No good dog owner would ever claim to have a favorite within her Pack, and that is not what I am doing here. I love my Luna and my Satchel to the ends of the Earth and beyond, but today, it's all about the Wonderfulness of Luna.
It's been a rough summer at Casa Curtin-Hess with many many Pack health issues and many many many daily and nightly needs of our beloved puppies.
Because Koko and Satchel's needs have required so much of my time and energy, I have worried about neglecting Luna. There hasn't been a day I haven't worried about falling short in meeting the needs of family...I'm sure many people can understand that, but I'm usually pretty confident that I'm doing right by my family.
It's been a rough summer.
Two bits of trivia about my dogs:
1. They don't wear collars much of the day.
It started last year when Satchel had surgery to remedy his laryngeal paralysis. He had a large cut in his neck and it was recommended that he be walked with a harness from then on to avoid putting pressure on his larynx that was healing and would now be tied open permanently. Satchel hasn't worn a collar since June 2008 and I noticed how quiet the house could be without the jingle jangle of the license and rabies tags. I took Luna's off during the day and put it on when we went outside. Then I stopped putting it on when we went out in the yard during the day because I could see her. When we go out at night, I put her collar on and turn on the 'flasher' I attached to it so that I can spot my entirely black dog in the entirely black night.
She also wears her collar and her tags when we walk at the Richardson Center or go anywhere else public. Other than that, my dogs are collar-less and walk around like we're in the wild.
2. Due to genetics and training, our dogs prefer to poop in the woods rather than in any yard.
I don't think it's all due to my training, but both Satchel & Luna will seek out tree cover and/or a pile of leaves when they have to poop. It's so nice really because poop scooping becomes a virtually non-existent job.
Why do I mention these things when highlighting the Greatness of Luna?
I'm not sure I can really even explain how helpful and fantastic she is.
I'll try.
A typical outing since Satchel's arthritis and vertigo problems:
Satchel needs human hands on him at all times to walk to the door, walk down the ramp (Jason built it for Satchel. I need to take a picture for you.), and into the yard. Once Satchel is slightly steady, I have to sprint back to the door to shut it, then sprint back to Satchel and follow him CLOSELY for 10-15 minutes as he enjoys the outdoors.
All the while, Luna could run into any of the woods around our house, run to any of the neighbors running, walking, biking by to greet them, or simply walk into the ravine and dig around for deer poop and other treasures.
But Perfect Luna stays close. She may enter the woods to find the perfect place to poop, but then she returns with her prancing pace, and walks with me and Satchel around and around as we attempt to calm his agitated tummy.
Luna may find an interesting scent, and for a few seconds or a minute I can't see her.
I worry, but I can't leave Satchel who may fall at any time and break his neck or at the very least break some teeth. I pray for her safety and sweetness and in her general direction calmly say, "LuuuuNaaaaa, where arrrrrre you?"
I whistle her whistle (Both Satchel & Luna have unique whistles that they come to - kind of like the kids in The Sound of Music...), and she may slowly or quickly come out of the brush and sweetly walk over. My heart leaps in a bad way when I can't see her, and my heart leaps in a beautiful, happy, loving way when she appears through the trees.
I'm not sure that this description remotely illustrates the wonder of Luna.
She's more than just a good dog who stays in her yard that has no fence.
She seems to understand the needs of her family and she not only doesn't cause stress, she reduces it. She is beyond great.
She's the greatest.
I try to tell her a jillion times a day how much I appreciate and love her. I tell her with my smile and my snuggles and the softness of my directions. She still needs some guidance each day, but she only needs a gentle touch or word, which she takes to a higher level of goodness where she simply Is.
Luna. Is. Good.
It's been a rough summer at Casa Curtin-Hess with many many Pack health issues and many many many daily and nightly needs of our beloved puppies.
Because Koko and Satchel's needs have required so much of my time and energy, I have worried about neglecting Luna. There hasn't been a day I haven't worried about falling short in meeting the needs of family...I'm sure many people can understand that, but I'm usually pretty confident that I'm doing right by my family.
It's been a rough summer.
Two bits of trivia about my dogs:
1. They don't wear collars much of the day.
It started last year when Satchel had surgery to remedy his laryngeal paralysis. He had a large cut in his neck and it was recommended that he be walked with a harness from then on to avoid putting pressure on his larynx that was healing and would now be tied open permanently. Satchel hasn't worn a collar since June 2008 and I noticed how quiet the house could be without the jingle jangle of the license and rabies tags. I took Luna's off during the day and put it on when we went outside. Then I stopped putting it on when we went out in the yard during the day because I could see her. When we go out at night, I put her collar on and turn on the 'flasher' I attached to it so that I can spot my entirely black dog in the entirely black night.
She also wears her collar and her tags when we walk at the Richardson Center or go anywhere else public. Other than that, my dogs are collar-less and walk around like we're in the wild.
2. Due to genetics and training, our dogs prefer to poop in the woods rather than in any yard.
I don't think it's all due to my training, but both Satchel & Luna will seek out tree cover and/or a pile of leaves when they have to poop. It's so nice really because poop scooping becomes a virtually non-existent job.
Why do I mention these things when highlighting the Greatness of Luna?
I'm not sure I can really even explain how helpful and fantastic she is.
I'll try.
A typical outing since Satchel's arthritis and vertigo problems:
Satchel needs human hands on him at all times to walk to the door, walk down the ramp (Jason built it for Satchel. I need to take a picture for you.), and into the yard. Once Satchel is slightly steady, I have to sprint back to the door to shut it, then sprint back to Satchel and follow him CLOSELY for 10-15 minutes as he enjoys the outdoors.
All the while, Luna could run into any of the woods around our house, run to any of the neighbors running, walking, biking by to greet them, or simply walk into the ravine and dig around for deer poop and other treasures.
But Perfect Luna stays close. She may enter the woods to find the perfect place to poop, but then she returns with her prancing pace, and walks with me and Satchel around and around as we attempt to calm his agitated tummy.
Luna may find an interesting scent, and for a few seconds or a minute I can't see her.
I worry, but I can't leave Satchel who may fall at any time and break his neck or at the very least break some teeth. I pray for her safety and sweetness and in her general direction calmly say, "LuuuuNaaaaa, where arrrrrre you?"
I whistle her whistle (Both Satchel & Luna have unique whistles that they come to - kind of like the kids in The Sound of Music...), and she may slowly or quickly come out of the brush and sweetly walk over. My heart leaps in a bad way when I can't see her, and my heart leaps in a beautiful, happy, loving way when she appears through the trees.
I'm not sure that this description remotely illustrates the wonder of Luna.
She's more than just a good dog who stays in her yard that has no fence.
She seems to understand the needs of her family and she not only doesn't cause stress, she reduces it. She is beyond great.
She's the greatest.
I try to tell her a jillion times a day how much I appreciate and love her. I tell her with my smile and my snuggles and the softness of my directions. She still needs some guidance each day, but she only needs a gentle touch or word, which she takes to a higher level of goodness where she simply Is.
Luna. Is. Good.
3 comments:
Thank God for you, Leanne!! I loved the little story about Luna. She is SUCH a good dog!
Leanne ..(I had to delete my first message because it showed my passwords .. go figure). I love your love of your Pack ... I so could visualize you telling me that story - with your smile on your face, the concern on your face, the whistle that you'd whistle ... the hands flying the look of like "you know what I am saying, Kar" .... Thank goodness there are people out there like you my friend .. and it's amazing how dogs KNOW .. Luna knows that Satchel needs you now ..but, that doesn't lessen the love you have for Luna .. she knows ...you have made it perfectly clear .... don't stop blogging .. you make my day ... and lately - that says ALOT ... :) miss you ... praying for Satchel .. and all of you .. and Loving Luna for her patience ... xoxooxxoxoxoxoxxoox
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