Tales from the Bark Side

By Keith Ross | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, November 17, 2007

Welcome back to the bark side of life here in Ottertail where the mercury has risen significantly the last couple days. The heated water pails that are needed to keep those canines of ours hydrated stand unplugged, waiting silently for the inevitable.

The puppies (we have one left for sale and are keeping two) are now 14 weeks old and they haven't lost their playful natures at all. Like a lot of parents have had to “childproof” their homes, such is the case with our young pups.

Speaking of puppies, this week I have a tale from Sheri Goltz of Fergus Falls that I'd like to share with you. Here's her tale.

Ahh, the innocence of young love. To play and frolic with your best pal is heaven on earth. Each day is another day in which to romp and chase and enjoy playing hide and seek with your best buddy.

Two pups are growing up next door to each other, one a yellow lab and the other a golden retriever. Rookie, the female lab, is six months older than Aboo, a golden retriever. He originates from RAGOM (Rescue A Golden Of Minnesota) and is very lucky to be alive, as he and his siblings had been dropped off to be destroyed. Instead, this rescue organization stepped in and found a wonderful family for him with the cute girl puppy next door.

Their love affair began when their owners brought them outside for “their business” and the yellow pup chased and pounced upon the baby retriever.

As Aboo grew, he learned to pounce back and thus their playtime evolved. Both pups grew and grew and soon they were the same size so were well-matched in the game of teeth. They grabbed each other by the collars and tugged and pulled until the collars sometimes came off.

They bit on each others necks and noses and tugged and yanked on their ears. Not a growl or snarl could be heard, even though it appeared as if they were really hurting each other.

While their owners spent many hours outside with them, the animals had lots of fun. Summer turned into fall and fall into winter. As the weather grew colder and colder, less time was spent frolicking outside and the pups really missed each other and their regular romping.

The cold winter days and nights altered everyone's activities, but the pups knew they still needed each other for playmates.

When the pups were let outside in the late afternoons or evenings, they developed their own scheme. If Rookie went out first, she would go over to his house and look in the window by the door until Aboo saw her. Then they let him out for the fun to begin.

Oh, the exercise young dogs can get chasing each other around evergreen trees. Sometimes they would hide from each other as Rookie would take a branch and run to stand behind a flower bed. She remained perfectly still, waiting behind the Russian sage while peaking at Aboo through the stalks. As he searched for her, she remained in hiding until suddenly she raced away from her hiding place and a new chase began.

When Rookie's owners called her to come home, Aboo was left outside momentarily and he sometimes took advantage of this free time and sprinted away. This prompted a new plan from the owners. Aboo was called in first, Rookie was told to go home, a phone call was made, and sure enough Rookie was found standing at her front door.

Sometimes Aboo's owner had to call Rookie into their house to entice Aboo to come in also. He stayed back even though she was now in his house checking out his family.

Finally, his curiosity got the best of him and he headed into his house and Rookie was told to go home. When it was real cold outside, they would scratch on the patio door so they both could come inside his house.

When Aboo instigated playtime, he trotted toward Rookie's house, gave a couple of good howls until she heard him and ran to the door.

She walked a few paces out the front door and crouched down waiting while he swaggered slowly across the driveway.

As soon as he was close, she jumped up and they began licking each others mouths in greeting.

The spring and summer have come and gone again and the pups are now grown up dogs.

Even though distractions have come into their lives, like other new puppies in the household and also in the neighborhood, they always will have a special place in each others hearts as neighborhood sweethearts. Puppy love forever.

Thanks, Sheri, for a heartwarming tale of love and affection in the wonderful world of playful and rambunctious pups. Mine aren't any different.

I catch them in poses that are just too cute and by the time I go and get a camera, the moment has passed and the image has vanished, much like a cloud formation that once was a horse or an angel.

But, some memories are best remembered through the heart rather than through the lens of a camera.

Keith Alan Ross writes from his home in New York Mills.