It’s 7 AM and Tucker has just noticed I’m not in bed any more. I hear his nails on the hardwood as he nonchalantly moves his sleepy self from the bed to the couch. He likes to be in the same room as me.
Tucker takes me completely for granted. He is over the moon excited when people drop over, or he meets his “friends” on the street. If Ray meets up with us on our dog walks, he literally does back flips in his excitement. Last summer in Pinawa he became an escape artist, burrowing under the fence and moving large boulders so he could go visit his friends. No word of a lie, we once found him all the way down the street, sleeping in the neighbours bed. I am just “the rent”.
When Ray wakes up, he will be greeted with great excitement. Tucker will demand the morning rub down and the beloved treat ball that only Ray can prepare. I am just mashed potatoes.
But Tucker always knows where I am. His sharp black eyes watch every move I make. His heart is tranquil when I am around. I alone walk him off leash in all the dog parks, and I let him wander far away from me. He always knows where I am, and tears down the trail to catch me if I get too far away. If a scary dog gets too close to me, Tucker gives him a good little growl. Tucker takes me for granted because we are a couple, we are joined in a love I’ve honestly never known. I make him wear his rain jacket, give him his baths and take him to the groomer. He quietly follows me through the house, making sure we’re always in the same room.
On Monday I will kiss Tucker good bye and leave him with the dog sitter for 5 entire weeks. My heart is breaking, but Tucker doesn’t know what’s coming. We are stealth packing in the closet so he doesn’t notice. Tucker LOVES his dog sitter, loves her to death. She’s one of the women he does back flips for. She will take excellent care of him, and he will no doubt bestow an adequate amount of Tucker love on her in return.
I don’t know which one of us will suffer more, probably me. Tucker is likely more resilient than I give him credit for, but he’s manipulative enough to hide that from me. Oh, the heartache!
The guilt that pets are capable of inflicting! Don’t worry mom!! i have already got plans of keeping you posted!!
I agree with Lorna! However it is terrible to leave my fur babies. Our kitty becomes the filling for a Bruce and Nancy sandwich every night until we finally get up, purring almost the whole time. She is wearing out her purr as she will be 17 this year. The boys would sleep with us if we let them. Now that I am back home full time Nicky herds us both until we are together sitting watching a Netflix show until then he is constantly following me around and whining until I go downstairs. They have been raised to know that the van is their second home and there is always something good when they go to the city or wherever, that is usually an exciting walk in a different location. We live for our fur babies and they sure live for us. It is so difficult leaving them…. :(.
Lorna will take great care of your fur babies while you’re gone, but I can understand how heartsick it makes you feel to leave them, especially your adorable Tucker. I love your story about Tucker – tugs at the heart! Have a wonderful trip!!