We have our little rescue dog for almost two years now!
She is still an enigma, a bundle of odd behaviors and idiosyncracies.
Here is Elsa. And if you are a dog psychologist, maybe you can explain who she really is.
Bathroom Pleasures: You have your place and I have mine!
We have acres of grassy lawn but Elsa prefers to water the small rock bed just outside the front door.
There is a surprising benefit from this odd preference. Since no weed can survive Elsa’s acid rain for long, the rock bed stays her pristine and weed free watering place.
Maybe in her previous lifetimes she was walked on leash in a neighborhood of homes and chastised for going on a neighbor’s grass.
Play?
Huh?
Elsa does not play, will not fetch a ball or anything else, and has no apparent interest in stuffed squeaky animals or even treat-stuffed toys. Squeak a toy at her and she will turn away as if to say, “Stop hurting that poor little thing!” Throw a ball and she will watch its trajectory without moving a muscle.
No! No! Nooooo!!!!! Not the Car!!!!!!
Elsa does not enjoy riding in the car. She acts excited pre-entry, but once inside, hunkers down to shiver and shake in fear. Fear of what? Why doesn’t she look out the window or enjoy the breeze in her face like other dogs do?
Most times Bill drives and I ride in back with Elsa, who promptly puts her head in my lap and shakes and shivers.
Yes it is true! The Sky is falling.
Our poor little pup is terrified of thunder, airplanes, rain, far off traffic noises, falling branches, gunshots, firecrackers, and more. She is under my desk as I write this (shaking and shivering). I am sure she thinks the sky will fall because she is constantly looking to crawl under something.
If I am quiet will they come?
She is quiet and respectful of visiting deer, squrrels, groundhogs, birds or rabbits and never barks at them even when they get wind of her and begin to flee.
I have never had a dog who didn’t enjoy barking at visiting creatures, especially when they turn and run.
Well, she does bark at people (who I consider the most predatory anyway) and she did bark at that bear who came through.
I think she thinks protecting me from truly dangerous looking intruders is her real job.
The Lady-Who-Limps Saved Me. I will never leave her side.
Oddest of all, Elsa prefers my somewhat droll sedentary company to any other living thing. She rarely leaves my side and has evidently decided I am the only human who counts.
I totally agree with that last assessment of course.
And I enjoy the adoration until she follows me into my own non-rock bathroom.
Are you inviting me to get up there on that sofa with you? What will happen to me THEN?
There are times I would really love it if Elsa would jump on the couch or the bed, just for a hug. But even when I invite her, she refuses.
It is probably a good thing that she is never on the furniture since she is a prolific shedder. Again, I suspect she had some harsh training to keep her off the furniture. No amount of cajoling will entice her up, even in a thunder storm when she really wants to be cuddled.
I think I kinda like it here!
What Bill and I notice lately though is a more trusting happy dog who does a whole lot of tail wagging (on those occasions when she isn’t shaking in fear of something benign).
Elsa is full of strange behaviors and habits and fears, but maybe aren’t we all?
She is a little bit off, a little imperfect, a lot insecure, but aren’t we all?
It will be a two year anniversary soon and we think Elsa knows this is her safest place and where she lives with her most ardent fans.
And we know we will always be warned of visiting bears and unknown humans, and we are serene in the knowledge she will tell us when the sky is falling too.
Virginia Views 