I checked my work phone messages yesterday. One of my patients had left a message. "I read your blog. Last week when it was so cold, I thought how nice it would be to have something big, fluffy and warm to be snuggled against. I just wanted to know you're not the only one who thinks of him and misses him."
Kuro pops into my head several times a day. Sometimes, I laugh aloud at the memories I have of him, other times I cry.
I'm glad that The White Dog is nothing like him. Gender, color, personality are all different. The Big Guy was calm, stalwart, seemingly stoic (although he'd cry like a baby when I had to trim his nails). Unflappable. Kuro was the type of dog that you'd want to wrap your arms around after a long, hard day. Doing so would mean all of your tension and anxiety would drain away until all that was left was calm. Think sigh of relief & relaxation.
The White Dog is a pistol. She's young, whip smart, energetic, effusive. After a bad day, any stress vanishes when you spend time with her simply because she's so entertaining and funny. She's the canine version of Tigger, and doesn't have a mean bone in her svelte white body.
Despite many, many warnings about how dangerous it is to have 2 same-sex Akitas in a household, my two seem to have found a solution. White Dog spends most of her time on 'her' front porch or in the fenced yard. Princess Girl is my house-bug. They're also atypical Akitas and I rule with an iron fist. ('Don't even THINK bad dog thoughts...')
The Princess is older and smart enough to concede to her younger, bouncier pack-mate. The fact that she's aging is troubling -- nearing 12, she's starting to slow down, have hip problems, be unwilling to climb stairs. She is the easiest, most thoughtful & trustworthy dog I'll ever have. She came this way. My only contribution was socialization with strangers.
Too, too bad that our 4-legged friends live such short lives. I wish all dogs had homes like mine.
