Home at last - that is what Zipper Von Zalez thinks after Mr. VZ hauls her out of the house for one of his hyperactive hunting excursions. These events are full-day walking, hunting, shooting and retrieving marathons. She will flop to the floor, accompanied with a huge groan, after her return.
We get the same reaction after we take Zipper out on the boat with us for ocean fishing. Poor thing, I don't think she will ever adjust to the motion of the boat. "She's a sea dog!" Mr. VZ will holler. "She'll get used to it." I have my doubts ... on the last foray of the season, that involved some choppy seas, the first thing she did when she hit the dock and blessed land, was she ralphed on the marina's plank walkway.
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A little back story on the Zipper Von Zalez - Mr. VZ traveled from California to Montana to buy a hunting dog from a breeder. Zipper, along with the other dogs for sale, were chained to individual posts, spaced far enough apart so the dogs couldn't reach other. All of the other dogs had fouled the area they were chained in, except for one dog - Zipper. She had eliminated in one spot, as far as her chain could reach, and the rest of her area was bare dirt. Mr. VZ knew that was the dog for him.
When Zipper arrived home, she was not socialized. She had never been inside of a house, and it was our intent to have her as an inside dog. She cowered in the corner and did not know what to think of us.
Now, many years later, Zipper rules the roost, she is home at last (and that, my friends, is my promised "dog" post). This cartoon pretty much sums up my dog's existence ~
Zipper sounds like a great dog. That cartoon was awesome. Dog-gone you did well today!
ReplyDeleteZipper is "sensitive". He sounds a little like Harry. Harry is a big Lab mix and doesn't like to travel. He does it, but only by standing up in the cargo area the whole time whimpering. Driving home from New Mexico, (about 14 hours straight through), Harry would fall asleep standing and then fall over like a felled tree only to jump back up on all fours. Another thing, Harry doesn't like to poop away from home.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Zipper found a good home with good people to care for her. But I doubt she will ever be a "sea dog".
Aww, Zipper sounds awesome. I'm so glad she's home at last. :)
ReplyDeleteZipper sounds like a great dog. I'm glad she has a good family and a forever home.
ReplyDeleteI love a good pooch!
ReplyDeleteAwesome deal. Home at last, indeed!
ReplyDeleteAs kids, when we finally got a dog it was because my mom happened past the mall pet store and noticed the one lone dog out of about 50 who was not yapping and barking like crazy. She went into the store and up to the kennel with the quiet puppy. He immediately sat down and put up one paw, waving hello. She was hooked. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am actually pretty choked up reading this. WOW. The dogs. Moon, whom we recently adopted, came from a farm... found with his leg so broken they had to do major surgery on him and take part of the bone off. I can't imagine what his life was like before he was found. So my heart breaks for all those dogs who were chained. Your puppy hit the lottery that day!
ReplyDeleteWe do say that - she hit it big in the dog lottery ...
DeleteYour method of choosing Zipper fascinates me, in that it's so very clever and observant of you. I'm impressed with anybody who actually understands animals, rather than just housing them.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of whenever I walk my friend's dog. It's just like that: standing around in sub zero temperatures waiting for the pooch to pee, which sometimes doesn't happen at all.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the cartoon! That's my dog all over! Gotta love them!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much a pet can enrich your life. By reading your post, I can tell that you and your husband really improved the quality of life for your dog. This whole post somehow made me feel really happy. Thanks, Tami.
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