaustion and frustration than dealing with his incontinence. But it was in those moments, when he would look at me with what I know was a thankful heart, that our truest love shined through.
I really do believe, we get the dog we need.
You are probably the only person who can bring tears to my eyes when talking about poop. Thank you for that. ?
Yeah, my pittie is so friendly, but unfortunately she is 62 pounds of pure muscle, so when she jumps at you or attempts to nuzzle the legs of the unsuspecting stranger it can feel like a full frontal attack, and is usually met with comments like “oh my” or “ow”. I have learned to pull her back and I keep thinking she would get more love if she could just calm down..not likely to happen. But like your Cooper she has sooo many other endearing qualities that this is really nothing, especially when she puts her head on my leg and stares at me adoringly.
THIS —->> “I keep thinking she would get more love if she could just calm down.”
That is something I struggle with Coop all the time because I think… if I could JUST explain this to you in a way you’d understand, calm greetings = getting to play with other dogs. He’d have way more fun in life, but, as you said… not likely to happen. They are who they are, and we love ’em for it!
Thank you for sharing your sweet girl’s stories with us! I love the adoring stare!!
Oh, AMEN to all of that!
I have 2 50# reactive dogs that are cute and everyone wants to pet them.
The boy is afraid of EVERYTHING and EVERYONE except immediate family members, for no reason that we’ve never been able to figure out in the 8 years that I’ve had him.
The girl wants to kiss EVERY single person on their face and can jump SIX FEET straight up in the air to do so. Problem is she’s a Pitt mix and most people are afraid of her, so we have to keep her on a short lease to keep her from knocking someone’s glasses off or breaking their nose! So the daily ‘walk’ is done held tight to the leg and right at the collar, which is no fun for any of us.
It makes me sad that I can’t take them everywhere like I did when I had 2, huge, 75-90 # Dobermans that were the calmest, most friendly dogs anyone could imagine. Of course, people were terrified of them and would cross the street when they saw us coming because I’m old and it didn’t look like I would be able to control them! LOL A 2-yr old could’ve controlled them, they were so well behaved!
There’s just no winning. 😉
I’ve loved all of them and wouldn’t have missed having ANY of them, but, sometimes I do long for the walks with the easy ones.
As my brother always says
” If we didn’t take them ( the difficult ones) who would’ve? Anybody can handle an easy dog; these guys (the reactive ones) would’ve lived their WHOLE lives in a cage. Instead they got to live with us; and we love them,”
And he’s absolutely right, bless his heart. We do.
Well, your brother must be a pretty great guy! I was talking to a friend recently about all this and mentioned that we had seen a dog with dwarfism who we had considered inquiring about, and she said, “Of course you did. You guys could never have a ‘normal’ animal, could you?” And I was like, “NOPE!” 🙂
I do get your frustrations with the tight walks. It’s tough, but you’re amazing for everything you do for your two! Thank you for sharing!
What a sweet post. It’s a great reminder to be grateful for the pets we have in our lives, even though they are not perfect, their love for us is perfect, and unconditional. I love that photo of Violet in Cooper’s bed, LOL! That is just priceless.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
HAH! It’s her favorite place to be these days, which is OK with Cooper because he’d MUCH rather be on the couch than his stinky dog bed! 🙂
Since losing Ace, I’ve been way more laid back about Remy’s behavior. It’s not that Remy is bad, but he pulls on the leash and greets people VERY enthusiastically! I tell myself that Remy loves life and he’s happy! I don’t have to necessarily try to change him. Of course, I wish he didn’t pull and I don’t want him to jump on people but I’m also happy that he’s strong and so full of life and happy and he thinks being a dog is awesome! When Ace was old and slow, I missed the days when he would also pull me. They get old way too fast. Sometimes we just need to appreciate their enthusiasm.
YES! You are so very right. The time just goes by way too quickly. Appreciating the moment, even if it’s not a well-behaved moment, is so, so important. Thank you for making that point!!
Oh, Maggie, what a beautiful post! And I can so relate to the “wouldn’t it be nice” part. Ducky just does not like anyone – other than AND even including at times her daddy – being too close to me. Sometimes she’s okay with it, other times she turns into a little ankle biter. And she’s so unpredictable that we really have to be careful.
BUT she is such a lovebug when it’s just the four of us, at home. Her unconditional love is perfect, and her imperfections are perfectly hers. And, yes, I’m grateful for my little stinker.
She has learned to coexist peacefully with Shadow, and they even play with each other now and then for a brief moment. Their relationship will never be like the one between Shadow and Callie, but that’s okay. I just want them to be able to get along.
And Shadow? She has always been an easy dog. She’s an equal-opportunity lover…she loves everyone who shows her any affection, any dog who respects her intimate space, and without any “bad” influence, would probably love any small animal that needed help. (I’m not sure Ducky could curb her predator instincts, even with an injured baby animal.) Callie was very much a “motherly” type; and I think she passed on her wisdom and instincts to Shadow when she was sick at the end. But she was also territorial at times. And I love them all. And I’m grateful that they have graced my life with their presence.
“And I’m grateful that they have graced my life with their presence.” That is EVERYTHING! I think to myself often just how lucky I am that I get to be his caretaker, that I get to help Cooper navigate this world. Even though every single one of my animals has always been such a unique personality, I feel like I’ve been specifically matched to care for them for various reasons, and I love, love, love your point that it’s a grace. Thank you for that! 🙂
I have a pack of four. My biggest gratitude daily is the greeting I receive when I get home from work. Individually, I’m grateful for the moments they each come to me for quiet cuddles, petting, and a light massage. I’m grateful for the way they sleep with me. Honestly, the list could just keep growing….
My Raven was an American Eskimo with attitude. When he was a puppy, he was afraid of most people. I was a new Mom at the time and rather “high strung” and I think i may have passed a little of that anxiety onto him so I am sorry for that. However,, he was my heart. I miss his smile and I miss happy dance when we came home from being out I Just miss him. He passed in February of this year and I still cry when i think of him.
We rescued Lily in April. She is a Pointer mix and the total opposite of Raven. However, my daughter is now 23, I am no longer “stressed” so I can be a calmer influence.She likes most people, she is a lap dog and she is NOT a quick learner but we love her just the same. I know she will be teaching us some lessons also.