The highlight of the weekend has been the two hikes that Murphey and Potatoe and I ventured out on. Both hikes had the same starting point. There is a nature reserve just down the road from us. Yesterday, we went into the woods. I like this hike the best because it is completely shaded. The woods are not dense or vast, but trails run throughout, giving one options on what direction to go. For most of the hike, one can still hear the traffic on the nearby roads and/or see houses.
Today, we went on one of the new paved trails that the county recently built along the floodways. I enjoyed this too, and it was way less dusty than the wooded trail. I just didn’t like being in the full sun, and I felt that the paved trail made the hike seem less adventurous.
Both of the doggies loved both hikes. Murphey leads the way, and Potatoe brings up the tail. They seem to know when I open the back of my Subaru and motion them to jump in that a hike is in their future. They go ballistic in anticipation of the adventure.
Potatoe and I are now both tired. I feel like soaking in the tub, and then heading to bed early. Murphey is ready to go on another hike. Ode to the life of a puppy.
It was not even a month ago that I felt uncertain that Murphey was going to work out in our home. He kept chasing the cats around the backyard, terrorizing them, and I am having a difficult time finding someone to care for the animals when I am traveling for work. Murphey is a high maintenance creature, so housesitting for me went from being a sweet gig, to a not so desirable job.
Now, I cannot imagine our home without him. He still chases the cats, but he also snuggles up with them when it is time to go to sleep. The cats all three have figured out that if they do no run then Murphey just stands there and barks at them, trying to get them to run. He does not want to hurt them; he just wants to play.
To my absolute surprise, Potatoe and Murphey have become buds. I tell people that they are not buds, they are spuds. Murphey’s birthday is St. Patrick’s Day. Murphey is an Irish nickname for “potato”. So, they are both potatoes, thus spuds!
Murphey is learning there is more to life than food. Oh, he still loves to eat, but now he cuddles. He puts his head on my lap for a scratch. He snuggles up next to Winter at night. He joins Potatoe for afternoon snuggles on the couch. He is learning to be loved, and he is falling in love with his fellow humans and furs. Murphey’s first year of life did not give him all of this. It is almost as if I can see his heart growing with every passing day. He is realizing there is more to life than his own self, and there is more to life that food.
I do not think his first home was a bad home. Quite the contrary, I absolutely believe they are good people. Murphey likes animals more than he does people. He needed fur siblings.
Early this morning, we heard the laundry room door open. It is a pocket door that squeaks. I intentionally do not fix the door because it alerts the dogs when someone opens it. I am pretty sure that Chewey opened the door. He is the only animal that is able to open the sliding doors in the house. At the time, we thought there was an intruder. I was startled at the noise, and Murphey growled ferociously.
I knew not to turn the bedroom light on. In the event of an intruder in one’s own home, one should not turn the lights on because one has an advantage in the dark in their own home, because they know their surroundings. I did shine the light of my phone down on Murphey. Murphey and Winter sleep on a dog bed on the floor next to the bed. I saw scared little Winter crouching behind him, and Murphey standing in front in protection of her. Potatoe then jumped up on the bed, and he also began to growl. Murphey in turn moved his position to be in front of both of them.
The noise of the door stopped. I knew that Murphey either scared away the intruder, or that Chewey had moved the door. When I got up to investigate, Murphey led the way down the dark hallway. Murphey looks like a big goofy Muppet, but in that dark, an intruder is none the wiser. Murphey’s growl is all Labrador, no poodle.
We double checked all of the doors, and we headed back to bed. Potatoe and Winter curled up with their big Murph to get another hour of sleep. I lay awake watching the three of then snuggle in one another’s comfort.
Back to our hikes this weekend, we get to explore more and go more places with the protection of Murphey. It is nice to have a big muscular dog out on the trails. He loves to lead the way. Potatoe and I are happy to follow. Potatoe’s little legs have to work a lot harder to keep up, but Potatoe will undoubtedly live longer with all of the healthy exercise he gets while keeping up with his much bigger, little brother. The exercise is great for my health as well.
Welcome home Murphey!