The granddogs are all here. Nathan and April arte in Corpus Christi to see her Dad, and Kel and Christina are in San Antonio. They surprised their kids with a quick trip to Sea World as an extra Christmas present. They didn't tell them where they were headed until they were in the car on the way. I think the surprise is better than the trip itself. So Good Ol' Nani and DadDad get to dog sit for a few days.
To start out, we have two dogs of our own. Heidi is the grande dame of them all. She's the dachshund we rescued from the pound who was supposed to be a present for Christi back when they got married, but they couldn't have a dog in their apartment, so we are still keeping her on a temporary basis. That makes her at least nine years old. So she's 63 in human years? Hmm. Acts like an old woman sometimes.
Fritz was intended to be Mom's dog. About five years ago he came to stay with her, but he was such a handful we were afraid he would knock her over. He's still a handful and then some. He's part Boston Bull Terrier and part something else. Chris always says he needs ridalin. Wild dog, but lots of fun and very smart.
Lucy is the oldest of the granddogs. She live sat Kel and Christina's house. And she is, well neurotic. At least when one of her family sets something down on the floor and walks away. She plops down next to it and guards it with vehemence. Don't even walk near it or she will threaten to take your head off. And when it comes feeding time, she is even fiercer about protecting her food. We have to figure out a way to separate the others from her so they can all eat in peace. Other than that, Lucy is actually quite affectionate. She doesn't jump up on you at all. She just walks over and lays her head on your lap with one of those forlorn looks in her eyes.
Nathan and April have two dogs (and a guinea pig named Moe and a fish named Purple, who we also have. It took Moe a while, but once he warmed up to us, he lets us know. That little rat can make a lot of racket when he's huyngry). Their oldest is Scooter. He is a pure bred Boston Bull Terrier that Nathan has had since before they were married. Good dog as far as humans are concerned. Nathan spent a lot of time training him, so he responds to commands instantly (well, almost instantly when there are cousin-ly distractions around). He doesn't bark much, either. His forte is driving his cousin Fritz absolutely crazy. When he comes to visit the two of them run almost constantly, and when Fritz stops to rest, Scooter is all over his back, "encouraging him" to keep playing.
The new kid on the block is the puppy, Abby. Thing is, although she is only three months old, Abby is bigger than any two of the other put together. She is a pure bred boxer, so she isn't even half-way to her full size yet. But she is all puppy, so she bounces around and clumsily barrels into the other dogs and the walls and whatever else happens to be in her way. She is a lot of fun to watch.
When you put them all together the dynamics are a riot. Heidi pretty much gets her way about anything. She's the matriarch of the clan, and they respect her. Yesterday Abby got a little rambunctious for her, so the huge boxer wound up on her back with the little dachshund standing over her neck. Quite a picture. Lucy tries to be territorial, but the others kind of ignore her and keep doing whatever it is they are doing. Scooter harasses Fritz. Abby crashes through the dog door that was built for terriers. And at night they switch out beds. Heidi chooses where she wants to sleep and the other clamor for whatever is left. The whole thing kind of mirrors when our grandchildren are all over at the same time. But then, the granddogs had to learn somewhere, right?
Isaiah 41:13 says, "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
Father, thank you for the joy these animals bring to their little "owners." Amen.
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