The Cranky White Dog

Today we finish with the furry household members with Darby. Darby is old, hard of hearing, his eyesight is going, and well he is cranky. Darby has always been cranky. He was a cranky puppy, adolescent and well just a cranky old dog.

Darby joined our family in the spring of 1996. Alan and I were in the midst of our wedding preparations when he brought Darby home. He walked in one day and surprised me with him. I thought at first it was a little stuffed toy - he was just too cute to be real, but then he wiggled and blinked and I was in love. At the time Alan and I already had a cat, a black one named Shiner. Him and Darby were soon best of friends and had so much fun playing. The cat was twice his size at first, but Darby soon caught up. Darby had some wild times in Celbridge (Co. Kildare). I remember once him and Capone got out and ran away and were gone were 4 days. We'd get a phone call of a sighting but when we got there they'd be gone. Finally a good neighbour took them in and kept them until we could collect them. I think to this day there were probably a couple dozen little Darbys running around Celbridge after that.

Darby is an old man now. He sleeps most of the time - he used to never sleep during the day. His hearing is selective - funny how he can still hear the rattle of the biscuit jar lid but yet sleep through the loudest yells and screams. He has always been my shadow when I'm home and that is still true. I trip over him on a regular basis. He coughs like an old man, and yes he farts like one too, often doing both at the same time. He loves to moan and groan, growl and bark. But mostly he loves a good cuddle before bed.

This is the ancient Westhighland Terrier

This is Darby.

Bonnie the Bouncing Dog

This week it's all about Bonnie, but then again if Bonnie had her way it that s how it would always be! Bonnie joined us as a 3 month old Jack Russell Terrier puppy in January 2001. She was so cute and little. She wasn't even the size of Capone's (our late, great German Shepherd) head. She is our own little rescue. Alan got her from a farmer in County Cavan, Ireland (where we lived at that time). She was the runt of the litter and he hadn't been able to find a home for her so he was going to have to put her down. What that basically means up in that part of the country is they bag them with some rocks and toss into one of the many lakes. She was headed for her watery grave that very day and Alan couldn't let that happen so he brought her home. Now nearly 9 years later she's still a runt, but tough as nails, and sweet as sugar.

Bonnie's favorite thing is to get under a blanket. If there is one to get under that's where she will be - daytime, nighttime, winter, spring, summer and autumn. She loves to cuddle and snuggle and will wedge her head right up under your chin as if to give a big hug. She loves toys that squeak and dog biscuits. She has also been such a sport at letting Fantu fuss over her and dress her up. She lets Caleb pick her up and has been known to sleep with him - I think because she was able to get under his blankie with him. She's a very spoiled little girl.

When Bonnie is excited she seems to bounce! Dinner time, biscuit, squeaky toy - she's bouncing. She just jumps up like she has springs on her back legs - jumping several feet straight up. She can jump up and smack me in the bum with her paws. Something she does if I'm a bit slow getting her dinner to her. It's very difficult yo get pictures of her unless she's sleeping, she just doesn't stay still when she's awake. Luckily she sleeps alot! The pictures are taken from when she was a little pup up to just today.

This is Bonnie!

He's Skinney and Gray - goofy ol' Schindler

I thought I'd start writing about all the inhabitants of this house. For the past year the postings have focused on the adoption process, getting the house ready and then the kids accomplishments since they arrived. We are going to start off the series with the dogs - Schindler, then Bonnie and then Darby.

Schindler joined the household in Feb. 2005. He was a rescue dog from Second Chance Animal Rescue in Killeen ( they just had a major fire there last week that killed half of the animals in residence. They need donations !) When we went to the shelter to see about adopting a big dog - he just immediately grabbed our attention. I swear he looked at me and smiled! I knew he was the dog for us. He is a beautiful blue weimaraner, everyone just stops and stares when they see him - he is just so striking. But the first year he was with us, well we just weren't sure. He had no social skills. Did not even know how to play. He had low self esteem, really sad as you just knew that he had probably been kept outside on a chain and ignored the first 4 years of his life. But now nearly 5 years later he is just an incredible member of this family. So sweet and loving. Loyal, devoted and well mannered. I just can't imagine him not being here. I love this dog! He cuddles up to us on the sofa and in bed. He has great manners and is well trained. He is so beautiful! He has the glossiest blue/gray coat - white around his nose now as he grows older. He's just a big sweetie! He knows that once the sun goes down he is not allowed to bark unless he senses a threat. If he goes outside and barks more than 2 woofs I know to get up and turn on a few lights. I love how when I go to bed he will lie next to me to cuddle for awhile - then get down and go sleep on his own bed for the remainder of the night. He's funny in a goofy sort of way, I think that is common of the breed. He can fall asleep standing up, sitting, or really in any position you can imagine. I've posted a few of my favorite pictures of him taken over the past few years.

This is Schindler.