UPDATE: The winner is…Jennifer Beyer!
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We have a neurotic, OCD, very bossy Yorkie named Mia. This picture could be her.
When my father was alive, we were convinced she’d decided to be his service dog, whether he wanted her to be or not. My father was diabetic and, sometimes, forgetful. He’d forget to take his shots after he ate—he had to take them three times a day. If he didn’t get up in a time she approved, she’d bark at his feet until he moved to get his medication. Afterward, he’d give her a treat for reminding him. So, now you see, she had a reward for telling him when to take his shot. At night, she was also the alarm clock, telling him and Mom when to go to bed. She’d bark and whine, and then lead them down the hall to bed.
My parents are no longer with us, but we inherited Mia, the most annoying dog on the planet because she’s still trying to be the boss. However irritating she is, we will be forever grateful to her for taking care of my dad.
So, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me a story about a dog or any other animal that made a lasting impression on you.
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I had a cocker spaniel named Lambsie that my parents got for me when I was in high school. She was a special little dog who’d had a difficult life. After my first year of college I joined the Army. My mom told me later that after I left home she’d come as far as my bedroom but would not come into my room even if my parents went in and called her. She’d just sit at the door and wait for them to come out. By the time I made one of my few trips home she had passed. She was a good friend I truly loved having her for that short time.
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My family was at Calidonia State Park (PA) on a hot day with our dog, Buffy. Buffy went over to the sandbox and got a pail. He showed us the pail and went to the nearest water source to tell us that he was thirsty. My adopted Aunt said, she would not have believed it but she saw it happen.
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When my daughter was two, we decided she needed a dog. Off to the pound we went. We had definite requirements for said dog. It had to like the kid! The only dog that fit the requirement was the biggest dog in the place. A black lab mix of some kind that was huge. Probably why he was at the pound. Jokes were made about needing a saddle or getting a cart for him. And his name – Waldo. As mentioned, Waldo was huge, about 100 pounds, thought he was a lap dog, but was wonderful with the d. Roughly a year later, we moved to a new, larger home. This unsettled the daughter. She seemed to want to go back to the old home. Every time I turned around, she was running off and climbing the six foot fence out of the yard. Terrified me. She was only three. I tried everything from locking the doors to putting her on a lease. The little Houdini got out of everything. The night I put her to bed and she climbed out her window, over the fence and was heading down the street at 9:00 at night, I had a melt down. How am I going to corral that kid? Waldo to the rescue. The next time she tried to climb the six food fence and leave the yard, he pulled her off the fence. I didn’t see him do it, but I heard the kid, that had been next to me a minute ago, screaming. OMG. She’s hurt herself. I go running and find her sitting on the ground sobbing and Waldo sitting right next to her. “What happened” I asked as I checked for blood or broken bones. “Waldo bit me” my daughter whimpered. “Where” She pats her bum. No blood, no broken bones, no torn clothes. Just a six foot fence, a sobbing child, and a grinning dog. “Good dog” I praise. That was the last time ANYONE climbed that fence to get out of the yard. Didn’t matter who, or even if you climbed in, you weren’t getting out. Best nanny/guard dog ever!
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My aunt had a Great Dane named Tyra. Tyra hated water. My aunt decided one day to go through a car wash in Chevy Vega and the windows got stuck. For anyone that does not know a Chevy Vega, it’s a small 2 door car. Tyra bounced around that car, landing on my aunt, myself, and two smaller cousins for the full 5 minutes we were in the car wash. My younger cousin is still terrified of car washes to this day and will not go in one.
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My newest puppy… boy is she a handful. Out of all of the dogs we have had through the years she takes the cake with food obsession and biting. My hands look like they have been through the wringer… She is almost 4 months old… definitely have work to do…
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My neighbour has a full sized poodle named Ralph. When I am hanging out the laundry he comes to the fence to greet me. He will stay watching me until I say Good morning. Then he trots Off.
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My daughter had 3 hermit crabs. I always thought they were kind of boring but boy was I wrong! Each one had a totally different personality. One was a total escape artist. We had to build a tight lid for the jumbo fish tank because he would climb up to the lip and hang like a rock climber. And then there was the little one who would sit in the large tree we got them. He liked to hang off the branches then let go and fall to the ground. Such a weirdo. But my favorite was the one that liked to scream. He sounded just like C3PO! At first it was kind of concerning but after a while I would smile every time he did it. I had a friend crab sit for us once and even she thought they were so much fun. Who’d have thunk hermit crabs would be so much fun?
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neighbor’s dog
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We’ve never had dogs of our own, but have quite a few friends with lots of furry friends. For a quite a while, our youngest wouldn’t go up to our friends’ doors by himself, because a fair number of friends’ dogs were pretty big, and would greet guests VERY enthusiastically. He’s fine now 😉
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We had a dog named Buffy once. We were her fourth owner. She was wild. We knew we were making progress when she waited until your back was turned to steal your food.
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I have a dog named Buttons, when we got her she weighed 3lbs, now she weighs 9lbs. Buttons sleeps with a blanket at night. She thinks in the afternoon it’s nap time. She carries her blanket to me and stares at me till we lay down together.
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Our border collie, Pepper, was raised with my oldest daughter. She kept a watchful eye on her always. She listened so well & was easily trained. She ruined me for any others we got after her because the training part wasn’t as easy as with her. And was so loving & gentle.
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When my daughter was little, we went to Washington DC and saw a statue of Owney, the canine mascot of the Railway Mail Service. During the late 1880s, a dog appeared in the Post Office in Albany, New York, where clerks took a liking to him and named him Owney. Today, he is an icon of American postal lore whose story highlights the historical importance of the Railway Mail Service.
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Thanks for sharing your pet stories!
Jennifer B is the winner. I have a new appreciation for hermit crabs. I did not know they could make sounds! I need one on my desk!