Adopted dog's first year

Only weeks after losing our beloved Dallas, I adopted Dudley, the little chocolate lab mix.  One year ago today we began a new adventure and established this day as his birthday. 

First ride in Robert's truck

The beginning

A friend sent me the internet posting for "Dudley", a small chocolate lab mix.  Because of his name, I paid extra attention.  For the Love of Labs said he was mild mannered, polite and loved belly rubs more than anything (later I found out that he really loves food more but belly rubs are a definite second).  Dudley came from Missouri when I was still grieving over the lost of the best dog in the world.  I trusted that everyone who encouraged me was right; I would love this dog that I had never met.

Waiting for a walk

Within moments of meeting us, Dudley jumped in the car and was ready for another adventure. And so began the year with the little brown bundle my son called "Mom's internet dog".

It takes four seasons

I have heard people say that you need to be with someone in all four seasons to really know them and the same is true for dogs.  Dudley was nothing like he is now when I first met him and every season brought changes and experiences. 

Dudley in his early days; not much activity

He never misbehaved.  If anything, he was strangely docile for many months.  I think he was depressed.  He didn't play with toys or chase balls.  He rarely even chewed on sticks.  At about 3 months, that changed.  Suddenly he pounced on squeaky toys and chased balls, shooting through the yard like a little brown bullet.  After 6 months he really relaxed and became a vibrant, loving, happy and well adjusted sweet dog. He started barking at the mailman and when visitors came to the door.  He became the master of the house.   I think it took him that long to believe he was here to stay.

Contentment

His traveling water bowl

Dudley is a fantastic car traveler and has logged several thousand miles in the past year.  He is happy to ride and sleep and explore new places at rest stops, marking his path at every stop.   He even gets an occasional fast food meal (no bun for the dog).

Just before Christmas we had our "Nightmare on Broad Street" when he discovered and ate rat poison from an improperly installed bait container in the middle of our downtown. Dudley had a rough afternoon following treatment at the vet but recovered quickly. 

Christmas morning with Santa Matt

He was a little confused by all the activity but he loved his Christmas bounty of dog bones and a stuffed toy.  Our winter was so mild that he didn't get to experience a real snowfall and weather never impeded our daily walks.

Chasing a chipmunk

That chipmunk is in here somewhere

Spring came early and was beautiful.  We took long walks and enjoyed the arrival of new life.  Dudley was pleased that the rabbits were out in force and he continues to enjoy his evening rabbit hunts in the neighborhood.

Dudley and his squeaky frog

Today, his birthday/adoption anniversary, was like most days. He inhaled his breakfast, patrolled the garden, napped, took a long walk around the neighborhood and through the woods, napped, changed locations and napped some more, patrolled the garden a few more times, inhaled his dinner, took a 30 minute walk, napped, patrolled the garden to rid it of the encroaching night creatures, and settled in for the night.   His birthday gift is his contentment in knowing he has the important job of garden sentry, guardian of the home, and master of the back seat of the car.  

Dudley and me, Tampa, Florida

In honor of his birthday, I made a contribution to For the Love of Labs.  I am grateful to them for saving Dudley and for giving many more dogs good forever homes.  

The Year in Review: Dudley's Stats

•             550 hours of walking; 1,375+ miles
•             1,100 or more bags of poo collected on walks
•             5,110 or more markings on bushes (average 7 per walk)
•             12 pounds lost; 21% of body weight (now a slim & trim 45 lbs)
•             4,900 miles traveled by car
•             $2,100 vet bills and medicine
•             $250 dog chow 

Discovering frogs in the pond

Running with Anna in Kentucky

 Lessons Learned

•             Cats scratch.
•             It is great to be loved.
•             Green beans are filling and help with weight loss.
•             There is a new discovery on every walk, every day.
•             The mailman will not come through the door as long as you bark.
•             Visitors bring treats and belly rubs.
•             You're asking for trouble if you swim in the garden pond.
•             Hanging around the kitchen during cooking time pays off.
•             Rays of sun through the window mark the best napping spot.
•             The best part of a bath is the end.
•             Trouble is walking  in the house with muddy feet.
•             Home is right here.
•             Belly rubs are sweet.
•             Rabbits are faster than dogs.

Chasing a frog in Kentucky

Exploring in the woods, Kentucky

Stalking squirrels in Florida

Exploring Horse Creek in Tennessee with Nancy Katherine

Hunting chipmunks in the wood pile

Sleeping through Halloween

Playing with a captured vole (eventually it escaped)

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Choosing a favorite

From the cabin in rural Kentucky...

I have never been good at choosing favorites.  

My youngest child always said  that his favorite subject was “lunch.”  That same child, long grown, sometimes announces himself with “Hi Mom, it’s your favorite son.”  Favorites are of course a no-no of parenting, as if it would be possible to choose anyway.

On my fourth day of complete relaxation, as I enjoyed a third cup of coffee on the screened porch of our cabin on the lake in Kentucky, I pondered the question of favorites.  “Is morning or evening my favorite time at the lake,” I thought.  It occurred to me that it was a luxury to have the opportunity to have nothing better to do than ponder the best times of day.  Here's why it is impossible to choose:

MORNING FAVORITES

• Dew falls from the trees, making tinkling sounds on the tin roof long before daylight.

• Day birds wake up and begin their socializing.  Most prominent are crows, swallows and bluebirds.

• The mist hesitates on the lake until the sun rises high enough – after 9:00 – to begin to burn it off.

• The lake is still and clear as glass, stirring only after a breeze announces itself with the rustling of leaves.

• Water birds sometimes visit – most mornings it was a great blue heron who did not like being disturbed by woman and dog; two mornings I heard the descent of a dozen Canada Geese who nearly disappeared in the mist over the lake (they also disliked the dog).

• Turtles climb their logs, clumsily scuttling back into the water, easily startled by the noise of gravel under feet and paws.
• Fish break the surface of the water near the shore, occasionally jumping and causing a big splash.

• The sun spotlights the wildflowers and even the weeds.

• Dragon flies take off for their reconnaissance along the shore, stopping for food and continuing their erratic flight patterns, returning frequently to inspect.

• Box turtles begin forraging; one rehydrating in a rain puddle in the gravel road.
• Insects hum and horseflies begin to bite the dog, whose responding gyrations cause him to look like a pool of melted milk chocolate.

• A hawk begins his quest for breakfast in the back meadow where bunnies and squirrels are plentiful.

• Toadstools look enchanting in the early glow.

• Dudley takes his first of many swims of the day, then rolls in the wet grass.

EVENING FAVORITES

• Fog begins to descend on the lake as the sun falls behind the hills.
• Bats come from their hiding places (a few are in the eves of our roof) and begin swooping after the insects. 
• The temperature drops considerably.

• The sky turns pink in the direction of the lowering ball of heat.
• The last rays of sun glint and sparkle through the trees.

• Sunlight dances on the ripples of the lake, like wayward Tinkerbells beaconing to those ashore.
• The moon, nearly full this week, rises above the hills behind the cabin.
• Coyotes yowl in the hills beyond.
• Daytime birds shout their good-nights (the crows rudely use their loudest voices).
• Night birds make shrill calls in the woods behind the sulphur spring, one with a voice like a child who often gets what he wants.  The whip-poor-will repeats his calls over and over and over.
• A hound wails, its barking rising and falling as it runs up and down the hills beyond.

• With the nearly full moon behind us, a comical elongated shadow of woman and dog walks ahead of us.

• No human noises are audible.  Frogs converse, insects chirp, hum and cackle. 
• A light breeze makes the trees quiver and the leaves make a sound like the lapping of a gentle tide at shore.
• The dog plunges in the water in the stream, anxious for one last swim and relief from the horseflies that have yet to bed down. 

With so much, how could you choose a favorite?