by "SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
Published 02/11/2017 at 16:10
by "SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
Published 02/11/2017 at 16:10
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STARS: 39
Regular viewers of my podcast/videos know that two shetland sheepdogs (“shelties”) wandered through the background of my videos from time to time. Milo, the blue merle, passed away a little over a year ago at the age of 14 and a half. His cohort, Wolfy, passed away this week at the age of 15.
The two were not related in a family sense but I always referred to them as brothers. But as anyone knows who has had dogs, the relationship they have with you defies description. They were not my children but they certainly were a vital and important part of my life.
Shelties are herding dogs and many people misunderstand what that means. It is not an instinct to push you around - that is, they do not try to “herd” you from place to place. What they do is more subtle: They watch out for you. Milo, in particular, quite obviously kept track of who was where in the house. If one person was in one room and another was a room away, Milo would park himself in the middle so he could keep an eye on both.
One or the other would often lay against a closed door when a person was in that room, to be sure he was alerted when the door was opened and the person was exiting. I cannot tell you how many times I looked down in the bathroom to see sheltie fur sticking under the door as Milo or Wolfy waited for me to finish whatever I was up to in there.
Wolfy spent a little more of his time watching the perimeters. He often stationed himself near windows so he could observe happenings in the yard. People who walked by got him barking and heaven forbid someone knocked on the door. I suspect a few UPS drivers were convinced I had a herd of rabid dogs inside after hearing the commotion those two could make when they wanted to.
A little over a year ago, Milo’s arthitis started acting up and he began slowing down. One weekend he took a turn for the worse, stopped eating and drinking, and my vet said there was nothing we could do for him. Milo left on September 28, 2015. I can tell you to the minute what time it was.
Wolfy was a little over a year younger than Milo so it was to be expected he and I had more time together and we did. Wolfy’s hearing went and he became quieter as a result. It seemed quite odd when the UPS man would knock and Wolfy slept through it as I signed for a package. His eyesight began fading around the time he approached 15 but he could still see during the day. When we walked at night I brought a flashlight and illuminated the path directly in front of him.
Nighttime was difficult for him though, so I often slept on the couch so he could find me. Despite his advancing years and slipping senses, he would still come and check on me at night when he got up. When I was in bed he couldn’t always find me in the dark but on the couch he could.
A little over a week ago he became visibly more rickety. He was eating, albeit much less, and still drinking. Until Monday, the 6th. I knew it was time and I’m sure he did too. I took him to the vet and said Goodbye.
I’ll be honest. I am not a “dog person.” I doubt I’ll get another despite the many well-meaning friends who have suggested it. I had a decade and a half with two of the best friends I’ll ever have. When I look back on that stretch of my life I cannot even fathom it. When I met these two, I had not written my first book. And since that time, I have lived in four different homes. Wolfy lived in all four with me.
I know that for some people, hearing us talk about our pets must be like it is for others to hear a stranger talking about their children. It’s all relative. But from past mentions on this site and elsewhere, I know there are some who will understand. Thanks for listening. And forgive me for indulging in one last photograph. It’s one of the best I have ever taken, regardless of subject.
-Steve.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
02/11/2017 at 16:16, STARS: 4
Despite his advancing years and slipping senses, he would still come and check on me at night when he got up
:’( right in the feels . You treated those epic doggies very well Steve. Long life full of care in your hands.
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
02/11/2017 at 16:18, STARS: 5
not crying, not crying, not crying.
dam ninjas cutting onions.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/11/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0
Thanks for the note. I appreciate it.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/11/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0
Welcome to my world.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
02/11/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 5
That was a really beautiful tribute, and I’m sorry for your loss. Owning dogs can really difficult sometimes, because they become such a real part of your family, but have such relatively short lives. What’s important is that they lived as full and as happy of a life as they could have.
Dogs are amazing, because as much good as you get out of having them in your life, they get just as much out of having you in theirs, and they always make sure that you know that.
I’ll quote Lord Byron’s epitaph to his Newfoundland:
“When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth,
Unknown to Glory, but upheld by Birth,
The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who rests below.
When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonoured falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.
Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit!
By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye, who behold perchance this simple urn,
Pass on—it honours none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one—and here he lies.”
"My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat)
02/11/2017 at 16:26, STARS: 3
As a sheltie owner this speaks to me on a very personal level (the bathroom door fur, checking on me at night, barking at any moving object/person/thing that approaches the apartment). Nietzsche -my tri-color sheltie- was fundamental to me dealing with my depression, they are wonderful creatures and companions.
My deepest condolences Steve.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/11/2017 at 16:29, STARS: 0
Thanks. I remember when I first got them I read somewhere that they tend to bark a “lot.” I wondered what that meant. It wasn’t the volume or frequency of the barking. It was that they barked at some of the oddest things. Milo barked at the moon. He would actually do a double take and then bark at it. Wolfy barked at airplanes. They barked at the regular stuff too. It was just the eccentricity of the other things that caught their attention.
"My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat)
02/11/2017 at 16:35, STARS: 0
Nietzsche has a particular interest in motorcycles/bikes, he won’t bark at cars or large vehicles, but always at bikes. Also at cigar/incense smoke and sometimes at his own reflexion on mirrored buildings or large windows.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/11/2017 at 16:37, STARS: 0
Wolfy actually barked at certain vehicles with turbo chargers. I didn’t get it at first but he’d bark at some semis and buses but not all big vehicles. I assume it was a high pitched whine from a turbo charger - at a frequency I couldn’t hear?
"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
02/11/2017 at 16:45, STARS: 1
Back when I was married, we had a Sheltie in the family. He lived until the age of 13. It was arthritis and hip displasia(sp?) with him.
Shelties are probably the most emotionally intelligent dogs.
I found that they ‘herd’ in the sense of not just keeping an eye on you and things around, but they herd in the sense of “keeping things within norms”. So if you normally sit quietly in a chair, if you do something outside of that, they’ll bark at you until you go back to a “normal state of affairs”
They also get jealous.
When my ex was around, our sheltie would do a tough act to get my ex to give him attention instead of me.
But when it was just him and I hanging out, he was calm and placid.
Sorry to hear about the passing of your little buddies. I understand exactly the kind of relationship you probably had with them.
"Svend" (svend)
02/11/2017 at 16:50, STARS: 1
I’m really sorry for your loss fella.
They take on a meaning to us beyond pets but not human to be children.
They are as close as children could be to us but where children rely on us so much, dogs do also but give back equally. They make us better, want to be better, give us an added reason to get up, to live.
They may no longer be with you physically, but your memories of them will always be with you and I’m sure your life enriched because of them.
Keep your chin up fella grab a drink and toast to many happy memories.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/11/2017 at 16:51, STARS: 1
Thanks for the note. I appreciate it.
"My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat)
02/11/2017 at 16:52, STARS: 1
I think you are correct, most buses and semis are turbo-diesels. The turbo whine probably bothered them.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/11/2017 at 16:57, STARS: 1
There was also a rabbit that lived in the neighborhood a few years back that was his nemesis. He would hang out under a pine tree about 20 feet from the porch. In the evening, Wolfy would run out the door and race toward the tree, hoping to get a jump on the rabbit. The rabbit would see him coming and bolt. I had an invisible fence (which, BTW, worked so well neither dog had to wear the collars EVER) and the rabbit would make it to the street and Wolfy would skid to the edge of the grass.
Every day I’d see that happen at least once - for one whole summer. Neither of them ever tried anything different and I think they had made peace with the idea that it was just a little excitement for the day.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
02/11/2017 at 17:32, STARS: 2
Sorry for your loss Steve....non-pet people don’t understand the bond we can make with animals, and we can’t often describe, ourselves, why that bond is so strong.
Godspeed to your beautiful little friends, and my sincere condolences...
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
02/11/2017 at 17:36, STARS: 1
My condolences, Steve.
The first flowers just bloomed on Lola’s grave in my backyard. I had the same sort of reflections as you looking at the time I spent with her. When we first met I was newly married and still in college. When she passed I was a father of two with a house and real responsibilities. I’m like you where I love my dogs, but wouldn’t consider myself a dog person. Not sure if I’ll get another dog once Lola’s brother, Brutus, passes.
"My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat)
02/11/2017 at 17:41, STARS: 1
Nietzsche’s nemesis is one of the buildings security guards (they wander around the building to check if everything is ok). This guard would always walk under our balcony (which is glass and on the first floor) and wait for Nietzsche to notice him, they would bark at each other for a few minutes and then he would continue on this path.
The funny thing is that on a leash, when I take him for walks, Nietzsche is very friendly to this guy, and he is very wary of other unknown humans.
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
02/11/2017 at 18:06, STARS: 1
sorry for your loss :(
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/11/2017 at 19:04, STARS: 1
Sorry for your loss Steve. It’s always tough to lose a loyal friend.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/11/2017 at 19:05, STARS: 1
Wolfy looks just like my parents’ B&W sheltie Pixel :( We always had shelties around growing up and they were always more than just dogs - part of the family. My condolences.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/11/2017 at 19:58, STARS: 1
Thanks, I appreciate it.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
02/11/2017 at 22:59, STARS: 1
Sorry for your loss. Glad you got to have so many good years with them.
"jminer" (jminer)
02/11/2017 at 23:15, STARS: 1
Condolences, I too lost a good dog in the fall, he was a st bernard/great pyrenees mix. I feel your appreciation for herding dogs, I’ve had several and they’re very special and loyal dogs.
We’ve still got one dog, she’s a newfoudland/pyrenees mix, it’s been nearly long enough that we’re starting to contemplate getting a second one while our current one is still young enough to play with and train a pup (she just turned 7).
"jminer" (jminer)
02/11/2017 at 23:21, STARS: 1
One of my dogs hated bicycles, motorcycles didn’t bother him too much (I own a few of those) he would absolutely lose it when somebody would bike past the house. He was bad enough we stopped going to a park that was popular with bicyclists. That same dog was terrified of little girls, they tend to sequel when they meet a pair of 120 pound dogs and he would cower behind me every time we encountered one. He would warm up after a minute and appreciate and return the attention though.
"F1guy hates duck billed F1 cars" (F1guy)
02/12/2017 at 05:19, STARS: 1
Steve, my condolences. Dogs are our companions. This is Lucy, and I love her to death, and she’s around constantly. She keeps me warm at night, annoys me, even growls when I leave.
Dogs are an integral part of a family. I don’t care that she’s not “human” Lucy is as close to me as any human.
The loss you feel is real Steve, and I’m sorry for it. I don’t know if this helps, but they protected a good man and a good family.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/12/2017 at 08:01, STARS: 0
Thanks. I truly appreciate it.
"19JRC99" (19jrc99)
02/12/2017 at 11:04, STARS: 1
Aw, I’m sorry, Steve. At least they’re running and playing together in doggie heaven.
"You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much" (youcantellafinn)
02/13/2017 at 11:30, STARS: 2
Sorry to hear about Wolfy. Have a picture to cheer you up. I was in that particular area around New Years and saw this picture. I suspect you probably know the people involved in that and would appreciate it.
"carzcarzcarz" (carzcarzcarz)
02/13/2017 at 11:30, STARS: 1
So sorry to hear that your great dogs are no longer with you Steve. Thank you for sharing their lives with us. Halfway through reading your post it really pulled on the heartstrings and made me think of this great book about a dog, not sure if you’ve heard of it but I think you’d like it (I’m not the author or profit from it at all, just recently read the book and enjoyed it).
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Now I just want to leave work and go give my dogs a big hug.
"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
02/13/2017 at 11:45, STARS: 2
First, I’m so sorry for your loss.
Second, that was so beautifully written I started tearing up near the end.
One of my dogs, Rocco, passed away a couple weeks ago. He was 13. Now, me being 18, meant he was around for so much of life. And he wasn’t doing well, so we knew his time was coming. It just had to happen while my sister was in the hospital. At least he waited for my mom and I to get home to see him one last time. And he went peacefully on his blanket in his corner of my parents bedroom.
It’s so sad, but I know they’re in a better place now, where they can see and run and not worry anymore.
"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
02/13/2017 at 12:18, STARS: 1
Thanks for the note. I know that you understand.
I live in a REALLY small town and many people here knew Wolfy from seeing us out walking and also because he was welcome in the stores and the bank. It has been tough the last few days because I’ve had to tell quite a few people where he is now and it is clear that many more people (beyond me) miss him.
Thanks again. I appreciate it.
"sn4cktimes" (snacktimes)
02/13/2017 at 12:41, STARS: 1
Condolences. Pets are family. A tribe is what you make of it. Sorry your buddies are gone. I still miss every pet I’ve ever had.
"Shamoononon drives like a farmer" (shamoononon)
02/13/2017 at 14:44, STARS: 1
Very sorry for the loss. I have a 13 year old dog... and a 15 year old child. Both the child and I are holding our breath and soaking in his time, it will be a great loss when he goes.
"Lloyd B." (lloydbonafidesr19432)
12/10/2019 at 19:56, STARS: 0
Actually Steve you are a “dog person” because of the way you spoke of your buddies and how you cared for them. I’ve had (and lost) three labs and three golden retrievers over the past 35 years (all of them around age 10-12 ) and each time it was very sad for us for months, but we always seemed to “rescue” another shelter dog. We currently have a black lab named “Blue” who is about 7. And I’m thinking seriously about another golden retriever to keep Blue company. Hopefully, you will find it in your heart to adopt another pup from your local Humane Society or shelter, as you are obviously a great “dog dad”. Best of luck.