Two years to the day ….
If you have read our stories then you will know how the Marcus and Dad experience has evolved, grown and flourished.
(If you haven’t then you need to read them! – consider it an education)
If I look at how much my pooch has grown up and matured then I couldn’t be prouder and happier. He has achieved so much – the KC Gold award , bomb proof in many aspescts of the human world; from being a pooch that struggled being without me for a few minutes to one who now has the confidence to realise that I will always come back. His reactivity has improved – it doesn’t stop him having a good life. Our various training sessions and things we have done were useful and practical and were an instrumental part of building our bond and his skills. He makes me smile inside everyday. I’ve put the time and effort in to help him all I can (and I still do with things he struggles with) – isn’t that what you do though! One thing I haven’t (and will never do) is to train the pooch out of him.
As he grows up then some of his original challenges disappear and new ones show their ugly face – it’s not a problem as life evolves and I will always listen to what he’s telling me and help him through life. Every day is a school day – you just need to be open minded and listen to your pooch.
If my views and beliefs alienate me from parts of society or certain relationships then so be it. It was never ever going to be a case of me imposing my world or my lifestyle onto him. Maybe I’m wrong in that attitude but it’s my life.
Perfect he’s not; he’s a pure street pooch that now doesn’t worry for anything. I let him be a pooch first and foremost. I was in the fortunate position that I made my world and lifestyle change in order to accommodate him.
Our world and lifestyle work well for us both.
Our routines and “traditions” remain. I try most weeks to enlarge his world and show him new things or places. All in a safe and controlled way so as to avoid over stimulating him. We go to a training class once a week – sometimes it’s scent work, sometimes it’s a mix of agility / obedience and working trials.
I’m always aware of his emotional bucket and can read his levels well now. Sometimes he just needs to sit on the bed with me and snooze – life doesn’t have to be manic all the time. I “get” my pooch and he “gets” me – he knows where safe is and our bond can easily be seen. Safe is with me! His bond and our safe bubble is the reason that he didn’t go running off into goodness knows what trouble back in August.
I make no secret of the fact that he is the reason that I have got through my dark days. It’s amazing how much of a positive effect a pooch can have on your life. He is my best friend and my therapy pooch and I am his guardian, advocate and protector. Bringing a pooch into your life is a massive, huge responsibility that I would never change. We are (and always will be) a formidable team of two ! He has taught me to value and appreciate the simple honest things in life. In many ways I hate large chunks of this modern day living – we don’t care for bling and the hustle bustle. Simple and happy is key.
Some people restrict their pooches access to the house but he has always had total free access of my house – every morning he always jumps on my bed and snoozes for a while before I decide to get up. Our morning cuddles set me up for the day.
I sincerely hope no hooman ever asks me to choose between them and Marcus as I can guarantee they wouldn’t like my response. I never really appreciated how some people say how important their pets are. He is way way more than “just a dog” to me.
No matter where you are on your adoption lifecycle – these pooches are not bad pooches; they may be different from the “normal” domesticated pooches but that does not make them inferior. In many ways they are superior and are certainly the purer form of dog. Us pooch guardians need to stand up and be counted as their protector.
Love and accept the pooch you have in front of you. Plain and simple!
I wouldn’t wish for him to be different to what he is – he’s just the best💙
My promise to him that I made when he was handed to me will always be honoured – love him, look after him and never leave him. No matter what! There was also an implied promise that was never said – to never give him any reason to doubt the other three.
“TAARTUPLE” is the official word on the street with our precious rescues.
Keep well, keep safe and enjoy every moment with your pooch; they are worth all you can give and a whole lot more. They deserve the very best as a bare minimum.
“TAARTUPLE” wuuuuffffssss
Marcus and dad 