The Alpha

A good sign that you are the Alpha of your pack is that your dogs need to be near you. 
For example, both Bentley and Lady prefer to be near Chris and I rather than further away from us.  They are notorious "Kitchen Dogs" becoming hazardous obstacles in front of the sink, stove, or just lying in the middle of the floor.  I cannot go into the kitchen to butter a piece of bread without a Labby following me and laying down, perhaps to block off my exit. 
If I go to take a shower, they prefer to be in the bathroom rather than outside of it.  And it is not a rare occurrence for one of them to decide that simply being in the bathroom with me is not enough.  They need to actually be in the shower with me.  Yes, I shower with my dogs regularly.  It helps to keep them clean and cuts back on the shedding.  When I had one Lab and a Beagle, they would both fit at once, but now that there are two Labbies, only one at a time, please.
Another sure sign that you are the Alpha of the pack is that you cannot possibly get a Labrador off of your pillow in order to go to sleep.  Or you cannot rearrange their slumbering pose from horizontally across the bed, cutting it in half lengthwise, to a more parallel to a more conventional human sleeping position.  Or when you go to lay on that newly sieged pillow, that it smells like dog feet.  Which, by the way, smell remarkably similar to Fritos.
It is also a good sign if a dog likes to sleep under the computer desk while you are working.  They don't mind if your legs are cramped.  All they care about is that you never, ever, under any circumstances, feel that you may be alone. 
All of these signs say "Yes, you are in charge!"  Or so I tell myself.  I count my blessings.
Its all about the pack.
Be the pack.  And try not to loose your sanity.

Rainbow Bridge

I promise all of my posts won't be downers. 
When I lost Squeak, I found this.  I believe it.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm

Saying Goodbye

Tonight I had to do something very hard, but something I am definitely not a stranger to.
My Aunt's Rottweiler, Kuffs, has osteosarcoma.  She just found out yesterday.  They thought it was just arthritis for a long time, but this new discovery explains all of the pain he is in.  She is having him put down on Monday.
Tonight, Bentley and I made the drive over to say hello, and goodbye.  Bentley has never met "The Boys" (Kuffs and Sole, her two Rottweilers).  We got there and despite Kuffs being in pain, they played and played and played.  Kuffs did tire out more quickly than usual, but he still seemed to be himself.  Other than limping on the bad leg, he acted a lot better than I was expecting.
For me, it is important that our dogs carry memories.  It is how we stay connected.  My Beagle, Squeak, whom I lost in May, is remembered by Lady, my Lab.  Lady passes her memories and legacy to Bentley, who knows both Lady and Squeak, through Lady's memories.  There is a connection.  They all know each other. 
So when I heard that Kuffs was not doing well, I knew Bentley had to meet him, had to make that connection before it was too late.  I was hesitant to take him along at first, dogs in pain can be unpredictable, but Kuffs has always been as gentle as a kitten.  My Aunt agreed that it was a great idea for them to meet before Kuffs was gone. 
She said she hasn't seen Kuffs play so much or seem so happy in weeks. 
It was the right thing to do.
Bentley made a new friend and memories.  I got to relive mine.  I've known Kuffs for all of his eight and a half years.  I was there when he was a puppy, I was there when they got Sole, I was there when "The Girls" met "The Boys" and all played together in the pond for the first time.  Kuffs always made me feel safe.  Saying goodbye felt so premature, but at the same time, relieving. 
I was relieved that he was still himself.  That he hadn't lost his dignity or lost himself to the pain.  He was still pretty normal.  I think that is important for dogs to keep before they go.
We left with heavy hearts.  Bentley slept all the way home.  But I know that my Aunt is doing the right thing.  The greatest gift we can give our dogs is to relieve their suffering.
Take it easy, boy.  We all love you.

One Simple Pleasure

I was recently sucked in by yet another Lifetime movie on late at night.  I can't for the life of me remember what it was called now, but it was actually a really good one.  It was about a woman looking for the perfect man.  She made a list and vowed not to date another man unless they met all of her requirements.  Of course she meets two men on the same day, one who fits to the letter, and one who does not follow a single one.  In the end, she chooses the man who didn't fit the list.  He says something in the film.  "Every day I indulge in one simple pleasure, like a good burger."  Or something like that.  I really liked this idea.  Life is too short. 

Why not indulge a little bit?

The great thing for a dog is, that EVERYTHING is an indulgence.  EVERYTHING is not only a simple pleasure, but THE GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO THEM!!!  Even though a dog might expect a walk every day, each walk is better than the last because it is happening right now.  Dogs live in the moment.  They don't care that today you just walked around the block when yesterday they got to walk in the park.  They don't think that you're being stingy on them.  They love it all! 

I'm taking a page out of my dogs' book this week and looking at everything as if it were the only thing in the world that mattered.  Live in the moment. 

Life is too short to be unhappy.