New Addition, Introducing Cleo Options

[Gort]

Greetings one and all, it's been sometime since I've posted. I've lurked the forums often but haven't posted. I've read most of the posts that the new members have made at some point. For the new members that might be interested, this was my original post:

http://lightning-strike.com/forum/index.ph...517&hl=the+pain

It's been a little over 7 months since Ava passed away and I thought I was ready for a new fur buddy. I had been surfing the rescue and humane society pages looking for a German Shepherd Dog but the ones I inquired about basically told me 'that things wouldn't work out' when they found I didn't have a fenced yard and used a cable run. I could have lied about it but I'm not that type.

This past weekend, I had a local gig. When I arrived to set up, my music partner was already there which in itself is a little unusual but that's an entirely different story. My partner had a dog in the back of his jeep which isn't unusual, he's more or less become a second SPCA here in town and quite oftens takes in dogs that people drop off with him for one reason or another. He is pretty good with animals and either finds them a home or just keeps them himself. This black dog had monsterous erect GSD type ears and I also noted she was female. I thought to myself, 'nice looking dog' and went into set up. When I went in, my partner says "so... did you check out YOUR dog?" My reaction was huh? I asked what her name was and he said that he didn't know so I guess it was up to me to come up with a name.

I have to admit that I was impressed with the dogs looks but it certainly caught me off guard. After setting up, we went out into the parking lot and let the dog loose for a couple minutes. She stayed close to us and didn't run for cover or away. Pretty good for about 6 months old. She would circle around never getting more than 20 mtrs away before coming back to us. He told me to take the dog for a test run and if things didn't work out, to bring her back to him. I agreed and then loaded her into the back of my truck (the box of my truck is covered with a canopy) and immidiately went to the grocery store to get some puppy food, milk bones and some rawhide bones.

It didn't take long to put the pulley and chain back onto the cable that I had taken down after Ava had passed away and introduce her to the inside of my house. She was pretty nervous but seemed to adapt pretty quickly... now to figure out a name for her. She has the body, head and tail of a GSD but her coat makes me think she is crossed with a black lab. I've never been one for 'ordinary' names even though I called her 'Blackie' when I first saw her in my partners jeep. Her radar dish sized ears reminded me of those Egyptian statues with the human body and a jackal's head (Anubis). I decided to call her Cleo (short for Cleopatra). Cleo seems very smart and has almost mastered sit on command already.

Now this is the part that has blown me away and I don't understand at all. On the first full day of having Cleo (last Sunday), I found myself crying... missing Ava. Since then I've cried hard everyday for Ava as if she had just left me. It's like it was only yesterday that Ava passed away. I have no idea why the tears have come back so hard especially seeing as it had become rare for me to cry over her. I don't think I'm comparing Ava to Cleo or visa versa. I know it's been 'forever' since having to deal with a pup and training. I know that I think about how well Ava knew what to do and when but that comes after 15 years of being together. My band partner called awhile ago to see how the dog was doing. I said the dog is fine but I don't know about me and started crying again. I'm crying as I write this. I just don't understand the rush of emotions that have come over me since getting Cleo. I guess I wasn't quite as ready as I thought I was for a new fur buddy. I hope I get over this soon.

Here's a picture of Cleo... tough to get a pup to hold still for a picture.

[Del]

Hi Gort,
First of all, Cleo is a beauty!! She does look like part shephard and part black lab....and that's a wonderful mix!! She should be a very intelligent dog!!

I'm new here...just lost my Sadie a week ago. I have another dog named Jake, who has been with me for 8 years. I got Jake at Christmas time 1996. I had told my vet that in October of that year that I was thinking about getting another dog. I was so attached to Sadie and just the thought of losing her brought me to tears. I thought if I got another dog, I would be able to divide some of that attachment and if something did happen to Sadie, I wouldn't be nearly as distraught. Well, it just so happened....I think this was meant to be....that some people dropped Jake off at the vet's office after he'd been hit by a car. They said he could do whatever he wanted with him because they didn't want him anymore. He had been their daughter's dog and she'd left for college without him....and he was quite rambunctious. Jake was a Dalmatian, just like Sadie and the vet thought of me immediately. I didn't want another Dal, but when I saw him, I couldn't stand the thought of leaving him there in that cold kennel over the holidays.

Jake has been much more attached to me than Sadie was. In fact, people say that Jake could not live without me. And I always said that Sadie could have lived with anyone, as long as they fed her, petted her and let her sleep with them. I think Jake has been so attached to me because he knows that I saved him.

The reason I'm telling you this story is because I think you'll find that Cleo is going to love you immensely. She was meant to be your dog. And even though you are missing Ava, Cleo will fill a void in your life and bring you just what you need. You'll get her into the swing of things in no time and I think you'll find that she'll be a wonderful companion....just as in friendships, different people fill a different set of needs, but they're all wonderful.

Take care and congratulations!!
Carol