Wind in my sails

by Andrea Elizabeth

Before they become a too distant memory, scenes from the last days must be determinedly recalled, while some have appeared spontaneously in my mind’s eye since. Standing on top of Enchanted Rock absorbing the view with the chilling wind playing its hilltop havoc on hair and fur. Driving up, down, and around luscious St. Patrick’s Day greenery, sprinkled liberally with lavender, yellow, pink and purple under a grey cloudy sky. Two short dogs stealing surprised attention from fellow hikers (people must not come across Corgis very often. I think pairs are especially endearing.). And the enthusiastic tending of the Buenos Pooches by the three children accompanying. It was a lovely time.

dogs and gardens

by Andrea Elizabeth

Inspiration for today from The Prolog from Ohrid:

Venerable Mark the Ascetic

Mark was an ascetic and miracle-worker. In his fortieth year he was tonsured a monk by his teacher St. John Chrysostom. Mark then spent sixty more years in the wilderness of Nitria in fasting, prayer and writing many spiritual works concerning the salvation of souls. He knew the entire Holy Scriptures by heart. He was very merciful and kind. He wept much for the misfortunes which had befallen all of God’s creation. On one occasion, while crying, he prayed to God for a blind puppy of a hyena and the puppy received its sight. In thanksgiving the mother of the hyena brought him a sheepskin. The saint forbade the hyena in the future to kill any more sheep of poor people. He received Communion at the hands of the angels. His homilies concerning the spiritual law, on repentance, and on sobriety, etc., are ranked among the first-class literature of the Church. These works were praised by the great Patriarch Photius himself.

Venerable Hesychius the Faster

Hesychius was born near Brusa in the eighth century. He then retreated to Mount Maion which had an evil reputation because of demonic apparitions. There, Hesychius built a hut for himself and a chapel dedicated to the honor of St. Andrew the Apostle. He surrounded it with a garden which he cultivated in order to live by his own labor. By his prayers he performed many miracles. Hesychius prophesied that after his death a convent would be built on that place. A month before, he foresaw the day and hour of his death. At midnight on the foreseen day, some men saw his hut glowing with an extraordinary light. When they arrived, they found him dead. Hesychius died peacefully and was received into the kingdom of His Lord in the year 790 A.D. He was buried in the church of St. Andrew. Later, Theophylactus, the Bishop of Amasea, translated his body to Amasea.

Little dog syndrome

by Andrea Elizabeth

Being small is the only clue that Merry may not be a pure bread Corgi. Otherwise she has the correct portions and features. So yesterday I did some research on Corgi sizes to try to convince myself. Turns out they can range from 15 to 30 pounds. Since her tail has been docked and she was previously spayed, I think maybe she is just a runt that was abandoned. I also came across an article on small dog syndrome that was very enlightening regarding both how we treat her, and the kennel incident yesterday when Pippin penned her to the ground when she tried to exit the door first. The article is about how we accept alpha dog behaviors in little dogs, such as jumping on your lap, growling, going through doors first, pulling at the leash, and even excessive eye contact, that we wouldn’t in a big dog. We are finding this to be true with cute little Merry’s behaviors vs. the stronger, pushier Pippin’s. But these are all ownership behaviors. The little dogs aren’t saying I love you when they demand attention, they are claiming territory.

Therefore, it is necessary to establish yourself and all the members of your family as alpha. This article explains how to claim the alpha position with your dogs. Dogs are very tuned into body language and tone of voice and will immediately understand alpha behaviors. Today we tried the make them sit first technique, as well as the make them be invited before they are pet or sit in a lap, and it is amazing how their posture has changed. They don’t necessarily want to be alpha as a lot of responsibility and decision making goes into it. It can make them insecure to be in that position. It is our job to be that for them just as it is for our children or others we are responsible for.

This brings up submission in general. Now that I’m aware what these behaviors mean for dogs, I think they can also be applied to humans. Attention seeking behavior, especially of the affectionate sort, can be a sign of claiming dominance?! I thought people who do this are seeking validation of their personhood and lovability, not ownership and control. Maybe that’s true. hmm.

One of the above articles also said that the alpha dog is petted and licked by the under dogs. Previously I considered that type of symbolic behavior in humans to be boot licking, and an abuse of power to accept it. Yet if we aren’t to accept it unless we invite our dogs to do it, neither should a boss or parent. I think this can be applied to excessive crying in infants, to an appropriate degree of course, or other attention starved behaviors in older people. We need to draw our strength from within, where Christ and the heavenly hosts dwell, and not constantly expect alpha people to give it to us. This is not to say we shouldn’t be submissive to them though. I think the healthy under dog stays calm, focused, and obediently minds his own business.

Merry update

by Andrea Elizabeth

Merry is a very sweet, eager to please little dog. The shelter said she was 12 pounds, 1/3 the size of Pippin. In the week that we’ve had her, her bones have become a little more cushioned already. Pippin is more energetic now, and seems to enjoy having a mostly walk and trot-around mate, and sometimes play mate. He was a little aggressive with her this morning trying to get out of the pen though. We’ll have to watch that.

So many dogs

by Andrea Elizabeth

I want to adopt all the dogs and the cats at the animal shelter. The thought of them being stuck there and not adopted in a jail-like cell with the possibility of euthanasia makes me feel that it is urgent. But I have to step back and think what is best for our family and the animals we have already committed ourselves to. Pippin is used to being dominant. Merry is a small dog. The other dogs were all quite a bit bigger. Do I want to transform our house into an adoptive institution? What is the proper way to handle empty nest syndrome?

Back to the dogs. Merry is the first dog on the right at the shelter. They probably put the small dogs in front so that they don’t have to run the gauntlet past the bigger, louder ones. I felt it was wrong to carry her through to the back while I looked at the other dogs. It would have been in their face that I wasn’t picking them. Similarly, I didn’t want to let any of the other dogs out of their pens because that would have been disloyal to her. She needs to feel specially chosen.

I believe the dogs know that they are up for review. Most try to get your attention with their voices and body language saying, “Pick me! Pick me!” One kept his back turned, however. I wonder what his story is. The second runner up to Merry was a bigger version of Benji with a brown, curly haired face and large beagle type body. He seemed really calm and sweet. He kind of looked sad, though, as if he knew I’d already picked someone else.

I don’t believe in having only-children. If that happens, as my youngest will be one pretty soon, then they need to take care of other creatures so that they don’t think that the world revolves solely around them. Similarly, I don’t think retirement is the one-fifth of your life where you finally get what’s coming to you. You need to keep giving till the end.

Same with animals. All a person’s attention doting on one little spoiled pet isn’t the answer. But Merry isn’t spoiled. Pippin’s half spoiled, half neglected. We don’t work with him like we should. I hope to start taking them out on walking trails. That would be good for all of us.

I’ve heard that sharing is the reason there’s a Trinity. Two people can spoil each other, but add a third and you’re forced to be unselfish.

I don’t know how many dogs we have room for. I know we only have room for one cat’s litter box contributions, however.