Any animal lover, and anyone who has a pet, can testify to the humor in it all. I started to say "pet owner" but that's comical in itself because we never "own" them, or shouldn't if we're caring for them properly. They're members of our family and should bring tears of laughter to our eyes just as any crazy aunt or silly brother would.
Casey has been a source of laughs from day one. Puppies, after all, can usually cause even the most serious of people to crack a smile. Casey also has a personality that's befitting of the classic Golden Retriever. She is friendly to a fault where her only issue with obedience training is her lack of concentration when people are present who want to pet her. There is an unwritten phrase in Casey's life that says "my purpose in life is to love people and other animals and they are supposed to love me as well". Casey rarely goes anywhere or does anything without benefit of wiggle hips and wagging tail. Happy go-lucky is her motto, especially when she's glued to her "Daddy" Glenn. She knows he is "her" person. When we decided to get another Golden, it was my hope that the new dog would someday have that kind of bond with me.
Four months ago, enter Chester. A nondescript dog without a personality. Skinny with hair coat so thin you could see through to the flesh. Loose skin everywhere. The extra skin around his mouth looked odd and it produced an unusual smacking sound when he moved his jaw. No smiles. Not even a tail wag ... ever. He didn't even glance "at" anyone until Thanksgiving week (2 months into our adoption of him), just this blank, lost stare. We weren't even sure there was anyone inside this shell of a dog ... not sure he would ever appear. But we had to try.
Chester spent his days under tables or in hidden corners and when he walked his tail was always placed tightly between his legs. There's nothing funny about a domesticated animal who isn't really living. Chester was alive, breathing - we fed him, took him outside to potty, we petted him numerous times a day - but he wasn't living in the true sense of the word. Casey tried daily to get his attention. Not only was he not interested, he didn't even try to play. If the seven years per dog year is even close, imagine a 35-year-old who has never had any enjoyment in life and you can picture Chester's dilemma. Tail wagging was months away and to this day is surprising to see. I'm not sure he even realizes that he's doing it when it does happen ... it's rare and fleeting. Chester doesn't seem comfortable wagging his tail. It appears as a response he's not in control of and doesn't quite understand ... awkward.
Over time we've seen progress with Chester's attitude. Thankfully he is one of the most gentle souls I've ever known. I doubt there's an angry or aggressive bone in his body ... given his background, that's a miracle. Each time he makes a change to the next step of improvement, it is obvious. I feel certain that he contemplates a situation for a long time before acting on it. Then one day, the new behavior becomes fixed into his schedule as if it was always there.
Okay, Chester believes he's strictly an "inside" dog, or should be. He spent his previous life as a puppy mill breeder, living in a small chicken coop with 17 other dogs. I don't blame Chester for not wanting to brave the elements. But, he's taken this to new levels. Originally his potty time routine involved me leashing him (numerous times a day) and physically dragging him to the stairs and out to the back yard. I stayed with him for fear he'd find a way out of the fenced yard. If he had escaped at that time, we'd probably never see him again. The next level of improvement meant I could leash Chester, take him to the slider door, unleash him and gently push him outside. This meant I had to shut the door quickly as Chester would spin and try to come back in, regardless of the condition of his bladder. A month or so passed and I could simply hold his collar and walk with him to the back door, open it and say "go potty" and he'd go outside. That scenario holds true today. It's what happens after he's outdoors that cracks me up.
If I stand at the slider door and watch Chester, he will stand there and watch me ... for a l-o-n-g time. He's very patient and extremely good at the waiting game. Stubborn dog!! He really has no intention of going out into the cold wet grass to do anything, let alone to pee. He doesn't particularly care to venture away from the porch light at night. There might be something scary out there and it wouldn't be a good idea to stray too far from the warm bed, regular meals and snacks at this house. Originally Chester wasn't interested in personal hygiene, never so much as licked himself. He now believes he should be well groomed at all times and can't stand to have dirty feet. So, if he was to venture into the yard and (heaven forbid) got muddy, it would involve prompt cleaning ... a lot of work for a guy who'd simply rather stay inside to begin with. It's rather ironic for a macho breeder dog to act so feminine, but that's actually the best way to describe his new personality ... prissy.
So, we play this game ... I hold Chester's collar and walk with him to the slider door ... I go just far enough away where he can't see me, but where I can watch his clever tricks. Once outside he goes to the closest edge of the patio (about 3 feet from the door). He sits and pees and promptly returns, waiting to be let back inside. Sometimes most of the pee actually goes on the patio although he's sitting in the grass. If he thinks I'm not paying attention he simply walks to that general area, circles to the edge of the patio and returns ... smiling as if to say "okay, I did it, now let me in". If I leave him there a minute or two longer, he may finally relent and go back and actually pee. When the weather is nasty, raining or windy, he will actually pee "on" the flagstone patio right by the door, under cover of the patio roof so he doesn't get wet feet. Or his latest trick even in dry weather ... in an effort to return quickly ... he heads to the lawn area, stands and pees, then walks back towards the door, peeing as he goes, sometimes leaving a trail all the way back to the door. I guess in Chester's mind, there's no point staying outside if you don't have to. He spent most of his life outside ... paid his dues ... now it's time to be an indoor dog.
The only way Chester actually goes farther into the yard to pee is if I'm outside with him. Even then he tries to fake me out that he went when he actually just sat for a few seconds. He then circles back to wait at the door. Comical Chester, really, but I've caught on to your system. Our morning routine has become a different kind of game. After breakfast I walk outside with him, grab the shovel to clean up yesterday's piles. He only goes in one area of the yard to do his business. Casey prefers the other. So while I head over to take care of hers, Chester walks to the lawn on the other side of the patio, then quickly heads back to the patio door. I walk to "his" side of the lawn and around the corner, up the hill and wait. Within a minute or two, he'll walk part way up the hill, do his thing and return to the door. Chester is never outside in the back yard with me for more than a few minutes. Potty time, after all, should be quick or even nonexistent if you can fool your Mom into thinking you went.
Why our dogs aren't so particular on walks is just one of those things. I truly believe they enjoy watching us pick up the piles from the sidewalk or other places when we're away from home. Chester looks at Casey and they each smile ... got 'em again didn't we?
No comments:
Post a Comment