A. L. Kaplan

Tag: canines

  • For the Love of Canines: Arthur Part 2

    2001 Arthur 2Having an exuberant and inquisitive dog created some exciting adventures, several that I would have preferred to skip. I lost count of how many puzzle pieces disappeared, but they were minor inconveniences. Arthur liked paper like Praeses liked tennis balls – as snacks.

    The biggest escapade happened while I was shopping. It was before I had a cell phone and being paged to the service desk in Target because of a medical emergency started a million horror stories racing through my mind. Were the kids okay? My husband? Had something happened to my parents or in-laws?1998 Arthur 21

    Arthur had swiped a tissue filled with my mother-in-law’s medications off the dresser. After several panicked calls to the vet and poison control, the dog that would vomit at the drop of a hat refused to throw up no matter what I tried. We ended up at the emergency animal hospital where he spent the night. He returned to us the next day groggy but otherwise fine. . . .Until my in-law’s next visit. Arthur took one look at them and refused to take the medicine I was giving him for itchy skin.

    About that itchy skin, after a bad reaction to some arthritis medicine (and another trip to the animal hospital,) I pulled him off every medicine and supplement he had been given. The plastic water bottle and food dish got replaced by stainless steel. Within weeks his dry itchy skin went away, as did some of the stiffness in his joints. All that time it had been the plastic affecting his health. I’m amazed those kinds of dishes are still being sold. Stay away from them!

    Arthur was definitely a mama’s boy, and followed me around like a shadow.  If a nurse or vet needed to take him somewhere, he would tuck his tail and give me a worried look, but he always went. That was until he had a softball sized tumor removed from his leg. On our follow up appointment, he planted all four feet and refused to go without me.

    Snowy white crept up Arthur’s muzzle and gray splotched his black fur. Those walks around the lake became too difficult for him. In March of 2011 Arthur had a mini stroke. He made an almost complete recovery, but it was just the beginning of many health problems. His eyesight began to fail and he showed signs of early dementia, but he still looked happy and didn’t seem to be in pain.

    Even with the best of care problems can occur. Arthur developed a toe infection that ultimately led to an amputation. The wound took an unusually long time to heal, and it wasn’t until the lab identified two antibiotic resistant bacteria that it finally did. He put up with it all, even the cone of shame. For an old arthritic dog, Arthur sure was flexible. He pulled the cone off one night tearing out several stitches. Another trip to the emergency clinic ensued. Eventually, he healed completely and our happy dog returned. Arthur walked around the whole block a few times and even started to run again.

    Sadly, he suffered another stroke January 10, 2012. Walking down the stairs became an impossible task. As his eyesight continued to deteriorate he became even more snuggly. It felt like he was trying to get as in much love as he could in our time left together. I knew in my heart that we were on borrowed time. We said our last farewell to our wonderful friend on April 28, 2013. He is sorely missed.

    Arthur February 28, 1998 - April 28, 2013
    Arthur
    February 28, 1998 – April 28, 2013

  • For the Love of Canines: Arthur Part 1

    With a new baby and a 16 month old toddler, it was a year and a half before we got another dog. We had the pitter patter of little feet, but not the pitter patter of toenails across the floor, the soft brush of fur, and a wet nose.

    While we would have loved to adopt, with two small children we wanted to be sure of temperament. After careful consideration we decided against another Malamute. While we loved Praeses, we wanted a breed that would get along with other dogs. Our choice – Portuguese Water Dog. We researched, visited breeders, clubs, and homes and finally found someone in Ohio that would have a litter ready for new homes about the time school let out. (I was teaching at the time.)1998 Arthur 11

    The breeder required a three page application and two letters of recommendations. It was clear from the start that they did this for the love of the breed, not to make money. Our particular pup ended up with an improper coat but that didn’t bother us at all. Go figure. He shed and looked a little different than the other PWDs, but his attitude was all PWD.

    I drove out to get him the first week in June. When the door opened, there he was, Haleakala Aka Loekai, Hawaiian for Arthur King of the Sea, sitting politely at the door. Our eyes met, and I knew, he was the one I had been looking for. It felt as if Praeses was staring at me through new eyes. The first thing Arthur did was jump up and grab my braid, just like Debra did when she nursed. It was a bit of foreshadowing that I didn’t realize at the time.1998 Arthur 8 1998 Arthur 7 1998 Arthur 6

    When I mentioned the connection to Praeses’ spirit so to speak, I didn’t mean they were the same. They were as different as night and day. Praeses was snowy with typical malamute patterns. Arthur was jet black with a small white goatee. One was mellow and slow, the other bouncy and fast. Switching from a dominant female that lifted her leg, to a submissive male who squatted had its challenges. The first time I gave the heal command in obedience class; Arthur bounced like a rubber ball. I needed to learn to dial it down a little with him.

    The first time I tossed Arthur’s toy, he trotted right back and plopped it in my lap. I was stunned. It was the first time a dog had voluntarily returned anything. Playing catch became a favorite game and Arthur, in his enthusiasm, would run into furniture, walls, and people. Anything in his way was bowled over in his desire to get the toy. He didn’t seem to notice. He very quickly transferred the idea of retrieving to the Frisbee and a little over a week before he began to catch it. His usual habit at that time was to drop the retrieved item on the ground at my feet. A few days after I had had some minor surgery, I looked at him with sad eyes and told him that I couldn’t bend down to pick it up. Arthur understood. He picked up the Frisbee and handed it to me. It was the last time I needed to pick up a toy for him.1999 Arthur 13

    Later on Arthur and I gave agility a try and loved it, but classes were too difficult to get to on a regular basis. I set up my own jumps and tunnels in the yard so we would play. Trips to the local lake and playground with the girls became even more exciting. If no one else was around, I would let him climb the ramp to the tower and go down the slide.  His tail wagged and his tongue lolled as he played and barked. It took me a while, but I finally realized that if he had a ball in his mouth he couldn’t bark while he ran around.