Monday, November 15, 2010

Shhhhh.... You'll wake the watch dog.

There used to be a time when Lagniappe was really on his game. Back then, I was alerted to any and all visitors by his loud warning barks which began about as soon as a vehicle on the road even slowed down near the end of the driveway. Lagniappe's senses and perception were uncanny, and in his prime he was nigh infallible. And his ferocious bark kept everyone with any sense well back from Lagniappe's deck.

But today... Sigh. Today, the big brown UPS truck slowed and stopped at the end of the driveway without a challenge. The UPS man even brought a big box up and set it on the steps, all while the once-vigilant watchdog napped undisturbed on his dog bed just the other side of the sliding glass door.

By luck I happened to catch a glimpse of the UPS man returning to his truck, at which time I woke Lagniappe and pointed him out. Lagniappe staggered to his feet and gave him a half-hearted barking at, but it honestly wasn't very impressive.

It sucks to get old, doesn't it, pal? But it's ok. I'll do the watching for a while. You just rest and enjoy the sunbeam. You've earned it, my friend.

8 comments:

  1. I agree, let him have the sunbeam, I know you have his back!

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  2. It's your turn to cover his six... Hang in there, and give him the best you can.

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  3. Oh man. I don't know if that brought tears to your eyes when you wrote it, but it sure brought one to my eye when I read it.

    *sniff, sniff*..
    I have to go hug my beagle now.

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  4. Gotta agree with MTBLaura..
    *deep, sad sigh*
    I remember when Squeak was in the same place.. And even tho' he makes me crazy, Nicky the Maltipoo will get an extra treat tonight..
    Hugs to you...

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  5. Here's an extra treat and hug for Lagniappe. We have the 4 year-old bounding black lab still in the prime, but,, then there's also the 15 1/2 year-old blind, hard-of-hearing shih tzu. I have to carry her outside a few times a day to sniff around and take care of business, and I have to wait out there with her because one oh my biggest fears if that she'll somehow wander under the house and then we'd all be screwed. She probably couldn't get under the house because she's had a few strokes and mainly walks in circles now, but I still worry. But, I don't mind doing that for, and with, her because she's brought so much joy and love into my life. I dread the day when there's no Rosie to tote to the front yard.

    Lagniappe has the best, most understanding buddy in the world! (And a pretty sweet bed, too!)

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  6. Anonymous5:38 PM

    Is time for him to rest.

    We had a Brittany (MINE!) and a Schnauzer (Wife and Kids) Both were the greatest.
    Losing them was hard....

    We now have a Jack Russell Terrorist.
    Sigh.......
    Lord he drives me nutz!!

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  7. Let sleeping dogs lie.

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  8. Anonymous7:20 PM

    Keep him covered

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