Gabriel some of you may remember, is my blind foster boy left out in the snow when his owners left their home back in March? I feel truly, madly, deeply and adopted him in June. One of my favorite parts of fostering/rescue is watching how these dogs blossom with love and good food! The Wooly Mammoth or Wooly Bully, as he is more affectionately known has been in full bloom~. He, has found a favorite snoozing place under a bush next to the house where he can sleep for hours. The spot he has carved out (with the cooperation of the protective bush), is shaded in the summer months and is sheltering him from wind and the lowering temps as we move into autumn. I go out and check on him often, feeling neglectful to have him out there, but he is so peaceful snoozing away…. It has taken him time to learn his way around the entire house (not that the house is all the big, but there is a long hallways that runs through the center with various doors off- ranch homes were not designed with “open concepts” in mind~ His new favorite indoor resting place is next to my bed. Angel has laid claim to that room as well, so they keep each other company. Gabriel also adores his walks. I had him out a while back and a neighbor noting his speed and glee, commented, “He really trusts you.” My first thought was, “well of course he does!” But then as we continued trotting down the road it dawned on me – here is this blind dog going along at nearly a canter, way faster than he trots around the back yard, fully trusting that he can step out and I will keep him from running headlong into an immoveable object or off a cliff. Each time I take him out now, I take in that special gift he gives me. Blind/deaf dogs have to find their own ways of communicating-none of mine bark (yes, boys and girl, you too can be the proud owner of a quiet eskie~). For Gabriel that has been with his nose and head. He has mastered the “Art of the Bump” of which there are several varieties. There is the greeting bump, delivered as I get down to his level to say hello when I come home. It goes, “ I’m so happy to see you that I am going burrow into the core of your being, rub all around your body to be sure I know where all you have been, scrub you with my nose like a marking cat and then shove hard enough that I topple you so I can sit in your lap. (Try that with 3 other dogs all competing for greet time~). All the while his tail is furiously wagging. When he wants to go outside, he will make figure 8’s around my legs, herding me toward the back door. I have tried repeatedly to explain that the faster he grapevines around my legs, the slower my progress to the door, but he seems to find my dilemma amusing (yes, blind eskies still have wicked senses of humor~) Then we have the “I need to held and hugged really tight,” signaled by single head bumps. When I get down to oblige, he often manages to get his paws on my legs and sneaks up to deliver kisses- how he manages to find my face every time is beyond me. I think he was an anteater in his last life.~ The single head bump is also to be clearly differentiated from the nose nudges that signals he wants a second dinner. Lastly, there is the head scoop. Gabriel does this when I am sitting and reading, watching television or writing House of Angel missives. Deftly ducking and sliding his head, he manages to get himself positioned where my leg is resting on his back, his head in my lap. Now, how could I possibly resist petting that smiling, happy face? Mission accomplished as I sing that silly jingle from Miss Congeniality- “you think I’m gorgeous. You want to kiss me”. Cuddles and kisses coming soon to an eskie near you! He goes back to the vet this month to be re-titred for Lyme. I so hope my gentle giant will be in the clear.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 18:46:08 +0000
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