When Sam died four months ago, I was left pet-less for the first time in twenty years. It was so quiet here…so empty.
A strange thing happened during the first few weeks after he died. Everywhere I went, strange dogs would come up to me and just lean against me briefly. Dogs would cross the street to lean against me. Even a guide dog leaned against me. I thought maybe it was the sad, beseeching way I was looking at them that invited them over for a lean, but occasionally a dog would come up behind me and lean on me before I’d even seen him. I got the weird sense that all these leaning dogs knew my dog had died.
After a few weeks dogs stopped leaning on me, and life went on.
I considered getting The Next Dog right away, to fill the void that Sam left. But I knew I would be looking for a Sam-dog. A border-collie mutt with Sam’s steady gaze and Sam’s expressive ears and Sam’s personality and intelligence and sense of humour. And I knew I’d be disappointed if the new dog deviated at all from the Sammishness I sought. I decided to wait until I wouldn’t set such lofty standards for The Next Dog. After all, any new dog would deserve to be loved and appreciated for who he was, not for how closely he could resemble the dog I really loved.
In the meantime, I’ve gotten used to not having a dog. There are some advantages: I don’t have to walk anybody before work or in miserable weather, the house stays cleaner longer, it’s cheaper, and I can go away without making dog-care arrangements. These are not insignificant advantages, and I do like them.
But a house just doesn’t feel as homey without pets. I still think it would be nice to have someone greet me with pure joy when I get home from work, someone who knows how to live in the moment, someone who celebrates when I drop food on the floor, someone who tilts his head to one side and furrows his brow when he’s trying to understand me, someone who leans against me at all the right times.
I’ve gotten past the point where The Next Dog would need to look like Sam. I might even be able to love a little white dog, as long as he was smart and funny and not too neurotic and didn’t have a curly tail.
So maybe I’m almost ready for The Next Dog. Maybe. Almost.
Rudy has been a great dog…easy to train and because of the Wheaton in him, he doesn’t shed…I don’t think that I would ever get another dog that shed…we have a yellow lab and a black lab and so I can’t wear white or black because every hair shows on my pants. If you get one that isn’t too big, people like to babysit them…it satisfies their need for a dog without actually getting one. I used to do that before I got Rudy. I really think that you are a dog person and need a dog around to make your house a home. I am looking forward to the new addition to our family…when you are completely ready.
Deb, I’ve always been drawn to mutts more than purebreds. Maybe I’d like a mutt with some border collie, rottweiler and wheaton in him, and a bit of teacup poodle just to keep the size down. I wonder if there are any of those around?
Rudy is a Wheaton/Aussie Shepherd cross. He has the look of more Wheaton but not the timid personality. He has the Aussie sauciness which can be very charming but also annoying when he sets his mind to something. He is so lovable though.
The idea of a rotty/teacup cross is a bit disconcerting.
I think there IS a rotti-teacup and it’s called a miniature pinscher! I moon over puppy pictures and real dogs but I know I am not ready to have a dog yet. The whole babysitting thing is huge. Maybe when they build that dog hotel I saw mentioned in the Citizen a short while ago, then I’ll be ready to leave my dog somewhere. Who am I kidding?