~ Impending Adjustments ~
January was mild. February became wild and woolly and the whole family pack have their attention and longings for warm breezes and the greening of our world. Especially Pru, who is what we call fur challenged. Her short, sleek coat doesn’t keep her warm very long while she’s outside.
She spent a lot of time curled up against Mom or Dad whenever they sat down, and Keira started to act out a bit for consistently losing out on prime seating spots.
Mom and Dad (with some success), shopped for apparel for Pru’s long, thin body to help keep her warm in travel and at daycare. Of course Keira found more reasons to be put out while watching Mom and Dad try various outfits on a squirming Pru.
What really got to Keira was Pru’s excursions to daycare. It really stirs up her jealous side. There’s no subtle way to hustle Pru out the door to ease Keira’s feelings when getting Pru ready is a spectacle worthy of Barnum & Bailey’s consideration.
Imagine, if you will: “Ladies… AND… Gentlemen! Dogs of all breeds, and children of every age! Please turn your attention to our center ring and witness a wrestling conflagration unmatched by any human’s imagination! A mere mortal man will attempt to match strength, sinew, and instinct against a most cunning foe. Behold now, the fleet footed black and tan missile of pure muscle and adrenaline.
“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a contest of man against nature. But this sleek canine is not the foe I speak of. No, the foe this man in the center ring must face… IS… the contradiction of the ages! If you will observe now, the man is holding harness, leash, collar and a sweater. Where is the contradiction, you might ask?
“Notice now the four-footed has observed these items also. Meaning, she will now vibrate at something near 240 volts of surging adrenaline. As I speak, the image in her eyes is translated in her agile brain to… ‘I’M GOING FOR A RIDE AND EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING MUST ASSIST IN ALL POSSIBLE WAYS THE APPLICATION OF THE ITEMS BEFORE ME! READYSETGO!’
“Witness now the contradiction of consent in heart. And yet, ladies and gentlemen, the possible defeat of her most fervent desire by the flailing of her limbs and frantic contortions that will amaze and astound!”
Real life cue: The contortions of an overly excited Max Pin, while a certain pack Dad tries hard not to swear after discovering he put the sweater on backwards… before the harness. Now cue ever more frantic uncooperative contortions as sweater is removed and harness applied. (Kudos to Dad as not a harsh word was said… this time.)
After a hard-won victory, and our two main attractions have departed to dog daycare, Keira sometimes took to whining and nose whistling while wandering around the house.
So with a mopey Golden and a collective edge of wariness while waiting for Spring, Tucker and I (the two seniors) knew from our family-pack experiences that Mom and Dad were going to make some adjustments.
Tucker and I adapted to Pru’s exuberance and insisting on being the center of everything (especially with Dad) pretty quickly. Keira, not so much.
Keira, until the surprise arrival of Promise Prudence Pepper, had assumed that, as the youngest, she would always be the baby of the family. Being a Golden (you know Goldens believe they are the most fantastic and beautiful breed of dog ever to grace the earth) added to her jealousy and downcast mood.
At first, Dad and Mom were pretty sure Pru was a Min Pin or a mix thereof, but Pru grew longer than the King of Toy Breeds, and Mom and Dad realized they actually had adopted a Max Pin.
“Max” might have been an understatement for Pru, and after a couple of months Dad and Mom decided Pru needed a bit of socialization to tamp down and the burn off some of her excess energy and learn to be corrected by other dogs outside her pack without taking offense. It also gave Keira and Mom a break at home.
Over a number of weeks (one or two days per week), the daycare trips sure did turn down Pru’s flame a bit. Enough that I think it helped her begin to reassess and adjust her relationships with the pack at home.
When winter got long in the tooth, we had more peace in one area, but Keira was losing hers. Of course Mom, Dad and Tucker gave Keira more attention, more hugs.
Still, dishtowels began to disappear from the handle of the oven door, and though you would think it was little busybody Pru, nope. It was Keira.
In the midst of the coldest and winteriest stretch of days, and not all that long ago, a decision was made on behalf of the pack.
Keira was going to try out Daycare… solo.
Well, that was interesting turn of events. So, with baited breath, we’re waiting for Mom and Dad’s schedule to align for Keira’s first daycare.
Yesterday was relatively warm compared to the recent past, and I thought I’d get Tucker’s take on Keira’s soon-coming adventure while we both pretended it was warm enough to lay out in the sun.
“If I was a betting dog, I’d put my money on a very short trial run at Daycare,” said Tuck.
I shifted my position to get a better look at Tucker. His humor is so dry sometimes, I can’t always tell when he’s serious. “Why do you think Keira won’t take to it, Tuck?”
“Keira will probably be fine. It’s Pru that’s going to have quite a bit to say about being left behind.”
I stood up to shake off the cold from the ground. “Oh my Tuck, I didn’t even think about that.”
Tucker stood up to stretch. “Haze, I believe we are in for a very interesting Spring.”
I have to admit, I think he’s right.
~ Hazel Bazel Rocket Dog ~
