Mr. Wiggles

                                        

Mr. Wiggles.  Interesting how this fellow squirmed into my life. Over a one year period, my life had changed drastically.  I was divorced from my first husband,  had fostered a dog, was addicted to running, practicing massage and teaching canine massage to fellow dog lovers.  I had a full time office position for the County Parks and Recreation department and was attempting to start a pet sitting business with a friend.  

Winter arrived and snow covered the December sidewalks making running difficult.  I injured my knee from the uneven surfaces.  I spent the rest of December and Early January Cross Country skiing.  Halle and Langston would go on my CC days and run right through my freshly laid tracks. It is difficult to ski over dog pawed snow, but it was worth watching the dogs run along side me.

One evening after work, I had plans to photograph a Parks event.  First, I had to run by the pet store to pick up food and supplies.  As I was browsing the isles, the owner of the store approached me.  We had been acquaintances since I adopted Langston.  She wanted me to see a puppy in the back room.  She was hoping I could help him with massage.  I walked back into the storage room and there sat a chocolate colored Doberman, with an upside down front left paw.  The owner asked if I would be willing to take him home over the weekend and massage his leg daily and apply heat compresses.  They would supply me with a collar, leash, dog food and toys for the weekend.  Sure.  I was actually going home to my Mom's house over the weekend and would attempt a whirlpool bath as well, to help ease the tension in the paw.  The pet store owner informed me that the vet's diagnosis was grim.  If the paw did not straighten, then amputation was going to be necessary for this dog.  

So, I left the pet story and told them I would be back before closing to pick up the pup.  I left to photograph the parks event,  finished up my work, then went back and picked up the pup.  What a handful!  He had non stop energy and could not get enough attention.  I figured this was from being kept in the store room the last few days at the pet store.  I later realized, this was just his personality.  I got home and introduced him to my dogs.  They were friendly and accepting Cadet upon meeting him.  They had spent the spring with a foster dog. I assume they figured this was a temporary situation as well.    

The pup received three 1/2 hour massages a day on his arm, shoulder, neck and back.  I would finish the massage by a 1/2 hour heat therapy session.  The whirlpool bath to help reduce tension did not happen.  He was frightened to death by the water.  The weekend progressed and massage and care continued.  Monday evening after work, I brought the pup and his belongings back to the store.  Unfortunately, my attempts didn't help the deformed limb.  Like anyone caring for an animal over a three day period, I had grown a small attachment for this little fellow. So, when the pet store owner approached and asked if I would be willing to take this pup in to my home, it was hard to say no.  They offered to help with vaccinations, supply a bag of dog food, his AKC papers, collar and leash. I would just have to take him to the vet and continue treatments. 

This was a very difficult decision for me. Halle, Langston and I had a great relationship. Adding a third dog in the mix could be harmful. I never even considered keeping the dog I fostered in the spring, because they seemed uncomfortable with her living in our house.  So, I bit my lip and made my decision.  I would take him and hoped I had not made a mistake.  So the pup, Cadet, crawled back in my car and went home.  

Cadet was an easy name choice.  It was actually the name I picked out for Langston.  However, my ex had convinced my to change his name to Langston.  Langston was named after poet Langston Hughes.  So since Cadet's name was chosen for a previous friend, I added SpaceCadet on to create his full name.  The women I worked with at Parks and Rec didn't think he was a Cadet and tried to convince me to change his name to Louis, after Louis Doberman.  Louis Doberman is the man who created the Doberman breed.  So, I compromised and filled out the AKC papers as SpaceCadet Louis.

SpaceCadet was a difficult pup to walk.  He was extremely skinny because he had to remain on a senior diet to slow down his growing.  His front paw was flipped upside down, so he would drag the paw along as we walked creating a bloody abrasion. I bought dog booties to protect his paws.  He would put very little pressure on the front leg and hold it up if he wasn't moving.  I took Cadet to my vet and she suggested a bone specialist in Anderson, Indiana.  Off we drove to Anderson.  The specialist took x-rays of the leg, and decided for a cast for the first round of treatment.  She was hoping because of fast growth, his tendons were stressed causing the foot to flip.  However, if the foot was not fixed in two weeks when the cast was removed, he would have to have the leg amputated.

Two comical weeks passed.  Cadet used his cast as a weapon.  He would whack the other dogs and myself in the face.  Langston, did not appreciate any of the play from Cadet.  He ignored him and was not very nice  at times.  Cadet could walk with the cast, so off we would go on daily walks.  On one walk, Langston thought it would be funny to get Cadet (and cast) to chase him.  Langston leaped off a small hilly area along terrain, landed and took off.  Cadet, thinking Langston was the coolest thing ever, copied.  Unfortunately, his front left leg was not flexible because of the cast.  Cadet hit the ground and slid about three feet across the concrete on his chin,quickly ending our walk.  He still does not have hair on his chin from the accident.  

When the cast was removed, we were lucky to see that his leg was healed.  All I had to do was continue to feed a senior diet for a couple more weeks.  Cadet was healed and capable of running, jumping and being a puppy. I decided to go hiking with a friend. I had my three pups loaded up in my vehicle and her pups in her car.  Off we went.  All of a sudden, chaos erupted in the back of my Tracker. I looked in my mirror and noticed Halle sitting quietly, Langston hanging out by an open window and Cadet, ugh where is Cadet.  I looked out my rear view mirror and there stood Cadet.  Standing on the side of the road.  The same side of the road with the open window and innocent Langston. I brought the car to a screeching stop, jumped out and ran up to my buddy.  He was scratched and frightened.  I scooped him up and my friend had noticed the commotion and came to help.  She and I looked over Cadet over and realized that all was well.  I don't have 100% proof that Langston pushed him out that window, but I strongly believe that is the case.  Langston has never been very happy with the placement of Cadet in our home.  They have grown to tolerate one another, but it has taken time.

These are all stories about Cadet's intro in my life, but who is SpaceCadet Louis.  Cadet is a unique dog.  When he was young, all you had to do was touch his head to satisfy him.  He is a bit more demanding as an adult.  He never gets enough attention and can be a bit overwhelming.  Most people are told to not get in a dogs face.  When you are around Cadet, that rule is broken.  He always gets in your face.  He also wiggles his whole body when he is happy (which is often).  When he was a puppy, he would wiggle all the time.  He would even wiggle while he ate, so the kibble would rattle all over the bowl.  We started to tell him to wiggle and he eventually began to wiggle on command.  My mom gave him the nickname Mr. Wiggles because of his adorable body wiggle.  

Cadet has been a challenge.  He has busted my lip and knocked me down many times, nearly broke my glasses and nose with his head and has annoyed many friends. His place in our pack has also been a challenge. He and Langston have a rocky relationship.  They play fetch and wrestle, but it often ends in a fight or argument. Cadet tends to push Langston's buttons. However, Cadet and Halle are dear friends. They run and explore the property together like the best of buddies. Getting Cadet, hurt Langston and Halle's play relationship.  I realize that Cadet may not have been the right dynamic for my pack, but he did bring energy and joy overall to Langston, Halle and I.  It hasn't always been easy, but we have all had a lot of fun learning to live together as a pack.

The Friend

    Back in 2002 after my experience in training Halle, I decided that I wanted to work with animals.  I was nearing my wrap up of classes to become a dog trainer and had just started my massage therapy certification classes. I applied and received a job at a local doggie day care and kennel.   My new boss hired me on as a trainer, kennel tech and future massage therapist for the canines.  I was excited.  Halle could come to work everyday and she and I were working and playing with other animals.
  I worked three twelve hour shifts and most weekends.  I enjoyed the companionship of the animals and of other co-workers.  I attended meetings and training sessions with my boss.  One of the first people he wanted me to meet was pet store owner who was a close friend of his.  He was aware of this my obsession with German Shepards. He had something he wanted to show me.  Inside the store was not a German Shepard, but a Doberman puppy.  His mother and father had been purchased by a local resident who did not want the puppies.  The pet supply store offered to take the puppies. There were only two in the litter, a male and female.  My boss thought that I might be interested in this breed.
  I observed the pups and quickly asked to see the male.  My decision for a second dog had to be taken very seriously.  I owned a independent alpha female.  I did not want to challenge her place in the pack by bringing in a challenging dog.  So, the crazy female Doberman that was stomping on the very submissive male, was not a choice.  Couple of meetings with the pup, tons of research on the breed, discussions with my training instructor and boss, I decided to adopt the little man.  Looking back, I am surprised I chose the pup.  He was a shy, scared and not affectionate upon the first few meetings.  However, I knew he would be a perfect match for Halle.  I adopted Langston in the middle of July.  He was only 6 weeks old.  I was not able to take him home until the first of August, when he was 8 weeks old. I was so excited to introduce this new pup to Halle.
  The ride home was quiet.  I placed the tiny little Langston in the seat next to me.  The same seat that Halle sat, on our first ride together.  Just like Halle, Langston looked scared and nervous about his first trip in a car to a new place.  Arriving home, I scooped the pup into my arms and went inside the house.  Halle met me at the door and began sniffing the pup.  She was very excited, at first.  Then, she was confused and nervous by the new arrival.  She jumped into a recliner and watched the pup sniff about the house.
  It didn't take Halle long to become best friends with Langston.  He was submissive, small and easy to dominate.  Everything Halle wanted in a friend.  Play was easy.  Walks were difficult.  Langston did not have the energy as a pup to do Halle's two to three hour walks a day.  So, I began walking him for a few minutes, than carrying him in a backpack on my chest for the remainder of the walk.  This happened for a couple weeks.  Finally he began to get the strength and energy to keep up with Halle.
  Halle was my first dog, but Langston was my first puppy.  He was not potty trained, still tried to suckle fingers and had the puppy breath that is best described as smelling like bologna.  I quickly began growing a close bond with him.  Like Halle, he came to work with me daily.  I was very rarely without my dogs.  A strong bond formed from this companionship.  Potty training came quickly and was entertaining.  Langston was so small and uncoordinated as a pup, he was unable to hold himself up during poopies.  He would squat then slowly start to tip forward during the process.  I found this hilarious and adorable. Like potty training, everything was pretty easy with this pup.  He was always willing to please and a very well mannered dog by nature.
  Taking him to the vet, he would sit beside me and wait his turn. Most people thought he was ill because he was so young and well behaved.  I would love to take the credit, but it is just Langston.  I enjoyed taking him new places.  My dad's factory, where everyone enjoyed seeing the cute little pup, playing with other pup friends, to the coffee shop, parks or wherever.  This little man was quickly introduced to many people, animals and adventures.
  Soon after adopting Langston, I moved from the rental, into my first home.  The house was near my rental, but unfortunately in an area not as walking friendly as my previous home.  There was a large park nearby and the pups and I had a lot of fun walking and running.  My town has a leash law, but no one was ever at the park and the dogs would stick close by. I would walk behind the dogs as they ran, sniffed, and played with one another.  When they were not watching me, I would hide behind a boulder or tree and wait for them to realize I was not around.  They would soon panic, turn around and find me.  I was awaiting them with treats.  This fun game, helped the dogs gain attention toward me during walks, so they didn't stray far. The park is also where I discovered Langston's extreme play drive for fetch.  He would play fetch until he had reached, utter exhaustion.  I actually would have to take breaks on the walk home from the park because he sometimes would be too tired from fetch.  Warm sunny days, I would sit in the park and watch the two dogs run and play together.  They were the best of friends.  They were also, my best friends.

  Langston has been my buddy throughout his life.  He has been my shoulder to cry on, as well as the one thing to put a smile on my face when no one else could.  We have created an unbreakable bond throughout our time together.  He is currently my husband and my work dog/mascot for our landscaping business.  Last summer, he was diagnosed with bone cancer.  My whole world crashed around me.  My husband and I decided to amputate his front left leg and  treat him with chemotherapy.  He is doing well, but cancer has moved into his lungs.  I realize my time is limited with my best friend, but we enjoy every passing moment together.  Writing about Langston is difficult.  There are a million moments that we share and I adore.

My first experience of life with a dog.

 My first dog was Halle, the sharpie/beagle mix. That is at least the best guess as to Halle's breed.

I had just graduated college, working for a small newspaper in a near-by town and living in a 1 bedroom duplex.  I was interested in getting a dog, but had no experience or knowledge on how to properly raise one.  

I was currently doing a photo story on the local shelter for the newspaper.  I spent weeks photographing on my spare time at the office and days off.  I even started volunteering at the shelter. Made friends with the shelter manager and we talked dog shop daily.  I was beginning to feel more confident in pet ownership and really had my mind set on a German Shepard.  Why a German Shepard, I am not sure.  Honestly, at the time, I was uneducated and had no idea what I was looking for in a dog.  I suppose I was only going by appearance.

It was late September 2001.  The weather was ideal for a midwestern fall afternoon.  My last shoot of the day was photographing a local woman who was sharing her cinnamon bun recipe with the food section of the paper. I always enjoyed food shoots.  This specific assignment, I left with a large homemade cinnamon bun covered in a delicious sugary glaze.  No better way to end a day at work.  

It was late afternoon and I was headed back to my home.  Had big plans that evening. Once a week I would get together with my brother, sister-in-law and a couple friends and we would watch "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." We would enjoy the company, a snack and a wonderful show.  Always a great evening.  Thinking about my future plans for the evening, I approach an intersecting road on the highway and notice a small animal on the shoulder. I slow down, not wanting to hit the animal.  As I approach closer, I realize that it is a small puppy.  I pull the car over and try to shoo the pup off the side of the highway. In the distance, I notice another dog leaving the pup.  Figuring that the two are wandering together, I attempt to shoo the pup toward the other dog.

No luck.  The little puppy sat in front of me and started wiggling her tail.  She looked pathetic.  She was skinny, had what I later found out was mange, she was covered in ticks and very scared.  I scooped her up and put her in the seat of my chevy tracker.  Off we headed home.  I tried to tempt her with the cinnamon bun during the drive. She was too frightened to accept the treat.  Once I got home, called my brother and sister-in-law and we went to the grocery store to buy a collar and a leash. Leash in hand, this was the beginning of this 5 month old pups life with me and her first Buffy night.

With proper food and nutrition she became a wound-up ball of energy.  As my first dog, she was quite a challenge.  I began asking a friend with a dog for advice, reading every training book in the library.  I obsessively became involved with training Halle.  In fact, I decided to look into a training career.  Halle and I took a basic obedient class and later she became my instruction dog for a few training classes that I taught. I realized quickly that I did not like training people, just dogs.  Halle and I had a lot of fun through our training adventures.

When we weren't training she and I would awake early for park playtime, take afternoon and evening walks.  She had a lot of energy to burn and I have always enjoyed walking.  She would hang out with me at the coffee shop, enjoy jumping up on the city cement and limestone walls during walks, hike in the woods and go on occasional runs (which she found boring). During Halle's first year with me we made lots of pup friends and had a lot of dog park fun.

Halle is a wonderful dog.  She is stubborn and we still butt heads to this day.  She however, is the spark that ignited my love for dogs.  My post for Halle could go on for days. She has taught me to have patients and has helped me grow as a person.  

What is life like in the hollow?

I originally started this blog to discuss my growing understanding and life with chickens (that I do not have yet).  I plan on owning chickens for eggs in a year or two.  It is a new adventure for myself. One I figured would be entertaining to write about.

However, I recently adopted a new dog.  She's a lab/border collie mix and I decided that I should write about all the animals in my life.  My dogs, my property and soon, the chickens.  This new blog is also inspired by author Jon Katz.  I have read two of his books and have enjoyed the writings of someone chronicling their life and observation of their animals.

So, what is life like in the hollow?
The hollow (or valley) where I  live has four other homes. Only one neighbor borders our property.  Our home is at the end of a dead end road on 5 acres.  One side of our property is hillside, the back part is wooded and we have a creek that runs through the center of our property.  Our home lies on land west of the creek and our woods run up on the east side of the creek.  The creek makes a very nice visual border for the dogs to remain close to the house.

We own the 5 acres of land and a  950 sq' home.  We share our living space with 2 dobermans, 1 beagle/sharpei mix, 1 lab/border collie mix and a cat.  It's quite a full house.  My husband and I both prefer the outdoors and have created a great outdoor living space.

As I continue future posts, I will attempt to describe each of my animal friends.  How life in the hollow has changed their lives and mine.