Nelson is ten years old today! TEN! It is hard to believe that he has been around for an entire decade, although come to think of it, it is also hard to imagine that was actually a time when he wasn’t around at all. He is truly a family member in every sense of the word.
From the time I can remember, I had always wanted an Old English Sheepdog. Growing up my family had a menagerie of different breeds: German Shepherds, a Field Spaniel, a Dachshund, I loved every single one of them but had always dreamed of owning a big fluffy bobtail. I begged my parents endlessly but it was the fluffy part that remained a total turn off for my prim and proper mom, and by prim and proper I mean floors you could eat off of and any given moment, furniture that you could spot test with white gloves only to not find a speck of dust. A overly hairy dog did not fit into this picture of domesticity. She used to tell me that ” when you run your own household you can own any dog you wish” and that is just what I did.
When David and I first moved in together on or own we knew that eventually we would be dog owners. Both of us had grown up with dogs and David had owned two West Highland White Terriers – Checkmate (one of the sweetest dogs I have ever known!!!) and Chestnut – with his former wife. Since we rented for the first few years of our lives together bringing a dog into the mix was initially out of the question but as luck would have it we never needed to discuss the breed we would eventually own as David had always wanted an Old English Sheepdog as well.
The renting years gave me plenty of time and opportunity to do my research of the breed. We had both agreed that we wanted a puppy from a reputable breeder and when we bought our first house in Santa Barbara I contacted the OES breeder referral. After a week of waiting she wrote me back with a list of various breeders in Southern California, one in Northern California and one in Colorado. I spent most of the months of July and August communicating with every single breeder in Southern California but after two months of phone calls and emails I was left empty handed. No breeder had puppies and no one was planning on a new litter for at least six months. In edition all breeders had mile long waiting lists of potential owners. Rather dismayed I added my name to their lists and called it a day. We had waited for so long to own a dog and were certainly willing to wait longer for a puppy from a good breeder but it was still a bit frustrating and upsetting.
And then! One day in late September, as I was sitting in my office I thought why not contact the breeder in Northern California? It’s not that far away after all. That’s when I emailed (disclaimer: shade your eyes if you dare to click on the link. The site is bright! Pink is her theme, what can I say) Pam. The experience of the previous two months had taught me not to expect too much and I certainly did not expect to get an email back from her within the first hour after I had contacted her with my story and expressing our desire to bring an Old English Sheepdog puppy into our home. But there it was: Pam’s email in my inbox telling me that she had a litter of three brothers, one of which was going to a show home, one was promised to another home, and one that was supposed to go to one of her friends who had to opt out due to an illness in her family. Edison, the show home puppy had been picked for certain but we could have a choice between the other two. The rest of that afternoon was history and I must admit that not a lot of productive work was done by the end of that Thursday. That evening David talked to Pam and arranged to have us go up to Santa Rosa the following Saturday and check out the puppies. And that’s just what we did. And on the drive up there we kept telling each other that there was no pressure to pick the first dog we’d see… Yeah, rrright! Have you ever seen Old English Sheepdog puppies?
Pam greeted us outside as we drove up to her house and led us into the backyard. And that’s when we saw Nelson for the first time:
I dare you not to fall in love with this face!!!
We picked him over his other available brother because of his all white face, which I wanted, and we spent the rest of the afternoon in Pam’s backyard romping around with three balls of furry goodness.
When we signed the contract (it is certainly harder to become dog owners than it is to become parents. In fact ANY one can become a parent but try getting a dog from a good breeder!) Pam showed me her list of referrals and I realized then and there just how lucky we were. Something in the tone of my first email to her made her stop and decide to email me back before contacting any of the other people who wanted one of her pups.
It was hard for us to peel ourselves away from this delight but since he did not have all of his shots we could not take him home that day, something we knew before we made the seven hour trip. We had wanted to see these puppies so badly we did not care. Adrenaline pumping through our veins we made the seven hour drive back and the next day I went to work with an extra swing in my step.
And we did not have to wait too much longer. David had already had a business trip to San Francisco lined up for that same week and on his way back he picked Nelson up and brought him home, all 17 pounds of him. (Yep, 17 pounds at the tender age of nine weeks. And it only took two more weeks before I could no longer carry him around). The rest is history. A history that started with our new puppy crying all. night. long. for three solid weeks… At one point, the original bliss wearing thin, David threatened to take him back to where he had come from but in the end we kept him and although he never liked his crate he did eventually sleep through the night and made us happy owners.
Almost ten years have gone by since he moved in, ten years during which he has given us nothing but joy and happiness, even though he certainly had his moments just like any other creature. Like the time he ate an entire photo album. Or when he emptied his bladder on our duvet… Then there was the morning after he had eaten half of a foot mat… All of these “incidents” happened within the first year of his life and nothing has been destroyed since.
I worked at UCSB when we first got him and was allowed to bring him into the office. He literally grew up in my cubicle and to this day likes to hang out right at my desk. He LOVES car rides like no other dog I know and is the only dog I know who likes getting his teeth brushed twice a day (don’t judge me! I cannot stand dog breath! So unnecessary!). From the time he was a year old to the time we moved to Palm Springs he was my loyal running buddy. Then he became a swimmer and takes this exercise serious to this day. He definitely savors his naps but come 12:30 he will be running to the kitchen for his daily banana and peanut butter (Hmmm…. I wonder where he got that one from?). And at night, he can be in the deepest sleep, come 7:55 you can be sure he is up waiting for his dinner. he has yet to meet someone he does not like and like his owners he likes to stay up late and sleep in. Everyone who comes to the house will be greeted with exuberant butt wiggling and excitement he can barely contain. Then he will show you where his cookies are stored. Nelson certainly does not lack social skills and insists on meeting every dog in the neighborhood nose to butt nose. When he was very young I took him to the dog park every afternoon after work and let him run with all of his buddies. He made many friends and got along with everyone. Then he matured and like clock work his herding instinct set in but since no sheep were available he tried to herd his friends who were less impressed. In the end many showed aggression towards him and I stopped going to the park and started walking on the off leash beach instead which for some mysterious reason worked much better.
Nelson never lost the puppy in him, even to this day and looking at him it is hard to believe he is actually ten already. Since he has white fur around his muzzle he has not turned gray and people often ask me if he is still a puppy. He more often acts like one than not but I know it is deceiving. He is a large breed and I realize that the best years are behind us. If he continues to be as healthy as he has been we will have a few more years with him at best, years we will cherish and when the time comes to say good bye we will make it as easy on him as possible even if it will break our hearts. He does not deserve any less!
Today’s Running Tip: Running with your puppy!
Before you start running with your puppy be sure to check with his Vet first. Most Vets recommend you wait until your puppy is one year old and his joints have formed and closed correctly before you run him on a regular basis!
