A day in the Life of Halle

Halle, my oldest, can be so routine based, so obedient about not getting on the bed or couch unless invited.   From first impression, she seems to be the sweetest dog, the most obedient, the good girl.  She however has a dark side, a side that enjoys rolling in something vile, not listening and repeating the same bad behaviors.

Alarm goes off, Halle raises her head, and glances toward us and waits patiently for us to awaken and rise from bed.  She lies nightly between Joshua and I.  She enjoys cuddling with us during the night.  She is not that invasive and stays toward the foot of the bed, most nights.   

 As the morning sun begins to shine, Halle drops her head to the ground and rubs her head along the floor. Scratching her head and ears on a rug, she anxiously awaits for Joshua or I to scratch her back near her tail.  This is a very cute and interesting trait of Halle’s that she has been doing since she was a puppy.  She is always so excited to awaken and start a new day.

We all venture down stairs to prepare for our day.  Halle and Cadet usually follow us into the bathroom.  If I stretch before a walk she will watch as I stretch and patiently wait for her walk.  Sometimes pawing me in the shoulder or licks my face to urge me to hurry.

We then go for a walk.  Halle loves the fact that I spend more time outside because of Noodles.  I usually walk .5 miles in the morning or run 1 mile with the dogs.  This gives Halle plenty of time to roam around the yard and sniff out what the night brought onto our property.  After about 20 minutes playing outside.  I call the dogs to come inside to have breakfast.  Halle usually is close, but can be stubborn.  Not because she doesn’t care to eat, she would prefer to spend the day outside with smells. This behavior is limited to warm temperatures.  During the winter I can barely get her out the door to potty. 

After breakfast is inhaled, Halle goes willing to her place (dog crate).  She spends the rest of the morning and afternoon in a crate during the work week.  I have tried for years to let her out of the crate and to allow her to roam freely in the home.  She has let me down each time. Her crate is the safest alternative to her and our house.  She has always been trained that her crate was a safe place.  A place she could go and not be punished and be 100% safe.

Out of all my dogs, Halle has been the one to help me improve the most in my life.  Halle helped me learn to take solo adventures in my early 20’s.  I would go to Indianapolis by myself with Halle, go to a dog park or go hiking in the woods alone.  I had never before really spent much time alone doing recreational activities.  Halle has also been a huge reason for learning my anger problems.  I can get angry and not necessarily be fair in my punishment with the dogs.  Throughout my 20’s I have learned to calm myself and realize that bad behaviors are more often than not, my fault.  I was not giving Halle focus, not picking up or putting away temptation items, or not giving proper exercise and training needed.    I still have a ways to go with my anger issues, but I have changed dramatically.  I am learning that dogs are just that, dogs.  They are not humans.  They do not roll in a pile of stinky to make me angry, they do it because that is what is instinctual.

My dogs have been wonderful friends for me throughout the years we have shared.  They have helped me try new activities, they have motivated me to exercise, and they have helped me strive toward better nutrition.  I enjoy our daily routines and even the crazy “why did you do that” moments.  I couldn’t imagine my life without havening experienced each of my dogs.  They have all shaped me.  I still have to thank my dog Halle, she has and continues to make me a better person.