Dog Days Of Summer

With the slight crispness in the air, I realize that my 8 weeks off are coming to an end.  My outside writing time and watching my dog Triggs enjoy the hot heat are slowly fading away as "the dog days of summer" are just about over.  Almost everyday this season, I spent time working on my novel in my outdoor office, while my furry baby spent his time chasing bees and sleeping on the outdoor furniture.  I know I'm not the best at discipline, but who can blame me, Triggs, our six year old, German Short Haired Pointer, is so cute when he basks in the sun, making his coat soft like velvet.

Next week when I go back to teaching teenagers the value of writing and reading, Triggs will spend his days sleeping (all day) in or on his various favourite locations in the house.  You may find him snuggled on the couch, in his crate, or on one of his three dog beds.  Yes I said 3 dog beds.  So, when someone says "it is a dog's life" they were right.  Especially if the dog has a life like Triggs.  Over the past two years, Triggs has become a major part of our lives, and ultimately our 'baby'.  Just as people can gush about their wee ones, I can talk about Triggs all day and tell you all sorts of "cute" stories, but I won't.  Well not today :)  But I will tell you about how Triggs bounded into our lives and turned it upside down.

We adopted Triggs from a rescue organization based in North Vancouver called Dogwood Rescue Society. Check them out http://www.dogwoodrescue.org or follow them on Twitter: @DogwoodRescueSociety.  I will go into more detail about this amazing organization and our adoption experience in a future post, and explain why rescued dogs are the best.

Anyways, we met Triggs on a dark Feb evening.  He had just been rescued from a kill shelter in Utah and just arrived in town.  He bounded through our front door, with his foster mom, and sniffed everything. When I knelt down beside him he literally sat on my lap.  This overweight, GSP looked me in the eyes and I knew I loved him.  Being overweight and having kennel scars on his legs (they are still there today), we knew he wasn't an important member of a family and we knew we could make him a VIFB (very important furry baby) in ours.  The night we actually got to take this anxious dog home, was the night of the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics.  I remember taking turns with Scott, laying beside Triggs on his dog bed, trying to make him feel at ease.  After hours we gave up and sat on the couch, and that is when Triggs invited himself up with us and peacefully layed on top of Scott and I.  If we stopped him right away, I'm sure he wouldn't have become a lap dog.  But I have admit I enjoy his warm body next to mine on the couch.

Over the next last two years, with many warmed hearted moments and some challenging times, he has more than settled in.  He is well pampered and spoiled.  With comfortable places to rest his head, and a huge backyard to explore, he is living "the dog dream".  He has many adventures in the trails and fields behind out house, as Scott and I take him out once or twice a day for exercise.  He comes along with us to the lake, where he learned how to swim last year.  This year he will go hunting with Scott as his is a natural hunter.

So there you have it.  I may not have a human baby to brag about, but I sure do love to brag about my furry baby.  And I know there are some of you who share the same feelings as I do about your pet, even with kids in tow.  So tell me about it.