The Fluffy One And The Smart One..An Anniversary Love Story

As I watch the dogs playing off leash at the nearby hockey rink, I realize it is two years since the fluffy one joined the family. They race from end to end of the rink. The smart dog chases the ball, or the stick, or the whatever I throw. The fluffy dog chases the smart one. It has taken me almost the whole two years to teach him "fetch", as long as I don't throw the object to be fetched more than 3 or 4 feet from him. I started with throwing it 3 or 4 inches. At first he just stared at me. Having never played the game at the puppy mill, he didn't get the cause and effect. Now he is thrilled with bounding a few feet to his treasure and pouncing on it with great delight.

I had the smart dog first, and got the fluffy one as an accident. He was going to be euthanized by the rescue group who got him out of a puppy mill. They had saved him with the best of intentions, but he was extremely fearful and hand shy, they had no foster for him and he was going to be very difficult to find a home for. Rescue groups have to make heartbreaking decisions all the time about how to best use their resources. It was understandable that they had to make a tough call with him. Lucky for him, I am a sucker. I looked at him, with his perpetual "Eeyore" face, and found myself asking if I could take him home to see if he got along with the smart dog. I thought to myself, "I don't mind if he doesn't like people, as long as he gets along with the smart one, maybe I can give him a little more time." That was two years ago, almost to the day.

I had to carry him from my car to the house that first night. He did not know how to walk on a leash, even though he was 4 or 5 years old. As you can see, it was love at first sight. From the moment he saw the smart one, he was transformed. They played for about two hours. She has always been so gentle with him, and so smart...her trademark. Often, she will lay down on the ground, even on her back to wrestle with him, since she has the big height and weight advantage.

In the two years since that first night, he has come a long way. He learned how to walk on a leash, do stairs, follow a few very basic hand signals (he is deaf), and play mini-fetch, among other things. His very favorite toy in the world is an empty yogurt cup, which he tosses up in the air to himself especially when it is quiet at night when he thinks no one is looking. He is still shy, and has "eeyore" face most of the time, except when he is running and playing with his beloved, the smart one. She taught him everything he knows about how to be a dog, even how to smile.