Getting Down to Elsa’s Level

Elsa is beginning to love and trust, but it’s a long haul.

As difficult as it is, I now aim for the floor to meet her on her own level. Elsa is our little rescue dog who has been with us for three months. 

Getting up from the floor is the challenge of course but Big Foot (swollen foot that is now Slim Foot) is allowing weight bearing moves!

At first Elsa seemed confused and suspicious when I hit the carpet but she decided in two days it might be acceptable (if not alarmingly odd) human behavior.

She comes closer now when I am down there, close enough for a belly rub but not quite near enough for a hug.

We are making slow but positive progress.

Yesterday while Elsa and I were connecting on the floor,

the looming shadow of a man-person emerged. 

Gentle Bill wanted to join the party too and was on his way down.

Immediately alarmed, Elsa gave a mighty jump and hit her head on the coffee table. Then she crouched nearby in a terror pose.

She finally realized we humans were down there for family love and noone wanted to hurt her.

She inched closer, sat between us, and rolled over for double belly rubs.

This is true progress because Elsa cringes when we try to pat her head and shows unmistakable signs of previous abuse.

For now,  with patience and gentle handling,

Elsa is beginning to love and trust, but it’s a long haul.

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A Chocolate Lab Welcome

This great big chocolate lab named Boo was eager to say, “Welcome!” on our first morning at son’s house in Carlsbad, California.  He jumped up on our bed with no invitation and was ready to snuggle right in.  Did he know how much we were missing old Rozie? Just look at that doleful look.  I think he knew and was trying to help.

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A Dog in the House

I got my dog “fix” last week with the arrival of family who brought

their family dog.

Noche (pronounced No-Chay) is a beautiful German Shepherd who stole my heart.

Or maybe my heart was ready to be stolen missing Rozie.

Noche found Rozie’s toy bin and brought out each piece with

loving care and then claimed a weather beaten hedgehog as her own.

She claimed Rozie’s washed and ready-to-wear orthopedic bed too

and nestled in.

I like to think she claimed us as hers along with all the rest.

My lovely niece and little brother and sister-in-law were here too.

What a joy to see them all.

But Noche stole the show and somehow I think she knew –

she helped to heal my broken heart.

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It’s a Dog’s Life

My Dear Family,

I took this picture of Rozie on Thanksgiving Day.  Isn’t she beautiful?  As you know, she is probably very old  – maybe 13 or 14 years by all our guesses.  But sometimes, when she has her ears up, she looks young again (wish that worked for me).  I often wonder what she was like  as a puppy though.  As you know, she was  a rescue dog – rescued by our beloved Judi, so Rozie’s  history’s a mystery.

The Games Dogs Play

When Rozie first came to us four years ago, she was still pretty rambunctious (me too).   She was fast on her feet (me too) and would disappear down steep hills (not me) into the woods.  The thought of losing her would leave me panicked and calling her name over and over until I gave up, ready to cry, too hoarse to continue yelling and well –  distraught.

What if she can’t get back up the hill?

What if she broke her leg?

What if she is lost?

What if she ran into a bear?

What if  I can’t get down there to her?

But, as soon as I stopped hollering, the rascal would nonchalantly stroll into view.  I think she was deliberately playing Hide and Seek!

Nowadays she knows her limitations.  She seems to understand that an uphill climb would be problematical since her legs are weak.  We are a well matched pair! But sometimes I know she is wistfully contemplating another escape just for the fun of it.

Peculiar Habits

Bill calls her “Rose” and I had to laugh last week when he asked her, “Are you ready to get your nails done for Thanksgiving Rose?”  He was taking her for a doggie manicure.  When her nails get too long she bites them.  I never met a dog who did that.

I never met a dog like this one anyway.   She is a creature of rather peculiar habits:

• Her teeth chatter (loudly) when she is frightened.  Ever hear a dog’s teeth chatter?  Very strange.
• She also has the ability to whisper-bark.   That means she can bark at  low decibel levels so as not to awaken us in the middle of the night.
• And she pants for attention.
• Oh, and by the way, the anti-depressants are working and she hasn’t tried to jump off the deck lately.  We are watching her carefully for wild mood swings or erratic behavior.

I did want to tell you she may be losing her hearing, and that’s a blessing.  Thunderstorms and gunshots were once terrifying events, but she is either finally ignoring them or does not hear them anymore.  It was hunting season in our part of Virginia on Thanksgiving Day and  there were multiple shots.  Rozie was oblivious.  What a relief that must be for her.  And what a relief for us not to deal with teeth chattering panic attacks (hers, not ours).

All in all, I’m delighted to report that Rozie is healthy, happy, and well loved.

And by the way, we are too.

Love and hugs from us and Rozie to you.

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Beautiful Dog Fotos?

My dog does not take good pictures.  If she did, I would be writing more Rozie Stories.  She is actually quite beautiful but HATES the little camera thing.  She rarely looks up no matter how I whistle or call her name.  She’s worse than a baby who has to be bribed with lolly pops to get her attention focused.  I make funny faces too and get down on the floor and wave different hands that are not holding the camera.  I even shout sometimes.  Rozie ignores all the histrionics.  And I get so flustered, I can’t focus either.

Rozie Squinting

Rozie’s Body is Too Big for Her Face

Rozie’s Head is Too Big for her Body

She is lovely when not squinting or in the wrong light, with her widow’s peak and big soft brown eyes.   Her body is something else again – maybe a bit too big for her face I think.  At any rate, I cannot seem to get  body and face in the right proportion for a flattering photograph.  I would put her on a diet but the vet says her weight is just fine.   She’s just – well – out of proportion from the photographer’s eye view.  Maybe my favorite fabulous photographer  friends,  Cindy at photosfromtheloonybin and apronhead Lilly could help me with getting the right focus.

I never met a dog who was not photogenic.  Have you?

Rozie will never measure up to Lassie or Rin Tin Tin or even Toto in the Wizard of Oz. Oh, she’s well behaved.  If I call her and she sees the evil camera, she leaves or turns her back so I can get a great rear view.

Most of the time she is sleeping or getting ready to sleep.   You know, you can only take so many pictures of a dazed or sleeping dog.

Rozie’s Dazed Look for the Camera

This morning I was determined to show the world what a beauty Rozie really is.  She’s my old, misshapen, well behaved friend.   I came close.  The light on her face was somewhat flattering and she actually looked at me since I was in the kitchen where the food is.

I love Rozie so much.  I think she is truly beautiful.   She simply does not take good pictures, or maybe she resents the camera and shuns the fishbowl life of a celebrity.

Have you ever heard of an un-photographic dog?

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A Sleeping Dog’s Nightmare

THE PUPPY’S TALE

“I was a very cute, happy, well adjusted puppy.  One night when I was blissfully sleeping, there was a terrible thunder storm with brilliant flashes of lightning.  Or maybe it was an earthquake or even a tornado.  In any case, at the same time as this event, a big heavy book fell off a shelf and hit me on my head.  It hurt.   My human mother came and comforted me but the pain and shivering didn’t stop for a long time.  And from that day on, I believed the sky would fall on me again and it might kill me.  And I have terrible nightmares.”

Sleepy Rozie

My name is Rozie.  I am an old dog now with a checkered past.  I am a rescue dog and have been rescued more than once.  No one knows my real story though.

I am a big, mean looking canine now, with a ferocious growl.   I can scare big men so I am a magnificent watch dog if I hear you coming.   The problem is I’m usually asleep.  They say that once, when a bear walked by, I just slept through the visit.

It should be noted that in my few waking hours, I am frightened.  I still remember the sky might fall and I watch the windows for a darkening sky or an unusual wind.  Backfires, gunshots, or a twig hitting the window are terrifying and thunderstorms are the worst.  They drive me (and my adopted lady, Dor) into a closet where sounds are muffled and smells are of comforting human clothing and old shoes!  My lady rubs me down with a dryer sheet to reduce static electricity. It feels pretty good but old shoes smell better.   Isn’t that a great idea though?

I am a very old dog named Rozie and still convinced the sky is falling because it fell on me once before, when I was a puppy.   And only my humans can save me.    There is no convincing me otherwise and I still have terrible nightmares.   My adopted humans want to help but all they can do now is hold  my paw through the hard times, and give me all their love.

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