part  4  DOG STORY CONTINUED OR THE NEVER ENDING DOG STORY

(Gidget) momma won't play enough

   

     Now, without children, the man and his mate have turned their full

attention to the two miniature dachshunds, Gidget and Roxy. As

stated in Dog Stories, Gidget may be ADHD. She is constantly on the

go as her attention varies from one object or activity to another. At

night Gidget wants to play chase. The man’s mate becomes the

chaser and Gidget the chasee. The man watched and laughed at the

Gidget complains about the rough cat

scene. He wished he could be involved but operations and

Parkinson’s kept him from joining.

      Each night the man’s wife, breathing heavily and tired, stated the

need for another dog. “Gidget needs a new playmate and it’s not me. A dog to take some of her activities (especially chase) and give them to a new dog.

      And so the hunt began. A state wide search for the right dog began in earnest.  A small dog search found no dogs on which they could agree.  What ever the man found, the mate rejected.  If the mate found one the man rejected.  

Roxy the hunter

     Finally, in a back yard in Globe, Arizona the right dog was found.  Another miniature dachshund but with an unfamiliar coat that neither the man or his mate had ever seen or heard. Her coat was brown in color when kept with a short haircut.  But if allowed to grow, the dogs fur became a mixture of tan, brown, gray, black and white.  The man picked up the puppy and let her cuddle in his arms.  What a way to start a relationship.  This one is mine thought the man.

     We took her home to meet Gidget.  The puppy was 1/2 year younger than Gidget.  Perfect!  We named her Roxy.

Flowers?

London Bridge

     Roxy slept all the way home.  Curled up in the mates lap , the man sensed that this little dog was going to be different.  She was laid-back easy-going.  The man recognized a potential bond.  What he needed for a pet was one that fit his life style.  

     Once home, everyone began adjusting to the puppy.  One of the activities that man and his mate did was walking the nearby golf course.  For Gidget, this was a time to run and play.  Roxy, on the other hand, preferred to walk, not run.  The man could do neither so he rode his scooter.  The man and his mate took treats for the puppies.  The man went to one side of the fairway and his mate to the other side.  With treats in hand, the man and his mate called each dog one at a time and rewarded them with a treat. They soon learned to come when their name was called, without a treat.  Roxy’s lesson didn’t stay with her.  She soon wanted to ride in the scooter full time with the man.  She was welcomed.

          In the backyard, the man noticed some more of the laid-back puppy’s demeanor. When the two dogs were in the yard, Gidget would race to the door when  called while Roxy continue to sniff the ground for the perfect spot.  Once finished she would amble in,  always last.  

Listen pup, I'm still boss

     Suppertime revealed another difference between the two dogs. Gidget, would inhale her food while Roxy would take her time eating. The result?  Gidget would try to eat the rest of Roxy’s food which resulted in a fight.  After two or three of these incidents, the man separated the two dogs during supper. They both finished their food about the same time.  Roxy would wash down her food with a drink of water, followed by a loud belch that marked the end of supper. 

     The bond between the man and the puppy continue to be developed.

Roxy followed the man everywhere in the house.  When the man took a nap, the puppy took a nap with him.  

Look what I caught

     When night time came the man planed to use the same tactic that he had with Winston, a box and a hand for comfort.  Into the box went the pup.    The man waited for the obvious response, A crying whine from the puppy.  Into the box went the hand.  Immediately there was quiet.  After a period of time, the man removed his hand.  The result was more crying from the puppy.  Back into the box went the hand.  Quiet again.  Only much longer this time.  The man smiled.  He was winning this battle early.  Suddenly, the man heard a low, but not menacing “Gr-r-r-r”  

     The man’s eyes open wide with astonishment.  “What?  Did you say, Gr-r-r?”  Still not believing what he heard, man rolled over to look in the box. While watching the puppy the man asked, “Gr-r-r-r?”

     Roxy’s response was to wag her tail and nuzzle the man’s hand. The man lifted her into the bed.  She went to the foot of the bed and curled up in a ball and went to sleep. From that point to the present, Roxy's bed was at the foot of the man's bed.

    The man has found that “Gr-r-r-r” can mean a number of things, depending on what Roxy wants.  Breakfast, a lap, play or being on watch in  the front patio for unwanted guests can elicit a “G-r-r-r”.  The man smiled.