Rickey

I’ve been a subscriber to your newsletter for quite some time now and have to tell you how much I take from each edition. It’s very helpful…keep up the great work.
Now…this week’s “What you can learn from a puppy” article really caught my attention.
Last summer, I lost my 6yr old golden retriever, Bentley, to cancer. Since I”ve always had dogs (always goldens), my daughter encouraged me to start looking almost immediately. At first, I felt as though I was betraying Bentley’s committment to me but my daughter put it so well when she explained to me the house was empty without having a dog in here. I’m a dog person, and with this much love to give to dogs, why not. So I went to “look” at a litter
(operative word “look”…ha!!). I left with 2 puppies, Astro & McGee. They’re now 1 yr 3months
old and getting these 2 guys into my life….well, best decision I could have ever made.
Being a freelance photographer, I had to take the “baby pictures” of the boys from day one.
Of course, had to share them (with anyone who would look), so I posted them on my online gallery (www.pbase.com/robbiehickman ), titling the gallery “The Puppy Chronicles”. This gallery explains things I’ve learned from puppies. I cannot believe the responses I’ve gotten to this from total strangers. I receive emails from strangers asking how the boys are, when will I post new photos, etc….and with this response, I’m now working on a kids book (but I believe grownups will equally enjoy), titled (what else) “The Puppy Chronicles…the Adventures and Teachings of Astro & McGee”.
Enjoy your new puppy. As we grow older, we rearrange our priorities to understanding not to sweat the small stuff, it’s ok if someone annoys you, bite their nose or eat their shoes and face reality….how
on earth did we manage to go to the bathroom alone without the help of dogs in our faces!

Take care and enjoy the upcoming holiday weekend.

Sincerely,

Robbie Hickman Va Beach, VA

What you can learn from an old dog

Always a committed animal lover (a house is not a home without a little pet hair), a few years ago I decided to adopt a senior dog. My lifestyle just could not support the antics of a puppy. It was at that time I found out about Internet adoption sites. It was a dog lover’s dream. I spent hours
roaming through the sites, and emailing rescue organizations about my selections. I found decided Maggie, a nine-year-old border collie. It was love at first sight. Maggie, and herstory, taught me many things.

Dignity–Maggie had had a life full of abuse. And some of the injuries she suffered stayed with her all of her life. A man found her roaming free in Kentucky, full of fleas and infections. It took almost a year for her to regain her health.
But she always held her head with a certain dignity, like a true Southern lady.

Kindness Still Exists–The man who found Maggie in Kentucky prevailed upon Suzanne West at the East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue to take her in (they normally rescue does from within the state). He left her–and a check to go toward her medical
expenses–with Suzanne and asked nothing in return. I only know this man by legend, but he is proof of the kindness that still exists in this world.

Joy–Anyone who has loved a pet knows joy. But Maggie came to me at a time when I needed a special connection to a living thing. (Don’t we all have those times.) She was mine and I was hers. In a way, you can’t expect that kind of bond from achild, a parent or a lover. It is just too selfish.

Discipline–Puppies you try to train. Senior dogs come in and train you. After a year with Suzanne, who at one time trained dogs for agility trials, Maggie was better disciplined than I was. Maggie spent four years trying to whip me into shape.

Persistence—Somewhere in the midst of my relationship with Maggie, I hit the big Five O. Anytime that I wanted to despair about all that I hadn’t done, I would look at Maggie. And realize that I still had a lot of quality time left in my life.

Letting go is not giving up—A year ago, I found a sore on Maggie’s neck. Figured some antibiotics would clear it up in a few days. After seven months of tests, surgery and drugs, I finally realized that we weren’t going to cure her. I decided to just keep her comfortable and happy, and hope for more time. Maggie spent the first warm day of spring this year outside with her face to the sun. Then, that night, she quietly died in her sleep. She and I had had each other for four years.

Perspective–The few extra months with Maggie gave me the time to reflect on what she had really meant to me, and how she had affected my life. I made time for her..but I started to make more time for the other important things in my life. I tried to
worry less, particularly about things over which I have no control. In the end, most of the worrisome things just don’t matter.

The value of taking risks—I emailed Suzanne when Maggie died and had gotten a kind note in return. About a month later, I found an email with the subject line “A senior dog”. Suzanne
didn’t want to push me if I wasn’t ready, but a senior bordercollie mix had been left at a shelter in Knoxville. Suzanne warned me that the owners who left her said the dog was in her teens. I might now have long with her. Was I ready to consider
adoption? The dog was named Maggie, but I could change her name if I wanted.

Get a second opinion on things that are important.–The new Maggie is sitting underneath my feet and in the way. I work out of my home, and she is the best supervisor I have ever had. When I tarry too long over morning coffee, she stands at the
kitchen door and barks until I go upstairs to the office. Jason, our vet, says he can’t see anything that would prove that she is in her teens. And he hasn’t even seen her sprint across the yard or bounce to greet me when I return home. My daughter swears Maggie is almost a puppy. I don’t
really think about her age..or mine.

Love your newsletter.

My puppy loves kleenex and toilet paper. He will eat it any chance he can get. All of our garbage cans now have to have lids and bathroom doors stay closed. He will plan and plot for quite some time if he sees a box within moderate reach. Look away and poof! He has jumped to the top of the counter (yes he can jump up to the top of a counter) and grab his prey.

Best of luck keeping her away from cords. Oh! And for that poo problem… Natures Miracle really is a miracle. Our little guy took much longer to potty train than what I have been told is normal. Natures Miracle made sure that our home never looked or smelled like it. You can find it at any pet store or at places like Mejeir.

Congrats on the latest addition to your family! I am glad you gave yourself time to grieve so that you could honor Cody’s memory by bringing Bogie into your life. I made the same decision myself after losing my sweet boy Jake in February of 2006. It took me six months before I could open my heart again. I adopted Radley and she makes me smile every day — and I gave her the same speech Bill gave Bogey. Jake will always be the king. She gets to be the princess! Wishing you lots of smiles and laughter.
Lisa

Congratulations! And you have my sympathy. Puppies are so cute and fun, but they are lots of work for the first two years.

I’m sure you will get even better at organizing your time and life. And she is sure to force you to exercise more, something many of us find hard to do when we have our own businesses.

Best,
Lois Carter Fay
http://www.MarketingIdeaShop.com

P.S. Next time I’m in Milwaukee, I want to see her in person!