Something quick and light-hearted tonight! After all, you read yesterday's post so you deserve a break!!
We had two wonderful dogs for pets while I was growing up. On the left you see me with Reese, our first dog. He was a Welsh Corgi who was full of pep! Too much pep as he loved to run and ran away quite often! But it was in his genes, so after several unsuccessful attempts to train him to stay put, my parents reluctantly found him a new home. Reese ended up on a farm in northern New Jersey and as far as I know lived a happy and full life running to his heart's desire. His new owners were delighted to add him to their family.
Not long after Reese moved on, my aunt and uncle decided to breed their Springer Spaniel. My mother and father, plus another aunt and uncle took two of the puppies, so we always thought it was funny that our dogs were related too!
I had the privilege of coming up with our puppy's name. The freckles on her little nose reminded me of pepper, and that's how she came to be known as Pepper. My father, who was not really crazy about dogs, took to Pepper and decided she was very smart. He taught her to balance a dog treat on her nose and wait for the command at which she would flip it in the air, and catch it in her mouth. She became so quick at it, you barely saw the treat go up before it was in her mouth!
Pepper was loving, had a great way of shaking her whole rear end when she was wagging her tail and hated having her picture taken. She was with us for a long time and I was in college when she became ill, too ill to carry on. But her memory will always be with us.
No child should grow up without ever having had an animal, that's my view anyway! I know I loved all the cats and dogs that came into my youth. I recall thinking that they were my best friends. As long as they were around I would never be alone. Perhaps that's why I have such a strong bond with my animals now.....
Pets are grand, and nothing like having the opportunity to grow up with them. I think a child should have pets around them, not just to teach them a bit of responsibility, but for companionship. I have fond memories of large litters of German Shepherd puppies that we would spend hours with playing in the yard, and the joy of having them pounce all over you.
Fantastic photos, Ann and a very lovely story about them. That is too funny about your dad. So I take it that he was quite fond of Pepper. Was he okay with other dogs after that? I gotta fav this because I am a MASSIVE dog lover!
@kerristephens Thank you Kerri! @salza Thank you Sally! I can tell you have a special relationship with your "girls". I really loved that shot you posted recently of you with Skye and Kaela and their balls! @kporte Thank you Keith! LOL I love your comment! @thistle Thank you Joyce! @digitalrn Thanks Rick! Unfortunately for our sons we were never able to own a dog (although we did have hamsters, fish and a couple parakeets). They often made their displeasure of this fact known, but when you rent, it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to own a dog. I would always tell them, "When you grow up and have your own home, you can get a dog then." And we did dog-sit a couple times for our friends and it was a short-term way for them to have a dog for a few days. Funny, now that they do own their own homes- no dogs! @daisymiller Thank you Daisy!
@prttblues Thanks Bev! Not really. Pepper was the only one he really interacted with. After my family moved to Vermont, and my sister was living at home with Dad, she got a dog that Dad did not like at all. I really couldn't blame him, the dog chewed up everything in sight; ruined so many pieces of furniture. It was the only time I ever saw my father put his foot down about something. Like Reese, Bufferin (yes the dog was such a headache!) was found a new home. Pepper really was special (of course every dog is special to the one who loves them!). And thanks for the fav!
@salza Thank you Sally! I can tell you have a special relationship with your "girls". I really loved that shot you posted recently of you with Skye and Kaela and their balls!
@kporte Thank you Keith! LOL I love your comment!
@thistle Thank you Joyce!
@digitalrn Thanks Rick! Unfortunately for our sons we were never able to own a dog (although we did have hamsters, fish and a couple parakeets). They often made their displeasure of this fact known, but when you rent, it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to own a dog. I would always tell them, "When you grow up and have your own home, you can get a dog then." And we did dog-sit a couple times for our friends and it was a short-term way for them to have a dog for a few days. Funny, now that they do own their own homes- no dogs!
@daisymiller Thank you Daisy!