If you've followed this blog at all, you know that I adopted Ole, a young Norwegian Elkhound, in mid-May of last year.
After having flown from Oregon to Anchorage, he arrived benumbed by airplane noise, bewildered by all the people in the airport, and gosh-darned glad to get out of that darned crate! Though we walked him for over half an hour, he wouldn't pee or poo. Some things did get sniffed, but mainly he would stand next to me, or his foster mom, gaining a little comfort from the two humans who seemed safest.
Then Ole and I drove in my pickup truck the 350 miles back to Fairbanks. It took a little doing to get him in the truck cab with me: he was really frightened. I spent 350 miles prying him out of my lap so he wouldn't accidentally push the truck out of gear, or affect my steering.
Later I discovered that he was terrified of being alone, and would freak out if I left him even for a minute or two. Even the companionship of Sofia didn't help right away. He locked me out of the house in my pjs once, but scrabbling at the door and throwing the deadbolt! I had to call a locksmith to let me back into my house...him freaking out the entire time.
It's been almost nine months since Ole guy came to live with me and there has been an amazing and wonderful transformation: his little button eyes shine with love and meaning, trying to tell me all kinds of things ALL the time. He follows me everywhere, even at 1am when I have to go downstairs to the bathroom, he follows me. And yet, if I leave him alone he doesn't panic. He knows I always come back, and he gains comfort from his friend and best friend, Sofia.
He's become himself, with some extremely endearing habits and quirks. Every morning he lets me know with a long, low "Arrrrrooooooo!" that he can wait no longer, he MUST go pee NOW!
He has learned to come, sit, lie down, "to me" (come close enough to grab collar), and shake. He's so attentive (and so food-happy) that he's a breeze to teach and can't wait to learn more. And I can't wait to teach him more.
He now runs around and plays outside in the yard even when it is -30, albeit not a long time, but he joyfully rushes around the yard and would stay longer, but older, smarter Sofia knows when to call it quits and go back inside.
He's learned to look UP to see squirrels and birds. Sofia has shown him foxes, moose, voles and both dogs go nuts when they see the sled dogs go by.
He's sweet, super smart, healthy........and an elklown. Some dogs act like mature grown-ups as they get older, and some dogs seem to be stuck as puppies and are very, very silly. I am lucky to have adopted a very silly boy who makes snorty noises when he finds something yummy to eat, who roo-roos and talks to me, who nearly tumbles down the stairs gaining him the nickname Thunderpaw, who lovingly licks the cabinet where the dog food is kept, who, after having had dinner, roo-rooed me to follow him, and who then led me to the cabinet...These things and more, many involving klutzy puppy paw maneuvers such as coming down the stairs with a toy, dropping the toy and sitting on it, then trying to pull the toy out from under his butt without standing up, all while in the middle of the steep stairs. He just about threw himself down the stairs doing that!
Then there was the Razor Blade Incident....
But the best thing of all is that he looks at me and I can see that he's MY dog and I'm HIS human. We belong to each other now. The love is mutual. He comes and snuggles on the bed now, whereas before he would jump up and be gone again in ten seconds. He knows he's home. I'm so glad he's here.
