Tanner, the Makulit...Love of a Dog

That's my boy...Tanner. Another day at work, after waking up at 5:00 AM for the opening shift, getting through the day without too much trouble, and looking forward to some rest after a long day. NOT!

Oh, it's nice that Tanner meets me when I come in the back door, and he sits up to give me a great big hug. In fact, it's one really important part of my day that I look forward to. Moments of pure, unconditional love. Then of course, it's time to go out, because my boy has been waiting for hours for this moment too, and what relief it is for him. We usually take a little walk, and play a little in the yard, though not as much right now as it's winter, and it's a little too cold for me to stay out for any real length of time. But we are still able to get our bonding time together.

Now for the next treat. You see, Tanner knows I work as a restaurant manager, and he also knows he gets his grilled chicken breasts for dinner when I come home. Little wonder that he hasn't touched his Purina all day, the bowl is still full. But, after he finishes his chicken breasts, that's the Purina time.

Now I get to sit down and relax on the couch for a little while, watch some TV, and simply rest. Oh, let's not forget the makulit....there has to be 120 pounds across my lap, turning to lick my face, and don't even try to stop scratching his head, oh no, that won't do. But can I get mad at him? No way! Just more unconditional love.

OK, let's play the banjo for a few minutes. He's always ready for that. So as I play, he sits in front of me and watches until I nod my head, then he begins to sing along. This happens usually several times during a song, and believe it or not, he knows most of my ending licks. As I start one, he comes up to me, and as I finish my last note, he lays his head on my lap so I can tell him what a wonderful singer he is. It doesn't do a lot for my concentration when I practice, but again, how can I get mad at him for joining in.

Let's fast forward to bedtime. Now I really get to relax. I just finished my shower, I'm tired, so I lay down in the bed, usually to read. But first things first. When it's time, he's already on the bed waiting for me. It's treat time! First the 2 butter cookies, then the rawhide stick, and lastly a couple of snausages. So now I can read. Oh no, not yet. Now we have to play. It's snuggle time, so after rolling around and again laying all 120 pounds across me while I scratch him some more, he has to do his cuddle. That's when he comes and lays across the pillow with one leg across me and the other behind my neck, to make me totally available for all the dog kisses he can muster. You have to understand, all these things are nightly rituals, and he must do them without fail or he just can't rest.

Well, after all this, I actually do get to read, he goes to the end of the bed, and we sleep until the alarm goes off again. Snooze button? Who needs it. My makulit is right there, standing beside the bed, looking me in the eyes, with his tail thumping against the dresser like a drum until I open my eyes and decide to get up. A couple of mornings I have told him to go and let daddy sleep some more, but that just brings out the squeaky toys next to my head. Have you ever been in that place between sleep and waking, and had a stuffed monkey 6 inches from your head going "squeak squeak squeak".... well, nothing to do but get up and start the day.

My makulit boy....there's nothing like unconditional love.

Tanner and Me

I was just sitting here thinking about all I have to be thankful for, and it came to mind that there is really quite a lot. I have a decent job that I've been at for quite a few years, which even though it sometimes gets pretty stressful, still allows me to have the things I need in life.

Then there's Katherine and the family, which I can't say enough how complete it makes my life. As in everything, there are rough spots and hurdles to cross, but in time things always seem to work out for the best, and I'm truly thankful to have that.

Then of course there's Tanner. In my day to day life here at home, he's the constant presence in everything I do. I had to work the closing shift last night, so I had the whole day here with him and we watched a movie on cinemax that I thought I wouldn't watch after having heard about it, but I'm glad I did. Many of you have probably seen it, the title is "Marley and Me". So with nothing to do but wait until time to go to work, I sat on the couch, with all 120 pounds of Tanner laying across my lap and we began to watch the movie.

For me to say it's a really good movie would be an understatement. I think it was great, even though it brought tears to my eyes toward the end. But that's the reality of life. I kept thinking, it's a movie, they could just write a different ending, but then the reality would have been lost in a big way. Throughout the movie I laughed, watching Marley grow up, and in a lot of ways it was just like my makuilt boy Tanner. The things he did, the way he got into trouble, just like when Tanner ate my Levi's the other morning when I wouldn't get up early enough to suit him, and I watched for 3 days waiting for him to pass the button snap from the waistband; the way he cocked his head while watching me go through his poop, with his eyes wide in astonishment. I'm quite sure the neighbors got a thrill out of that also.

Before Tanner came to his forever home with me, I had a Siberian Huskey, Yukon. That too was just like the movie Marley and Me. I had Yukon for about 11 years and finally old age caught up, and the day came when I too had to sit in the vet's office while he was put to sleep. He couldn't even walk, so I had to carry him inside. But then I've mentioned that before too, so I won't go into details here again. Suffice it to say that it went along with Marley's script to a tee.

I guess the thing is, this is my way of giving tribute to the things that matter to me. I won't ever forget Yukon or the years we had together, and Tanner was truly a Godsend in the aftermath of that loss. If you're a dog person, or a true animal lover then you understand what I say and feel. Tanner is quite contrary at times, hardheaded when he wants to be, but he never meets a stranger, and I wouldn't trade my days with him for anything in the world. He is as my child.

Oh, and if you want to watch a great movie that will make you laugh and cry, try "Marley and Me".

The Gift of Love

As anyone who might chance to read this blog, you have no doubt seen my many references to Tanner, my Golden Retriever and best friend. In fact, it's no surprise that I named the blog after him. Calling it Tanner's World seemed appropriate since as in my very first post I observed that it is his world, he just lets me live in it. At least it sometimes seems that way. But in fact, I have a very soft spot in my heart for all animals. That's why it's on my mind quite often when I see ads for sheltered and homeless animals, that it makes me wonder if people really understand what they can do to not only help these defenseless animals, but give yourself a special gift in the process.

That gift would be the gift of love. Let's take dogs and cats. You see, dogs and cats are very social animals who crave human companionship. They open their hearts to you, and they give unconditional love and loyalty. I won't forget that before Tanner, I had a Siberian Husky named Yukon. I adopted him from the local shelter, and for almost 11 years he was a wonderful companion. When the aging process finally caught up and I had to have him put down, it was the hardest thing I can remember having to do. Ever. Coming home that day from the vets office, I have never felt so alone, the house quite so empty feeling, there was no doubt that someone special was missing. After a couple of days of this emptiness, I again called the local shelter and talked with the woman there for a while. After our conversation she told me there was someone at the shelter that I had to meet. So I drove there, and she led me to the back, to a fenced in grassy section to meet Tanner. He had been left at the shelter because his family had to relocate and couldn't, or wouldn't bring him along.

I didn't know at first how I would accept him really, with the recent loss of Yukon, but from the first moment I saw he was exceptionally friendly, playful, and craving that love and attention he so needed. It didn't take very long until I saw that we would get along fine, and after a brief process of paperwork, he got in the car to go to his forever home with me.

Well, after a few days of settling in and learning the new surroundings he really started to feel at home. I could tell he was used to being inside, because he was trained already in lots of things, but at around 2 years old he still had some playfulness in him. Actually more than 3 years later, he still does. But I could tell that he really and truly craved attention and love, and as the time went by, we got to know each other better, until now it's almost as if we have a special rapport with each other, down to our own little rituals. I can't imagine having a more loyal or loving companion than Tanner now. Of course he's not a great watch dog because he has never met a stranger, but that's ok too. He makes it up with his love and companionship. He's just 120 pounds of heart and soul.

Anyway, if you read here, then you're sure to notice the banners on my sidebar featuring several animal sites, such as the HSUS, ASPCA, WSPA and others. I ask you to please visit these sites to give your support for all the hard work they do. And if you are now, or sometime in the future thinking of adopting a pet, give your local animal shelter a try. You will be surprised at the gift of love you will find there.

More About My Boy... Tanner

Seldom in my years on this earth has anyone or anything been such a close part of my everyday life as my best friend, Tanner. As a companion, he's loyal to a fault. As just simple company, he makes my every day brighter. I'd have to say he was a Godsend to me, if only for the pure joy of being shown what unconditional love really is.

Now, I'm sure that there are pet lovers out there who might stop by and read this from time to time, and if that's the case then you already have an idea who Tanner is. How we got together was that I rescued him from a shelter as a young pup. For eleven years I had a Siberian Husky named Yukon, and over those years we developed a relationship of respect and dedication to each other. Again, if you're a pet lover then I don't have to explain this. Anyway, old age finally won out and I had to have Yukon put down, this was the day when you would have seen a grown man cry like a child. I came home to a house that suddenly seemed completely empty and quiet, and there was a presence missing that I couldn't have understood beforehand. So after a few days of this emptiness, I called a friend who works at the local animal shelter and was telling her my story, she immediately said "there's someone you have to come meet." The someone was, you guessed it, Tanner, my Golden Retriever.

She let us go out to an area to play and get acquainted with each other, and it was just great. It seems the owners had moved and not being able to take him along, left him at the shelter hoping I suppose that someone would find and take him in. Well, we did our business there, out to the jeep and he was ready to ride. That's the first time I realized how he loves to ride, so now it's just a regular thing, him and me going through the drive thru where the waitresses all know him by name.

He has his own personality, and I have to say I have never seen a more loving or devoted dog. He meets me every day when I come home from work, we have our regular routines each day, and at night he knows exactly what to expect with treats and such. There are actually times when I wonder if he realizes he is a dog at all. We watch TV together, when I'm on the computer, as now, he's laying at my feet under the desk, and believe it or not, he has really become a bluegrass lover. He will lay and listen when I'm playing around on the guitar or piano, but when I play the banjo he stands and watches, when I nod my head he sings, he has even learned most of my ending licks to songs so that when he hears that he knows it's time to come up and be praised for such a good job of singing. Or could it be that smile means he's just happy that it's over???

You can spend time with your pet, and you can learn his or her mannerisms, such as knowing when they're happy, their smiles, when they feel embarrassed or when they're sad. If you pay attention, you can see that they also know these actions when you are feeling a certain way also, and will react on it. As for myself, I feel lucky to share my time with this 120 pound ball of fur and love who gives unconditionally 24 hours a day, and wants more than anything to only get love and attention in return.

If you're a fellow pet lover, I would love to hear of your best friend and some of the things that make you realize this is something special in your own life.