A Boy and his Dog...

December 5, 2010

As you may know, I love dogs!  And I had two miniature dachshunds, Raleigh and Rivers, who had been staying with my Daddy since I went into labor.  Along Jack's path through the many hospitals and doctors, we were told that he shouldn't be around people, crowds, or animals.  This is due in part to his prematurity and the resultant lung immaturity.  The airways in his lungs (and most preemies) will be about half the size of a child his age who was carried to term until his 2nd or 3rd year of life.  That means that if he gets a respiratory infection, or has an allergic reaction, his breathing may not just be difficult, it could very quickly be impossible.  So at Daddy's house they stayed.  And I had begun looking for new homes for the boys, with a heavy heart, to be sure. 

But then!  But then!!!! At a visit with his cardiologist, I asked if we could try to introduce a dog into the home.  After some discussion where I pointed out Jack's amazing proclivity to thrive, against the predictions of numerous doctors, and his overall "pink-ness" and health, she agreed that it would probably be okay!

I was nervous about the added responsibility, so we have only brought Raleigh home.  He's the older of the two.  He's much quieter and needs very little exercise.  Rivers, on the other hand, is a Jack Russell Terrier in a dachshund body.  He barks at everything, and since I prefer to sleep the 17 minutes a day that Jack lets me, we thought it best to leave Rivers with Daddy for  a while longer.  Good idea, too.  When we introduced the dogs to Daddy's house, Raleigh sniffed him, then walked off bored, but Rivers hopped in Jack's bassinet and began kissing him all over the face and head!  Sweet, sure, but maybe a little too loving for this special baby!

So now, Raleigh is a part of our home again.  When he first moved back in, he was skeptical of the hairless dog who screamed a lot, and got to sleep at the top of the bed with Mommy.  He stayed away, and when I placed him near Jack, he scooted just out of reach of Jack's grasping hands.  Once Jack cried or screamed, Raleigh was gone to parts unseen to try to recover his previously quiet life.  But slowly, gradually, they have become buddies.   Once, a friend from tae kwon do came over to help me catch up on some things I had missed.  When he came in the house, Raleigh got between him and Jack, and growled at him.  Normally, Raleigh would have growled, then retreated to safer environs, but he resisted his instinct to stay near Jack.  I was so touched!

During Jack's crying jags that seem to be caused by nothing in particular, the only thing that will calm him is when I carry him to Raleigh, and say "look at your puppy!"  Jack immediately quiets, and stares at his puppy.  When he gets close enough to grab, Jack will paw at Raleigh, and sometimes clench his soft ears in his tiny fists.  I'm sure it bothers Raleigh, but he patiently waits until I free his ear from Jack's hand, and then just lays back down next to his boy. 

One of the sweetest things I've seen is at bedtime.  I place Jack on the pallet in the middle of my bed, then reach down to pick up Raleigh, gently placing him at the foot of the bed.  He sits, only for a moment, and then slowly walks towards Jack.  The first time this happened, I thought, "Oh no!  He's going for him while he's asleep!  He's going to bite him!"  But you know what he did?  He sniffed Jack's head, then curled up at his feet.  I nearly cried.  This tired, ornery old resuce dog, who has been abused, and growls at nearly every person who comes near him (out of fear, I'm sure) loves his boy. 

And so it is every single night.  I place the "new puppy," who has usurped Raleigh's position as bedtime cuddle puppy, in the place of honor on the bed.  Then I put Raleigh in the bed, and while understanding perhaps that he now occupies a lower status in the pack, we are a pack, none-the-less.  And this new hairless puppy, that Mommy loves, is his brother.  And so he loves him, too.

Love,
Maggie and Jack

First Few Weeks:  Raleigh was nearby, but safely out of "grabbing range" of Jack's little fists.

Soon enough Raleigh was close enough for a nice photo.

And now...  The boys are fighting for Mommy's lap space.  Notice that Jack has his arm around Raleigh.  Could you just melt!?!?  Of course, right after the picture, Jack was strangling Raleigh, but I just "released the hound" and all was well!

How's my boy, Mama?  Raleigh always accompanies us to the diaper changing table.  Just to make sure Jack is okay.

Hey!  Are you done yet?  See Raleigh's eyes shining in the lower right of the photo?

Jack was crying, and so I put Raleigh next to him on the bed.  See next photo...

Jack has calmed down and is peacefully checking his puppy out.