Welcome to our new blog! Borias and I have been meaning to move to wordpress for some time now, and happily, the move has been made! I have a little time this three-day (birthday) weekend. I kind of want to skip over the birthday part. I’ve been feeling older, and so has Borias. Very disheartening to say the least. I’m hoping part of it is the heat, he’s having bad allergies, and was on antihistamines. That made him drink more, and it’s harder for him to hold his bladder then. It wasn’t helping, so we’re stopping those now.
It’s shocking how fast dogs age. Seemingly right in front of your eyes. Ten is by no means ancient, though many people seem to think so. “Oh, that’s OLD for a Shepherd!” they’ll gasp. I tell them his mother lived to 16.7 years old. So there. He’s from tough stock. His bad back takes it’s toll, though. I saw an eleven year old GSD running after a frisbee, during a photoshoot the other day. Made me wonder if it weren’t for his herniated disk, would he be doing that, too ? I’m grateful that he has mobility still. But I’m bummed to see the vigor and stamina wane. Gone are the days he could walk to Hillcrest, the park, and back home. We could cover a lot of ground in our day.
He still likes to dance, though. It’s just a little less crazy and spazzy. And watch out! He’s the pigeon police!
August 1, 2011 | Categories: Assistance dogs, Borias, disability, dog photography, German Shepherd, German Shepherd. Service dog, German Shepherds, heart dog, older dogs, Service dog, service dogs, Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »
So, it’s the eve of Borias’ ninth birthday. This is the very longest I’ve lived with a dog. Kind of strange, that I got this far in life and have had such short relationships with my dogs. Well, I suppose when one is a child, you’re at the mercy of parental decisions. Some of my childhood dogs were ‘placed’ in other homes.
My first memory of that is with my my first dog I got when my mother married, I was ten. She was a GSD, like Borias. Heidi. My mom bred Heidi, who, strangely I have very little memory of. I do remember that in her large litter of 11, the largest male took my heart. I wasn’t allowed to have male dogs as a kid, so sadly, he was the first to be sold. You know how people are attracted to the biggest, brawniest of anything. I was heartbroken. His name was Bear.
We kept a pup, Tara. I remember she was mostly black. Kind of more Doberman coloring. I found out later in life, that she got hip dysplaysia at a young age, and my mother had her put down. I forget the story made up to make the loss palatable.
Before her, I had a collie, named Lassie. Yeah, I was into that show as a kid, and the idealized view of dogs. I saw it a bit differently, though. I was fascinated by the connection between child and dog. Talking to them like you would anyone, having them “understand”. Well, I had that in Lassie. I was in Middle School, and literally was undergoing torture. Having a dog in my life was a saving grace.
Well, Lassie was run over by my step father, coming home drunk one night. I was told coyotes got her. They knew that the naturalist in me would be understanding how nature can be cruel, but not place blame on the situation. Shit, I think I was in my 20′s when I really found out what happened.
I haven’t had a great track record, I suppose. I got into Rottweilers at a young age, before I knew anything about the right kind of relationship with a dog. Plus, I got them from breeders who insisted on them being kept intact. Yeah, not a good idea with a Rottie with a gal in a wheelchair. I busted my head open a few times trying to hang on.
I moved to Dobies. Which I adored, and still do. However, both died before they were 7. First from a brain tumor, or some related thing vets couldn’t figure out. Second, cardio. Which something like 50% of them have. I don’t wish that on anyone to go through. Your dog passing out dead right in front of you. Pretty traumatic. So I went back to German Shepherds.
Never made a better decision. And truly, it was fate that brought me and Borias together. Or, if you’re so inclined, God. He’s like my guardian angel, as some passer by commented one day. It really made me think. I’ve had such amazing life experiences through my journey with this dog. And it continues every day. He is intricately intertwined in pretty much everything I do.
It might sound strange to some, to have such an psychically intimate bond with a totally different species. He’s been with me pretty much twenty four hours a day, every day of the week for a near decade of our lives. Just think how much he must know about me, that I’m not even aware of. He seems to know what I’m thinking, anticipates my moves. I’m eternally amazed at his vocabulary. Things he picks up in just listening.
Which makes me think of the struggle so many seem to have with their relationship with their dog. People thinking certain tv gurus are the last word, and they’re so far from a real understanding of their dog! But that’s maybe best reserved for another post heh. I just know that to be a good friend, one must listen. It’s not bad to listen to your dog. Sometimes the answer must be “no”, but often times, there’s no problem with a yes. I tend to think if you listen to them, they in turn, have an easier time listening to us : )
So. Borias will be nine years old in just a few hours. It sounds strange to say it, never having to before. Some people think that’s really old. He’s so not old. He acts like he did when he was one. (Which can be annoying at times lol). He looks great. He’s mobile, all things considered, thanks to his helpers in healing. I foresee very cantankerous golden years. An indomitable spirit. A huge character. A great example of how to live life.
Happy Birthday my Heart Dog.
March 8, 2010 | Categories: Borias, Doberman Pinschers, dog behavior, dog training, German Shepherds, heart dog, Rottweilers, Service dog | Leave A Comment »
