It’s been a week now since we invited two strangers to live in our home.
And how is it going?
Well, pretty well, all in all. We are learning them and they are learning us.
That translates to the four of us staring at each other a lot. (Belle is the smaller of the two.)
Steve and I try to ascertain exactly what they are communicating. Contented? Anxious? Hungry? Needing to go outside? Wanting to take a walk? Worried about a sound outside? Wanting to snuggle up for a nap? Needing some water? Looking for someone to sit with them?
The options are many and since they haven’t yet learned to speak our native language, communication can be a little slow
that many hitherto non-alarming happenings are the equivalent of a Code Red and/or a DEFCON Five. The first time they ever heard me cough, they were sitting quietly on the couch across from me as I was typing. I coughed a couple of times and they both flew straight up into the air. Unidentified noise! Danger! All hands on deck! Call 911!
Tinker has a deep bark and Belle a higher one and although they bark at the same time, it’s never quite in synch. And so it’s deep bark, high bark, deep bark, high bark, etc. just a fraction of a second off each other, kind of like an antiphonal performance piece for canines.
The ice maker dropping ice. Steve clearing his throat. A cricket burping across the street. All are sounds worthy of every imaginable level of alarm.
Steve and I understand that they are in the process of categorizing sounds and realizing which ones are familiar and safe and which ones might require a full-on attack of barkiness.
is the more outgoing and sanguine of the two.
When Steve takes the dogs for a ride and goes into the store, Tinker lies down in the front seat to snooze while Belle peers all around, scoping out the environment, and ferreting out all sorts of evil dangers.
She has also come to believe that she is part Yorkie and part mountain goat.
Although Tinker is more laid back in many ways, he is still the one to go first in most situations. He’s the first one to bury his nose in his dog food and hoover it up while Belle walks gingerly around her bowl, examining it from all angles before consuming one dainty morsel at a time.
When it comes to inviting them onto the couch for a snuggle, Tinker is there in a nanosecond, ready to get a boost up. Belle, however, makes it into a whole big production. She comes near the couch and when I reach to pick her up, she hurriedly backs up out of reach. We got through that whole routine several times until I finally just ignore her.
A couple of minutes later, I’ll look down to see her standing parallel to the couch, not making a peep, just waiting to be noticed. That is her signal that it is okay to pick up her Royal Personage.
Something that amazes me is that even though they have only gone on about five neighborhood walks, Tinker already knows what street to turn on to get to our house. And then coming down our street, he knows which driveway to turn into without any guidance from Steve and me. He turns right in and Belle follows trustingly along beside her brother.
One thing we don’t understand is that a couple of times a day, Tinker will go back into our bedroom, and sit by himself between the dresser and chair. He doesn’t seem distressed or anxious; he just sits there for fifteen minutes or so.
Now as an introvert, I completely understand needing time alone but I’ve never known a dog to seek it out like that. Steve and I figure that he is still getting used to his new environment and when it all gets to be too much, he takes himself off to a quiet place for a think.
Both dogs are world-class snugglers. Lie down on the couch or the bed and they are right there.
We took a walk on Friday night and I captured two dog shadows and two Steve and Becky shadows. A family of four, once again.
During the walk, I happened to turn around and notice this lovely sight. Not only was there God light streaming down but there was also a guy mowing a lawn just over the hill. The dust he was kicking up glowed in the setting sun. I love that beauty can be created by illuminated dust.
All in all, we have had a good first week with our new family members. Of course, it will take time for us to all learn each other well but we feel like we are making good progress.
This is my favorite picture of the week, taken by Steve. Is it not so cute to see Belle’s little paw resting on her brother?
Even with the two new dogs, I still miss Tippi. I was at work on Friday and started thinking about her and actually had tears come to my eyes.
It’s amazing to me that in the space of a month, we can go from this picture . . .
to this picture.
Weeping to laughter. Mourning to joy. From Tippi to Tinker and Belle.
What about you?
Do you have an animal story? Maybe how you chose a dog or cat as a child or how you were surprised with one. Or a story about one of your favorite animals.
Does anyone know why Tinker might go to the bedroom and sit by himself?
Any ideas for good toys for the two of them to play with? Tippi wasn’t big on toys but I think these two might enjoy them.
I am a Great Dane Mom. I have many stories about my Great Danes. I remember when our cat Cow would need solace. She would go take a nap on top of the cupboards. When she was done napping, she would come back down the cupboard and walk across the counters. Our Great Dane, Ella, would go into some weird mode and have to correct Cow’s behavior. This trait was perfect if Ella was doing something she was not supposed to as we only had to say, “Cow, get down!” Ella would make her way to the kitchen to redirect the cat.
It is so sweet getting to have new pups in the house! I’m glad you are all getting along.
We got my first dog when I was 7 years old–Maggie, a black and brown 40 pound shepherd mutt. A year or so later, we were swimming in the backyard when my friend Alex (known for stretching the truth to its limits, and then a bit further) said “Look, Maggie’s on the roof!” My mom responded that of course Maggie was not on the roof. “No, look! Maggie is on the roof!” We looked up, and 15 feet above our heads, Maggie was indeed on the roof of the house! She had found that the house’s exterior staircase allowed a small pup to squeeze between the railing slats and then walk around the roof unencumbered. She had walked to the farthest point away from the staircase and was too scared to walk back. My dad had to slowly, carefully, work his way from the staircase to Maggie, trying not to break any of the terra cotta roof shingles and send himself sailing off the roof. We no longer let Maggie stay unsupervised on the side of the house with the exterior stairs!
I can’t think of an animal story right now…I just enjoy spoiling my grandpuppy (a 7-year-old 80-pound German Shephed cuddler). I do remember him ruining a few laptop power cords as a puppy and do not miss those days. We’ve found that Costco toys hold up very well as well as anything by Kong. Love their names!! I hope you enjoy your week, and I look forward to many pictures of Tinker & Belle to come!!
Fun one to read. Glad the dogs like you and have decided to stay. Good it only took one month to get going again with having a dog’s life entwined with yours. (2 dogs!) Ruth
Did you take into consideration that Tippi’s scents are all over the house and the new ones can sense that and are having to deal with it?
When I was about 8, my dad came home with a dog. A beautiful red cocker spaniel named Rebel. He was going to be put down by the owner that day (because the man was cranky and didn’t like the dog!) so dad saved him and brought him home to us, with mom’s consent of course. Oh how we loved him! He was about 6 years old, so sweet, so well trained and never barked. It didn’t take him long to adjust to us or us to him. He was the only dog we ever had. He loved to play ball. He would chase a ball as long as we would throw it for him!