What a day we had. We celebrated Spirit's 14th Birthday on December 31, 2010. It started with what I thought was a very nice breakfast for Spirit and his brothers. Everyone was happy about it except Spirit, who was nosing it with suspicion. He is not fond of cheese and is always on the lookout for it in case I sneak some in.
The main part of dog meals at our place are comprised of kibble, which is a wonderful food and is probably all that they really need. The things I add to their kibble are mainly done because I just love to spoil them and they love being spoiled.
I had scrambled several eggs with some chicken broth and scraps. I mixed them with the kibble. Breakfast is not Spirit's favorite meal, especially since he has aged. I guess he just has not done enough to make him hungry yet. He is a good eater at dinner time, but sometimes a little picky in the morning, and as I mentioned, cheese is not his favorite thing.
Everyone had finished their breakfast but Spirit. He likes to wait until everyone else is done - that way they can watch him with envy while he eats his meal. He loves that. I peeked around the corner to see if he was enjoying his meal and I discovered him poking around in his dish. I believe he thought the egg was cheese. It made him grumpy. He picked up a piece of egg, very gingerly, between his front teeth, with his lips pulled back, "no cheese shall touch these lips". He threw it on the floor, next to his dish, with disgust! Well, I guess he inadvertently tasted it a little as he did this and he realized it was not cheese. He checked to make sure I was not looking and he tasted it. Well, that was pretty good! He picked it up and put it back in his dish. He proceeded to eat the rest of his breakfast. I made sure he did not see me watching.
I sometimes use string cheese sticks for training. Spirit won't touch them if they are cold. If I put one in the microwave for about 8 or 9 seconds, he likes them. Just to give him a bad time sometimes I offer him a piece, cold. He snubs it indignantly - won't touch it. He immediately glances up at the microwave and he will stand or sit and wait until I heat it - then he will eat some.
I told Spirit that for the whole day he could do what he wanted. He seemed to understand and I know he agreed that he deserved that. I had a doctor appointment though and we had to work around it. He wanted to go, and I ended up taking everyone, as I usually do unless it is too hot to leave them in the car. They are so good, even baby Journey just naps and behaves himself. The worst he has ever done is play in the water dishes a little - but that was quite a while ago. I can actually leave groceries in the back, with them and no one messes with them. I am sure that the older dogs guard them for me. It amazes me to be able to trust them with packages of meat, or what ever, while I sometimes need to go into the post office or some other stop, on the way home. I simply point at it and say "that is mommy's" - it might as well have a cage around it. Nothing has ever been taken or disturbed.
Our festivities began as evening approached. We had tiny meatball Hors d'oeuvres. They went pretty fast. Without cocktaiils and party chat, I have found that this part of our parties does not last long. So we moved along to the presents. Everyone was excited about this part. Even little Journey was excited. His only experience with it was from Christmas morning. Spirit gets the first gift, then everyone else gets one too. We had several gifts for everyone. Everybody wanted what each other got. I mostly just direct a little to be certain that no one takes Spirit's special favorites. He just loves his spiky ball. He got a yellow one this time! No one is allowed to take that but I pretty much let them work out the rest. Journey got a small (puppy size) Jolly ball and unfortunately Pirate decided he liked it better than his larger one. We had some issues over that.
Pirate keeps taking the smaller ball and Journey lets him because he feels that Pirate can do no wrong. When I say "you give that back to Journey", Pirate immediately takes it to him and throws it at him. Then he will let Journey play with it for maybe 30 seconds or so, before he takes it again. I am actually thinking of getting another small one so Journey can have a chance at it and maybe I can maintain a little more composure.
Pirate is so full of energy and so happy with "his" puppy! I am glad he is enjoying everything but he is exhausting. Part of the problem is that it has been pretty cold here. Sometimes in the teens and though it does not bother the dogs, I have been inside more than usual. More exercise is needed! Pirate has always been my angel dog: the easiest dog I have ever trained and the most conscientious. He has always tried to be perfect and usually managed it. No more! My sweet angel of a dog is turning into a maniac and the older guys want something done about it. Quest spends a good part of the day yelling at Pirate. That is a little disturbing since Quest is also the loudest. He is right though and I do need to start giving Pirate's bahavior some special attention. I have been having some serious discussions with Pirate and he really listens for a moment or two. Sadly I undermine my own training by sometime laughing at him because he is SO FUNNY!
Yesterday I scolded him for pestering Spirit too much. He started backing out of the room, full speed. He looked like a roping horse backing up after the calf had been roped. Then, talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, well he backed into Journey in the hallway and sat on him. Try not to laugh at that scene. Impossible!
Our evening ended with a massage for Spirit. Our good friend Marlene has always given Spirit what she calls "hospital massages". She works at a hospital and Spirit was impressed at her skills from the very first time she worked on him. He rolls his eyes and pretty much just swoons when she does this. She has always called him Papa Bear and he thinks she is just the greatest. Well Spirit is never one to turn down a massage, even though I do not have the special skills that Marlene does. I did the best I could and I think he appreciated my effort even if I was not really qualified to do the real "hospital massage". I asked him how it was and he gave me a stingy little kiss. I asked him if that was it? "Is that all I get?" He gave a little yip and one more teasing kiss - a little better than the last. So I know he liked it even if I didn't do it as well.
Quest is our acting angel dog lately. What an amazing dog he is turning out to be. He is seamlessly taking over many of Spirit's duties, without stepping on toes and with gentle firmness. It is a beautiful thing to watch and the way he handles it eases the pain of watching Spirit's decline. I am not sure exactly when Spirit began looking at him as his right hand man. It is obvious now that he looks to Quest to just handle many things. I guess he was grooming him all along for this. Sometimes I see Spirit raise his head to look at Quest when something needs attending. Quest just reads him and automatically gets up and handles it. Other times I notice Quest will just go lay next to Spirit for a nap, or to watch the young guys play. It brings tears to my eyes to see how gentle and loving he is to Spirit and to watch the special moments they share.
I could go on and on about all the wonders of these magnificent animals we call our pets. However, those who have been lucky enough to share our lives with them already know, and those who don't know would probably never be able to imagine.
Happy Birthday great Spirit, and Happy New Year. If I have my way every remaining day of your life will be spent doing what you want to do. I promise to try to resist the urge to sneak cheese into your breakfast, even if it is so much fun watching you pitch it out.
.Quest & Spirit watching the young guys playing.
