The Family Dog

There are different kinds of friends. As we travel through life we may identify a class mate or work mate as "friend," but in truth most of these individuals are mere acquaintances, and will come and go in our lives as a matter of convenience. True friends will be there for you always. And while it may be cliche, there is no truer friend in life than a dog. It is no accident that many people consider their dog as part of their family. Just like every other member, dogs contribute to the happiness and well being of the home, making the burdens of caring for them well worth the effort. Dogs deserve to be loved and respected every bit as much as they love and respect us. After all, what are friends for?

The Final Chapter      I can still remember the day I brought her home. It would turn out to be one of the most significant things I would ever do. For 15+ years, she was loyal, obedient, and my constant companion. She was the most valuable thing I have ever owned, and likely ever will. She was my friend.      Life is lived like a novel, where it's pages turn day by day. Regrettably you eventually reach the final page, and when the final words are read, the book will be closed. On a cool October morning it came time to end the final chapter on a masterpiece called Shani. Her life's story, penned upon my heart, was one of the most beautiful tales ever written. Words on a page could never express what she brought into my life. Thank you Joanne for picking out this dog for me. She was the runt of the litter, but you could not have given me a greater gift. She was indeed a gentle and happy creature. I will miss her.      The following is a poem that I wrote for WOTR over ten years ago. Some of the long time members may remember it, and I would like to submit it once more in tribute to my Shani. I hope you enjoy it.      Ode To A Wheaten    Teach me    For to this world I am new    And I must be shown just what to do    But if you guide me along the way    I'll make you proud throughout my days.    Play with me    For I am just a pup    I can run real fast    But you can still catch up    I want to run and jump and roll in the grass    Too bad my time to be small goes by so fast    Walk with me    For I am still young    And our strolls and our play time are still lots of fun    But mainly just to spend time with you    Is really what I like most to do    Sit with me    For I am past my prime    And I need to rest most all the time    But when I wake and see you there    I feel happy and loved and know that you care    Love me    For my time is near    And it is almost time to shed some tears    All these years I tried my best    And now it is time for me to rest    Remember me    For now I am gone    But do not forget our special bond    Think fondly of me and remember my name    And through the grace of God we will meet again.   Ron Mestdagh   Good bye my Shani. Words cannot express what you meant to me, and what you have brought into my life. My heart is broken, and you will be missed, always remembered, and always loved. Until we meet again, wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge.

Dear God,       I'm sorry this letter is so late. It's been difficult putting my feelings into words but I know you'll understand. Please remember these few things when taking care of my Angel. She likes to run up and down stairs and will wait for you to get to the top. She'll stay by your side as you go down the stairs to make sure you don't fall. She likes to "talk" to you too so I hope you don't mind that.       Her favorite spot is on the couch, so if you're sitting on it, she'll put her head on your lap. If there is a small child walking with a cracker, she will keep the child from overeating. Please give her a child to follow. If you go swimming, she will try to follow you, please don't let her roll in the sand after...it's not a pretty sight.       Remember not to leave cookies in your pockets as she will be sure to find it even if she has to chew through the pocket to get them. She will "wave" at you until you give her one. Please give her two. Be careful when you spell out words like "C-A-R-R-I-D-E" and "B-I-S-C-U-I-T," even "O-U-T-S-I-D-E". She knows how to spell, you had better be ready to follow through. I hope there is a playground for her. She loves going through tunnels, going over high jumps and funny looking tires and oh yes....the teeter totter too!       She was a SUPER mom and I know she will look out for the puppies up there and play with them. I hope there are special people like the Vouriot-Petit family who will spend time with her. They loved her almost as much as I did and took such good care of her when I had to go away. She'll watch the door for hours waiting for you to come back. While watching TV, if you get a chip, she gets a chip. Don't forget to share your toast in the mornings with her.       God, I was devastated when Angel was diagnosed with the same kind of tumor her mother died from. But I guess you realized how much she meant to me and you decided to give me 8 more months of her love and companionship . More time than anyone expected. And you let her keep her dignity, spirit and love of life until the very day when you decided it was time for her to join you. I lost a piece of my heart that day for we shared a special bond. I know I will see her again when I cross the Rainbow Bridge. She'll be barking at me to hurry up so she can show me everything. And there I'll see her mother Breezie again and all the special dogs who shared their lives with me throughout the years, like Ginger, Wendy, Bear, Daisy, Sheena, Tristan, Lizzie, Sean and Joker. Angel still lives on when I look into the eyes of her children.       That's all for now God. Tell her I love her, that I miss my little shadow and I hope she likes the food up there. Rest easy my beautiful girl. Forever loved and missed by Laurie G.

We knew for a long time that we would some day share a home with a dog and the right one came along at just the right time. When Whiskey the Wheaten moved in with us in January of 2000, that little ball of fur changed our lives. “We” went from being a couple to a family. This is not to say that Whiskey was treated like a child; she was the canine companion that we’d been looking for to join us on walks, to cuddle up with in the evening and to bring that liveliness to the home that one expects from a puppy. That said, there was no arguing that Whiskey was a true bundle of joy.       A typical Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, she was exuburant, affectionate and adaptable. We took her wherever we could, from family gatherings around the city to road trips as far as Muskoka. Her fun-loving attitude was contagious and she seemed to always make people smile. Whiskey’s charm was no doubt what got her from the box on the bedroom floor to a cozy spot on the bed. Like many of her breed, she was no watch dog but we could count on her to let us know when a familiar car had pulled up in front of the house. She also barked when she heard the door — the front door, the closet door, the cabinet door, it didn’t really matter. We knew that her heart was in the right place, even if her sense of direction was a little off.       Whiskey’s gentle nature had been evident from the beginning, despite the sometimes over enthusiastic kissing that took place when kids were around. We were still surprised at how easily she adjusted to being around babies. When we returned home with little Rhiannon in 2003, we were cautious, as every parent should be, but it was immediately clear that Whiskey was going to love and protect this child the way she did us. In fact, she was so protective that it took some convincing before Daddy could burp the baby without a great comotion. In the first few months, the dog rarely left the baby’s side and made her presence known to anyone who held her. Whiskey would even alert us to her crying, as if we couldn’t hear it ourselves. When Rhiannon began to reach out to touch her, Whiskey was clearly surprised but ever-so-patient as we pried the little fingers out of her beard. It would be some time before she would realize some of the fringe benefits of having a kid around, such as free food dropping from the tray and an ever-increasing number of visiting children.       The fall of 2005 brought baby Olivia and Whiskey was in love all over again. She quickly fell back into the baby routine while at the same time competing with Rhiannon for the title of best troublemaker. The dog lost, paws down. Nevertheless, Whiskey did have a naughty side. We had learned early on to never leave cheese unattended in our house. A strong chewer, she still left most of our shoes alone but the little plastic ends on everyone’s shoelaces mysteriously disappeared. Never once did we see her take them, and simply got used to frayed laces.       Whiskey was diagnosed with cancer last spring and died in the fall of 2006. Just one of those things that we couldn’t have predicted and couldn’t fix. As sad as we were, we were grateful for our last summer with her. Her final days were like many others, including a jaunt around the neighbourhood, several ear-massaging sessions, an argument with the squirrel in our back yard and a bounce around her favorite off-leash park. For something new, she got her very own Happy Meal. She must have briefly wondered if we’d made a mistake there but didn’t stop to question it and polished off every last fry.       We can’t help but smile when we think of the Wheaten welcomes we received every day (even if we’d only been gone 5 minutes), the happy-dance that she often did after eating, the enthusiasm with which she approached the rabbits that we saw on walks (if she actually noticed them at all), the way she always had to be first up the stairs, the Pepé Le Pew style with which she bounded through snow, her insistence on “spooning” before going to sleep. Our children will likely forget about the fun that we had with Whiskey but we’re quite sure that she played an important role in teaching them to always find happiness in life’s experiences. She will be missed by many human and animal friends.     Kate and Paul

To Kate and Paul       I was deeply touched by the story about Whiskey, your lively wheaten who passed away from cancer in 2006 and our hearts went out to you both. I felt I had to reply.       Roughly about the time (your) Whiskey died, my husband and I decided to add a dog to our household. After much research, we opted for a female Wheaten terrier, mainly because of the breed's non-shedding coat and good temperament. While searching for the right puppy, we discussed names and settled on Bonnie. We located a breeder in Saskatchewan, who had a sizeable litter of 9-week old pups along with a 3-month old "leftover" from the last litter. She was very timid and everyone who came to pick a puppy passed her over because she usually cowered in a corner somewhere. As we are an older couple, she seemed like the perfect choice. The pup's move to our home in -35 weather last February was an extremely traumatizing experience for her and she stayed in her crate for two straight days, not eating and barely drinking. On day three, she decided we weren't really monsters and ventured out, timidly wagging her tail. On day 4, she was bouncing and spirited. Somehow, the name Bonnie did not suit her at all. Her spirited behaviour suggested Whiskey would be a more appropriate choice, so Whiskey it was.       Whiskey will be one on September 19 and we love her dearly, despite all her pranks. We can't imagine life without her now. We hope that knowing there is another Whiskey out there binging joy, happiness and Wheaten welcomes to its new family may provide you with a small measure of comfort following your loss. Thank you for your beautiful story.      Suzanne and Wayne

Keeley was our only “child” in Winnipeg for a few years before we moved to Calgary. Keeley is now 10 years old!! She is doing great. She is such a good dog. We can't believe how wonderful she is with Kiah!       Kiah frequently gives Keeley treats, and lots of love, so Keeley knows a good thing. Keeley sleeps on Kiah's bed, wants to be around Kiah all of the time, and puts up with being dressed up, and told what to do by a 3 1/2 year old!       I am so impressed with how patient she is with Kiah. Kiah's new trick is luring Keeley downstairs to the closet, and playing house with her in there. Keeley doesn't really like being confined, but puts up with it!       We bought a birthday cake for Keeley, (well, for us actually) and ate it tonight! We put 10 candles on it and sang Keeley "Happy Birthday". Keeley, she’s the best!

Lacey came to us at the age of 3 1/2, she was our introduction to the wonderful world of Wheatens and dog shows. At the time that Lacey came into our lives, she had just received her Canadian championship and was starting a new life with us as a retired showdog. Time moves quickly, and it is some what hard to believe that Lacey will be turning 15 years old in November. This is just a short story about life with our beautiful old girl!       Our first challenge came when we got Lacey home. Lacey had been used to women in her life and she did have a fear of men. Gord and Lacey attended Pet Therapy class at Heatherlea and the change in Lacey was amazing. She formed a strong bond with Gord in a very short time. All of our family and friends that had met Lacey prior to attending these classes couldn't believe it was the same dog, from that point on she loved every human that she came in contact with.       As Lacey has aged, we have noticed she has been slowing down, getting up after being asleep for a while is a bit harder, doesn't hear as well but the eyes are good and she can still bark up a storm! She definitely has a way of letting you know if she doesn't like something, or if you are late getting breakfast or dinner ready on time. We are sure that she came with a clock that only she can see and hear! Lacey lets us know that it is time to eat by hounding us about an hour before it is actually time to be feed. It is her way of making sure we don't forget as it is one of the highlights of her day, as as far as Lacey is concered, we probably can't tell the time so it is her job to remind us. She gets help from Tucker, Zoe, Chase and baby Jayda, just in case we can't figure out what is wanted! Food is one of the important things to her, and you better believe that if it isn't made to her liking she will immediatly come out of her crate and tell you!!! She will stand at the doorway in the kitchen and just look at you as if to say "What is your problem, you got it wrong again! Haven't I trained you better then that!" The water dish is another issue. Lacey has a little arthritis in her neck so the bowl has to be full to the top. Another thing that we have done is built a stand for her food dish so it is easier for her to get to her food.       Two years ago we put Lacey into her bed a normal healthy girl and woke up to find that she was unable to stand. It looked like she had had a stroke and lost control of her left side. With many tears we took her to the vet thinking we would be saying good bye. Well, it seemed that what Lacey was experiencing was called Geriatric Vestibular Disease also known as Old Dogs Disease. Onset of this disease is rapid. There is no indication that there is any thing wrong, your dog is sitting on the floor and then all of a sudden it can't stand, sit or anything! This disease affects the balance center in the brain or the inner ear, it is something like Vertigo in humans. If there is a one good thing about this, it does resolve itself between 72 hours to 3 weeks. Lacey does have some residual weakness on the affected side which has made her not as stable on her feet as she used to be, but she is still healthy, and of course just as demanding as she always was! She doesn't do the stairs anymore, so we built her a ramp. Now she has no problem getting on and off the deck to go outside. We need to be near by her when she does go up and down the ramp as there are still days that she thinks she can fly like the younger dogs!! Lacey is not as stable on her feet as she once was, so we have to watch that the other dogs don't accidently run into her because they will knock her down. The younger ones seem like they know this so they are much gentler around her.       Lacey has given us so much. We look at every day that she is still with us as a gift. We are very fortunate to have a Wheaten of her age. She isn't as active as she once was and spends a good deal of the day sleeping, but when she is awake she is just as demanding and loving as she always was. We know that the day will come when her eyes tell us it's time to say good bye, and we will have to let her pass over the Rainbow Bridge. It will be one of the hardest things we will ever have to do.       Living with an ageing dog is not always easy, we have to change things in our lives to accommodate our beloved pet. What we all have to remind ourselves of is how much they have given to us and never once complained. Pay attention to your Wheaten, watch for any changes from what is normal for them. You have to be aware, then take the appropriate action that is needed to keep them as comfortable as they can be as they age. Most importantly, give them lots of hugs every day!!       Linda and Gord

As I sit and write this, it is hard to believe that another year has passed. About this time last year I wrote about Lacey and what it is like to live with an aging pet. Well here it is August 12/07 and I am giving an update on how our old girl is doing. I am pleased that she is still with us. Lacey is now almost 16 years old, which if you know Wheatens, is truly an amazing milestone. Our Lacey is just as demanding today as she was at 5 years old! Lacey's eyes are bright, her mind is clear, she defiantly knows what she wants, when she wants it, and is relentless in letting us know. The weakness that has come since she had "Old Dogs" disease and the development of arthritis has increased. She does lose her footing a bit more often, especially on non carpeted surfaces, but she still gets back up and goes on to do what she wanted to do. Lacey is now taking a medicine called Metacam, this really has helped to control her discomfort from the arthritis, it really lets her keep moving without the pain. As I sit and write she has just come in for a visit to let me know that she wants some attention, and of course it is time for a treat!! There are some really good days, and also bad days. We have noticed that the weather does play a part in how good her day will be. The hot humid weather we have experienced this summer has not been kind to her, Lacey has never liked the hot days, she is the reason that we originally got air conditioning! We can see the muscles in her back end are getting weaker as the days go by, she sleeps more, but her enthusiasm for food has not decreased!! You really have to see those beautiful eyes shine when it is dinner time and off she goes to her crate with a hop and jump looking back at you because you are not moving fast enough to get the food there.       Back in August last year we didn't think that she would be with us now, we weren't sure if she would see her 15th birthday. I sit here today writing this, looking forward to tomorrow and the next day hoping that Lacey will still be here. Gord and I know that everyday we have left with her is a blessing and a gift. We love her dearly, and hope that she will be with us for sometime yet, but we also know that one day we will have to say good bye and send her on over the Rainbow Bridge. Today is a good day, she is happy and feeling pretty good, who knows what tomorrow will bring...       We all love our dogs just as much as a child, for people like Gord and myself our dogs are our kids. All 5 have been show dogs, but most importantly they are our pets, our family. We enjoy every minute we have with them, give them lots of love and attention but as they age some things will change. The one most important thing that we can tell you is to make sure to make the changes needed in an effort to keep your aging Wheaten as happy and healthy as possible, and just smile when that old dog is barking at you because you didn't get the food out fast enough or give them the right treat. Some of the things they do as they get older may be annoying, but it is those things that you will miss the most when they are no longer here, I know that we will. One thing we want you to do is make sure you give your dog lots of hugs everyday, because you just never know what tomorrow will bring.      Linda and Gord

Champion Elfinstone Voice of the Angel November 19, 1991 - January 10, 2008

It is with broken hearts that we tell you of the passing of our beautiful girl Lacey on January 10, 2008. Lacey was 16 years old when we helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge. We were honored that we were chosen to be her forever family, and she really was the greatest gift we could ever have had. She did everything in “Lacey time” which meant that when she was good and ready to accept something new into the house you would know exactly when it was because she would some how let you know that it was okay now. When she didn’t like something or someone you would also know because she would turn her back until that thing or person was gone. This was something that Lacey did right up to her last days, one of the younger dogs would come over to see her when she didn’t want that attention and she would just turn her back on them, if that didn’t work she would use her last resort and growl at them, and that would usually work.       Towards the end of her time with us Lacey did sleep more, but food was still as important to her then as it was when she was 4 years old. She still thought that we didn’t know how to tell time and made sure that we got her meals to her on time. She needed more help to get outside some days because her legs were stiffer after sleeping for any length of time, with her arthritis came more weakness in her back legs so she sometimes need a helping hand to get up, but once she was moving it was better. She had a clear mind and her big brown eyes spoke volumes. We still catch ourselves looking over to her favorite places to sleep to see if she wants to go out and realize that she isn’t there. One of the things that we also miss is her telling us its dinner time by her barking, or just coming over to nudge you with her black nose because it was time for you to give her all of your undivided attention. Most of all we will miss giving her hugs and kisses.       Eulogy:   Look not where I was for I am not there. My spirit is free I am everywhere. In the air that you breathe, in the sound that you hear. Don’t cry for me, because my spirit is near. I will watch for you from the other side. I’ll be the one running, new friends by my side. Smile at my memory. Remember in your heart. This isn’t the end, it’s a brand new start.            "The Greatest Gift" Dec.17/08           Linda and Gord

Toby is the third dog to join our family. Previously, we owned poodles and we did much soul searching before deciding to get another as Murphy, our large miniature poodle, had set a hard act to follow. We established a short list for an active, non-shedding dog; a standard Poodle, a Kerry Blue, or perhaps an Airedale. While reading a cottage decorating magazine, Heather saw a picture of this great looking dog with a most expressive face. After researching several books, she found out that she had been looking at a Soft Coated Wheaten terrier. In early 2002 we began to look into getting a Wheaten. As we all know Wheatens are not easy to find. We even considered going out of province as we were between Winnipeg litters and looking at a considerable wait. Dame fortune smiled on us when Cheryl Werner called to inform us that her Wheaten, Domino, was having a litter of 5 - not the expected 4. We eagerly awaited our puppy's arrival. The rest, is of course, history.      Toby joined our family on Sept 26, 2002 and has truly endeared himself. He enjoys daily walks and to date has covered more than 4000 miles, mostly on the TransCanada Trail, Assiniboine Forest, and his favorite place, the Vernon Nature Trails, a few miles southwest of Kenora Ontario. I admit, we have taken a number of photos of our Wheaten, but then he's simply a member of our family...

Occasionally we get to sit on this sofa in our cottage. This is one of Toby's many resting spots, until he hears a squirrel that is!

And when he's not on the sofa, he just might sulk. Who says dogs don't have personalities.

In the city Toby and I walk daily on the Trans Canada "Harte" trail that crosses south Charleswood. We also walk on the TCT west of the Perimeter or in the Assiniboine forest area. In the winter we favour the forest as we can get out of the wind. The Welsh Terrier in the photo is "Mikey" and they are fast friends whenever they meet on the Trans Canada Trail.

Friends have a part Black Lab/German Shepherd/Australian Sheepdog called Higgins. He is a great family dog, a tireless swimmer and has a lot more energy than Toby - hard to believe.

A favourite hiding spot for our numerous chipmunks. Like squirrels, chipmunks seem to take great delight in teasing dogs - going in one end of a drainpipe and out the other seems to be a favourite trick that dogs just never figure out. On the right, the chipmunk is in the bird feeder, about 3 feet beyond the dog's reach - I tip the feeder and the chipmunk jumps into the trees. We do this several times a day and it drives Toby crazy.

The hikers. We are fortunate to have a cottage near Lake of the Woods, a great area to spend the summer and enjoy the Canadian Shield.

This is what a black Ash tree looks like after a year old black bear has climbed it in a hurry. Toby saw the bear in the neighbour's yard and took up the chase with a lot of barking. I took Toby home right away and the bear hastily left. I took the picture later.

I just treed a Black Bear, go ahead, make my day...

Ok, Ok, just when are we going for that walk you promised?

Oct 20, 2006. Our favourite field, south on Municipal (in Charleswood) and just North of the CNR tracks. Always find other dogs to play with too.

Same field, November 28, day of the storm.

Toby at 5 on Municipal Road.

And from Spruce Lake (South of Keewatin and West of Lake of the Woods)

We have a cottage on Spruce Lake, just off the McKenzie Portage Road in Kenora, Ontario. Our neighbours, Michael and Jennifer, also have a Wheaten Terrier - theirs is called Bailey. He is only a couple of months older than Toby and while they are good friends they do scrap and make a lot of noise. Actually Toby makes most of the noise as Bailey is pretty quiet unless he hears an animal in the area! You can often see them together on the Vernon Trails.

Occasionally they do tire out and have to catch their wind befor a quick dip in the lake before they are ready for the next-go-around!

And speaking of the Vernon Trails, here Bailey and Toby demonstrate the art of sharing a stick - sure! But they do have a lot of fun on the trail especially chasing squirrels.

And of course all good dogs deserve the occasional treat.

Things We Can Learn From Dogs • When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. • NNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. • Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your fact to be pure ecstasy. • When it's in your best interest, practice obedience. • Let others know when they've invaded your territory. • Take naps. Stretch before rising. • Run, romp, and play daily. • Thrive on attention and let people touch you. • Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. • On warm days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. • When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. • No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout - run right back and make friends. • Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. • Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough. • Be loyal. • Never pretend to be something you're not. • If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. • When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.                         Anon.