A Very Special Treat

A while back, I mentioned that an essay I had written was chosen to be in Celebrating Greyhounds.  They were looking for stories about how your greyhounds inspire you.  After I heard the stories some people had to tell, I really wasn't sure I'd have a chance of being selected, but I was.  Since today would have been Treat's thirteenth birthday, I thought I'd share the article today.

My life seems to be divided into two distinct categories that are separated by December 30, 2000. That was the day we went to the adoption kennel and came home with a little brindle greyhound princess named Treat. Her name seemed too perfect to change and it suited her. So, there was our life before Treat and our life after Treat. I had no idea on that day how she would make such an impact on my life.


Through Treat, we experienced many things that we never would have otherwise. While I tend to be a shy person, Treat was extremely outgoing. People everywhere were charmed by her, which gave me an opportunity to meet a lot of people I wouldn’t have otherwise. Being on the other end of Treat’s leash suddenly inspired me to be more outgoing with people that we met in everyday life.

We began to do meet and greets with our local greyhound group and I found that being a volunteer was something that I could actually do. Treat ate up the attention and I found that I really enjoyed talking to people about how wonderful she was. Then we took volunteering to a new level. Treat inspired me to do something that I’d secretly thought about for some time, but hadn’t quite had the courage for. We began to visit nursing homes together. Treat and I became a certified therapy dog team and later a READ team, as well. Visiting the nursing home was something we enjoyed a great deal, even though there were some nights when I came home and thought I was too tired to go. She would give me that look and I’d go change my clothes, pick out a fancy collar for her to wear and we’d go to visit.

I also began to diet while we had Treat. I wanted to be a person who looked like her dog a bit, I suppose. It wasn’t enough to just eat right, however. I had to exercise, as well. Treat never let me get away with skipping a walk. She let me know that I had to get up off the couch and go out into the world. She would have walked off the ends of the Earth if I’d have gone with her. Every day, she inspired me to get up off the couch and make myself move. We were both much better off for it.

Treat also helped me to return to something else that I dearly love. Throughout school, I dreamed of being a writer. However, my dad convinced me that I couldn’t make a living as a writer and I pursued a different path. After we adopted Treat, I joined a message board. Soon, I was sharing stories of her exploits along with pictures of her antics. Through Treat, I found my voice as a writer, although I didn’t realize it for several years. Her inspiration lives on now as I dabble with fiction, poetry and keeping a blog of the funny things that happen in our everyday lives. If I hadn’t gotten inspiration for anything else from her, finding the outlet of writing again would have been worth every penny we paid for her adoption fee.

About a year and a half ago, Treat had to leave us after a brief battle with a spinal tumor. However, she left me with one final inspiration. After she was gone, I found myself adopting another greyhound, because I wanted to continue on the journeys that she’d started me on. Even though she wasn’t the only greyhound here in our house, she and I had a very special bond and closeness. It was as if we were each an extension of the other. Two of our hounds were seniors and couldn’t do nursing home visits or some of the other active things that Treat and I did. Our younger hound is really my husband’s dog and partner. That left me with only one option, which was trying again. Her inspiration lives on now in the form of Bunny, a very young greyhound who inspires me to try even more things and to continue on the journey that I began with a beautiful brindle greyhound almost nine years ago.

I will always be forever grateful for the inspiration and encouragement that Treat gave to me. My life has been enriched in more ways than I can even describe or recount. I have met wonderful people, traveled to places I never expected to, tried things I didn’t think I could do and have discovered more about myself through her inspiration. I have truly been blessed to have known her.

Hello everyone!  Bunny here with some exciting news!  It seems that I have been chosen as the best hound in the hound group for the esteemed Mango Minster event.  This was my first year competing, so I didn't know what to expect.  Martha and Bailey were the judges and they felt that I was top dog for the hounds.  I'm glad I wasn't a judge, since I thought all the hounds entered were magnifcent. 

Now I'm supposed to leave a not for Miss Asta, the Best In Show Judge.  I think I'm supposed to tell her a bit about myself.  That or I'm supposed to amuse her with my charm and wit!  I was bred to be a racing dog, but I was too smart for that and instead raced straight for the couch without passing go or collecting two hundred dollars.  I am working towards a career as a therapy dog instead.  My big outings are usually trips to the nursing home to visit or to the dog bakery.  I'm working on getting Mom back in shape now that the weather is breaking, too. 

I'll keep my paws crossed that Miss Asta likes me, but I'm a newcomer to the event, so I'll just be happy for the chance to learn about how the contest operates.  I'm proud to represent the hound group and very happy that a lot of hounds are working together towards a good cause! 

Wordless Wednesday 2/03 -- Bedtime For Bunny

We're Looking For Ideas -- And A Little Sleep

I have mentioned before that Lilac has a lot to say at times.  Her favorite time to tell us something seems to be an hour before the alarm clock goes off.  I used to have the clock set for 6:30 in the morning and she always got up at 5:30.  Later, I changed the clock to 5:30 because I had to get going earlier.  Lilac now gets up at 4:30.  Last week, she decided to get up on Thursday morning at 2:30 and Friday at 3:30.  Thank heaven we were able to sleep in on Saturday and catch up since we're suffering severe sleep deprivation.  Although, I have to say, she really didn't like that!

This has not been an issue until the last year.  Now it is becoming less of an amusing occasional quirk and more of an annoying regular habit.  We have tried a lot of variations in the routine to see if it will help her sleep through the night, and fortunately Bunny and Blueberry have been very adaptable.  We've always done a last turn out right before bed.  We've also started feeding them three meals with the last one being a very small one right before they go to bed.  Nothing seems to help.

Part of it seems to be figuring out what she wants.  She doesn't seem to be needing to use the bathroom really bad.  She doesn't act like she's starving.  Mr. Taleteller used to get up with them, turn them out, feed them and then sleep on the floor under his quilt for a while in between several of the dogs.  Now he's coming back to bed.  She doesn't want to lay back down and go to sleep.  It seems that she wants to just get us all up to do nothing.

I suspect that some of it has to do with her age.  She's fourteen and a half; easily the oldest dog that either of us have lived with.  She is in excellent health, not just for her age, but for a dog of any age.  She plays with stuffies in the living room.  The old lady will even play with Bunny on rare occasion.  She seems to be very aware and alert during the day while we're all home and awake.  It's just this stretch of time at night when she seems dottier than crazy Aunt Martha! 

Has anybody out there ever experienced something like this?  If anybody has any suggestions, we would be happy to hear them.  More than anything, we would just like to get some sleep!  Unlike the Grande Dame, we are not able to take a nap all day -- we have to go to work.  She's lucky we love her!

I said "No!"

This weekend, we decided to take the girls on an outing to the dog bakery so that they could get out a bit.  It's been bitter cold here, so walking is still not an option for us.  I'm not sure how they know that we're going somewhere and they're involved with the trip, but it's always a different scenario when they're going.

Blueberry and Bunny both really like to go places in the car.  It's even better when we take the van.  Somehow, when Mr. Taleteller and I start getting ready to go, all three of the girls know.  Lilac is the opposite of Blue and Bunny, though.  She'd rather climb through cat territory on her own than ride in the moving box of death.  She will tolerate it, but she would rather avoid it.  She's never gotten sick riding with us, but she curls up in a corner and closes her eyes, waiting for it to be over.  Time has not helped the issue any and we try not to make her go too often since it seems to be something she dislikes.

It used to work out well when we would go.  Bunny and Blueberry would go in the van and Hawk and Lilac would rest their bones in a quiet, puppy-free zone.  Since Hawk's passing, my husband has been a little uncertain about leaving her at home alone.  I feel that she prefers to stay home, even if it is alone.  She and Hawk were certainly never close, so I don't see her caring whether she has his company or not. 

That brings us to our departure last weekend.  I'm sure our departure routine isn't that different from most other people's who have dogs.  Mr. Taleteller called the girls to go out for a potty break after we'd gotten the things we needed loaded in the van and had it warming up a bit.  Blueberry and Bunny were waiting for him at the back door, barely able to keep four feet on the floor as they anticipated our departure.  Lilac was in the living room, pretending that she was the exact same color as her dog bed and that we couldn't see her lying there.  Mr. Taleteller called her to go potty several times, and Lilac just burrowed into her bed a little more.  He took Blue and Bunny out to the turn out pen and returned for Lilac, carrying the leash with him to hook to her collar and lead her outside.  She grudgingly got up and met him in the kitchen.  I thought I saw her give him a meaningful look, but it was so fleeting, I might have been mistaken.

In any event, he took her outside as well and soon all three of the girls had taken care of their personal business.  A quick walk through the grass followed and then they headed towards the van.  We generally unhook the leash of each dog as she stands at the open door to the back seats of the van and then that dog will jump in the back and find her comfy spot for the ride.  Bunny and Blueberry were busy jockeying for postition, both wanting to hop into the van first and get situated.  The two of them did both get in and then Mr. Taleteller unhooked Lilac's leash and leaned down, prepared to help her step up into the van.

Instead, she pushed her way between his legs with surprising speed for an elderly greyhound and marched right up to the back door.  He stood there stunned.  I sat in the van laughing.  He looked at me and we had a short conversation.

Mr. Taleteller:  Do you think she'll be alright here by herself?

Lilac:  (stomping her foot at the back door)  It's cold out here, dammit!

Me:  She's been home alone before.  She'll be fine.

Mr. Taleteller:  You're sure?  I don't want her to freak out that she's all alone...

Lilac:  (glaring)  I'm not getting any younger here, whippersnapper!  Open the door for a lady, you young punk!

Me:  It seems pretty obvious what she wantes.

Mr. Taleteller:  Alright!  (There was something muttered under his breath about women being difficult, but I didn't catch it exactly.)

Lilac:  I could have died from the cold out here while you're flapping your gums!  Open the door!

Mr. Taleteller opened the door and Lilac made her way into the house in record time.  I'm sure she was asleep in her favorite bed before we even left the driveway.  She certainly knows how to make herself clear!  It turns out Bunny and Blueberry picked out a reindeer antler for her to chew on anyway, and she didn't have to leave the comfort of her bed.  She seems to have us all trained, except perhaps Mr. Taleteller, but she's not finished with him yet.