Requiem for an Airedale Queen of Hearts

Today, for the first time in almost 16 years, there is no Airedale in my house.  It's a very odd and sad feeling.  Somehow I just thought this day would never come.  DJ's Highland Dosido Girl was helped to the Bridge today.  She would have been 14 on July 19th.  She had a long, wonderful life -- full of adventures -- and I am thankful to have had her be such a major part of mine.

Dosi is the last of the Dosido Farm Triumvirate:  Walker and Lola were the other two.  All were distinctly different; all completely and absolutely loved.  But Dosi was the hub of the wheel, the heart that pumped Airedaleness throughout our days.  She came to us with a sweet and loving personality (thank you, Lawrence) and she left us in the same way.  Mischievous, fun-loving, smart ... she had all the best Airedale characteristics and very few of the worst ones.  She loved every person she ever met and almost every dog.  And for the ones she didn't "like", she tolerated with Dosi grace.  We often referred to her as the Social Secretary for her charming ways.  She was a superior Airedale Ambassadoress, as every person she met wanted "one just like her".

Dosi and I learned dog showing together.  We dabbled in agility.  We fooled around with a little obedience.  We worked as a therapy dog team.  She helped to raise Lola.  In her older years, she brought up both Scotties to be proper little black Airedales.  She was a wonderful mother and nanny even though she never had a litter of her own.  Dosi was also an Airedale Amazon.  Her hunting instincts made certain that no mole, chipmunk, squirrel or bird was safe while in her immediate vicinity.  (And she even managed to catch a few over the years.)  We enjoyed life together.  She learned a lot; she taught me more.

It is the end of an era.  Dosi will be missed dreadfully but memories of her will live on in my heart till the day I die.  The kennel name we chose was hers; we named our property for her.  There are pictures of her scattered throughout the house.  I asked her to carry many hopes and dreams for me and she did with utter cheerfulness.  In the words of my mother, "Dosi's the best dog you ever had.  She was just a good ole dog."  I don't think you can get any better than that.

Dosi babysits the new weird Airedale puppy:  all black and those short legs!

Donna , Dosi & Blue from 2008

July 2009.......she looks rather put out.  Must have been the fact she had to have a hair cut and "sprucing up".

Out and about greeting her adoring public.  June 2007

The most typical of Dosi pictures.  The girl sure knew how to nap.

You Can Quote Me

An Airedale, erect beside the chauffeur of a Rolls-Royce, often gives you the impression she's there from choice.

             ~~~~~  E. B. White   ~~~~

For the Love of a Dog

Today I had the privilege of helping an Airedale rescue boy and his new owner start to build a foundation of trust.  Seems that George is a 3-year old with quite a lot of baggage.  This is his third home in as many years.  A sweet, sweet boy, but with oh so many anxieties and fears.  Fortunately for him, his new owner is committed to working with him and loving him and keeping him.  George's main problem is his fence jumping.  His second main problem is his lack of connection with humans.  For whatever reasons (which we will never really know), he hasn't learned that humans can be fun, trustworthy, caring and hanging out with them can be just as good --sometimes better -- than hanging with canine buds.

I was really surprised when George's owner asked me how much I charged for coming to "consult" with her.  She was even more surprised than me when I laughed and said, "Nothing."  Little could she know that this is for an Airedale debt that I can never repay.  I have been loved by 3 wonderful Airedales so far in my life.  If I can keep one in a home that will love him and protect him until the day he dies, it just goes toward the love loan that was given to me.  On the way home, I looked at the picture of the one closest to my heart that rides in my car stuck on the visor so I can see it if I glance up.  Today was that girl's tribute.  And only a drop in the bucket to what she gave me in her short life.

It will take time for George to see that someone is going to love him no matter what.  But he will see it.  His new owner wants that.  And I told her if she wants that enough, then it can happen.  With a rescue you can't make promises, but I think I'm right.  I hope I am.  For George's sake.  For his owner's.  For mine.

A Nice Way to Start the Week

I got to visit with a friend of mine Monday night that I don't often get to see. Her name is Geri and we met through our love of our Airedales....oh, about 8 or 9 years ago. It's nice to sit down and catch up when you don't get to see each other but every few years.

Of course, I didn't have much to add to the conversation other than a Vivi report. No wonder new mothers don't seem to talk about anything but their babies. They don't have time to do anything else! (See that "haggard new mother" look on my face? YES....I'm tired.) But Geri was gracious; she looked at all my pictures. Then I returned the favor and looked at all of hers. We asked each other all the usual questions about mutual friends: have you seen ____? have you heard from ____? What's ___up to now? Although the crux of the night's conversation revolved around THE DOGS. And why not? They are the foundation of our friendship. As a matter of fact, as I reflect on it, most ALL of my friendships in the last 15 or so years have been because of my dogs. God bless them everyone.........

We did manage to discover that both of us have been knitting quite a bit lately. So, now we'll have another topic to explore. Probably be some variation on knitting for dogs...........

Seismic Scottie

This past Monday a very small black Scottie created a very HUGE shift in the day-to-day existence of the dogs and humans alike living in the household. Her name is Darlen's Hot Child in the City (call name "Vivi"). She was 11 weeks old on that day...... going on 21. She has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to use it. She has already mastered the basic arts of Scottie Manipulation and is fast becoming more than capable in Airedale linguistics. To see her "talk back" to 12-year old Dosi with a bark that makes your fillings ring is a sight to behold. Dosi's head is bigger than she is, but no matter. Vivi is the 800-pound gorilla in the room.

Alas, she is not having quite as much success with her Scottie housemate, Blue. Blue is 4 and has ruled this roost from the time he arrived, also at 11 weeks old. He sees absolutely no need to give up his crown to this little smart aleck baby. There have been several instances of out and out warfare, as he is not prepared to give up without a fight. For his pains, he has been thoroughly chastised, but remains unyielding. (So much for me believing that I am the alpha bitch of this house!) Up until now, Blue has been the most mannerly, well-behaved Scottie you could ask for. He is now fast approaching the most stubborn. But I know something he doesn't: Vivi will get older. Vivi will turn in to a girl. Blue loves girls -- all of them, big or little. Where once he disdained all her efforts at friendship, when the recognition comes, she will be calling the shots. He only thinks his world has been rocked now. Give it a few months and it will turn inside out.

I wonder if we can all live that long?