One of the brightest days of my life started sometime in February 2005. I was able to pick up the sweetest, happiest, most scared dog I had ever seen from the airport. I had named him Joey. It was love at first sight. At least on my part. He was in his crate tilting his head, petrified. I tried taking him out but he didn't want to move. He was too nervous. We brought him home and we tried coaxing him out of the kennel with food, with calling him, with everything we could think of. Finally, after some trepidation we decided to have him meet our German Shepherd, Coral. When we picked her up 6 years before from the rescue league they told us she'd never be good with other dogs. So, we were not sure what to expect. We put her on a leash and into a down. We put Joey's kennel in the room with her and he came shooting out of the kennel and right into her face. Licking and licking and licking. I look at Ken and we were both thinking, well that settles that. Joey may not have loved me at first sight but he sure did love Coral.
The nerves were pretty bad. He couldn't eat if Ken was in the kitchen. He'd be too scared of banging dishes or just any form of noise as he got older. We couldn't cheer for our favorite sports team or clap if something was worthy of it. We recently put him on Prozac so that he would be able to enjoy life. I was so looking forward to see how confident he would get as the meds started to work.
Always, huffy. That poor dog because of his nerves was always panting heavy. Always. He would run and try to be in the bedroom or in the basement away from everyone and everything. I now feel badly for keeping him out of his favorite places. I shouldn't have forced him to be with us. I wanted him near me for my own personal benefit.
This dog was so amazing that he cured himself of Thyroid issues. I mean, I know he probably didn't but he was on thyroid meds for a long time. We ended up running out for about 2 months and when we finally went in to have him checked out his levels were normal. His fur was growing back beautifully, and his tail was becoming glorious again. For a long while he had looked homeless. My homeless Joe. I sometimes put t-shirts on him to look cuter but he was still beautiful to me. I was excited to see how he'd turn out.
Joey was always so hot at bedtime. He didn't want to cuddle much because he'd be too hot and he'd want to go to the end of the bed so that he could be cool. Still, when I was lucky, he'd push up against my back and it felt amazing. My lower back has pain sometimes and him laying up against it made it feel so much better. No other dog does that.
Every morning Joey and Avery would eat in the bathroom while I got ready for work. When he was done eating he'd sit in front of the door in the corner and he'd wink at me. So I'd wink back and he'd wink and I'd wink back. Those days I'd end up late for work! I mean you have to wink back! What if he knows a secret.
When we would go to the vet he'd always bark at the receptionist and people checking out. I'd try to distract him by putting him in a down and he would always always always rollover! It was so funny and filled my heart with joy. I tried so hard teaching him that for puppy kindergarten. We had to teach our pet a trick and I tried high-five (which he excelled at, after the class of course.) I gave up on high-five and decided to try rollover. When he finally did his first rollover I praised him so hard and petted him like crazy. The thing is, before he'd actually roll, he'd spin and spin and spin until finally he'd push himself over. So adorable.
In puppy kindergarten we had to do a recall from across the room and everyone was doing so well. It comes to Joey and I call him and he runs over so excitedly and right before he reaches my hands he starts doing the puppy 5000 in circles around me. Just out of reach. What a ham. He had the best recall though, if I called his name he'd come running. Well, unless he was running away around the neighbors house. He loved being outside. He would run around with Coral and just be by her side while she was chasing sticks.
Sometimes Ken would forget him outside in the dog run because he'd just be sitting there enjoying himself. I'd ask Ken, where's Joey? We'd have to go back and call him to come in. You'd think he'd be in sleeping in our bedroom when in fact he was just hanging out under the sun. Every single time we let Avery out she'd wait and peek around the corner until Joey would come running. All you'd have to say was "outside" and he'd be off and running! It's one reason he lost his beautiful tail. Avery would latch on and take a piece out of it. Almost every time they'd go out. He never seemed to mind. He was just so focused on getting outside.
I'm not sure when he started becoming more and more scared of things. He never played. We got Avery and she was always running around with toys and Joey just wouldn't. It was very rare that he'd pick up a toy and start playing so when he did I'd stop whatever I was doing just to watch and enjoy his merriment.
Joey loved every dog he came into contact with. People he was petrified of but dogs, man he didn't mind them at all. We went to the dog park once and there was this one dog that wouldn't leave him alone so he screeched and the owner came running and said his dog had never done that before. His dog hadn't done anything and I was about to tell him that before he scolded me and told me Joey belonged in the small dog park. Joey wants to run. He's 20lbs of bunched up energy. He doesn't need no small dog park!!! We left but brought him back a few hours later after that dog had left and Joey had a ball running from one end to the other. Stopping at various people to do his little man bark. He had this ruhr ruhr ruhr that he did that was so freaking adorable. It was reserved for when we'd just get home and occasionally when I was lucky.
Mr. Brightside by the Killers was his favorite song. He'd "sing and dance" with me while it was playing. Every time it would come on after that I'd tell him. Joey!!! It's your favorite song.
"Hands" was his favorite game. It's the only time he'd always play. Ken and I would be laying in bed and Ken would move his hand real fast under the blanket and Joey would chase it and do little puppy growls and try to catch it with his paws. He'd roll and try to grab them. So fun! And fun to watch! He was like a little kitty.
Cody our old ragdoll was a great play friend to Joey. They'd always wrestle and play together. They were both the same size so it was interesting to see them play. No one ever got hurt but they played well together. Joey, however, always left kitty alone. It's almost like he knew she didn't want to be bothered. Cody would terrorize her but Joey would just pretend she wasn't there. Joey knew just what everyone wanted/needed.
Sometimes he'd escape the house and Joey and Avery would come running out. He'd circle the car like take me, take me, take me. We'd have to round him up and shove him back into the house. If Ken wouldn't shut the garage door tight enough he'd manage to push it open. He was so clever. One of the smartest dogs I know.
My best friend taught several other dogs to shred TP. Joey showed my mom's Pom how to check the bathroom trash for goodies. One time when we were visiting Joey shredded some TP in the garbage and ever since that day my moms own Pom does the same thing. He'd never even tried once before that day. Good on you Joey. I'm pretty sure he showed several of our other dogs the same trick. I would give anything to pick up shredded paper from him again.
He was my quiet companion. I would come home from work and after he'd settled down a little waiting for what we'd do next he'd just sit in the rocking chair with his head tilted slightly to one side and I'd walk over tell him "up top" and he'd put his paws on me and wait for pets. It's something I didn't realize I looked forward to until I couldn't do it anymore.
Oh that fun boy. He used to smell my Chapstick and I'd wait for him to lick. I'd just wait but he never did. He must have known I didn't appreciate dog kisses on my lips. He would smell for such a long time though. Sniff sniff sniff sniff. I'd think surely he can't still be smelling and yet he was. He would sniff for so long. All my other dogs try to lick it off but not Joey, no sir, he was such a considerate friend.
He loved going for walks and he'd have so much energy he'd spin while in front just to slow down and keep step with me. He was so fast. That dog could run! For such a small dog he had such a big life. How can such a happy dog be taken from us so soon?
There is so much I can say about him and it still wouldn't be enough. There is no way to explain how bright he was.
The hardest thing about losing him is the routine. Coming home you expect him to be there with his smiling face. Or when he's done going potty and he back kicks about 100 times. Or when you come home and he's kicking the rugs up under him because he's so excited to see you. I find myself almost calling out for him wondering where he's gone off too. He was so sneaky and would get himself locked into different rooms all the time. We'd have to go on searches for him. Joey, where are you!?
Joey was an amazing car rider. He loved them and he'd always sit on my lap to look out the window. He'd lean into and out of the curves perfectly. When he'd get tired he'd lay on my lap and put his head on the headrest. Especially, on the long rides to Lancaster, NH to see his "grandparents". My parents would babysit him and my mom would always say, he tried running down the driveway to find you. He'd always be listening and waiting for us to return.
When he was younger, he'd shred the toys for their squeaker and just play with those. I'd find pieces of toy everywhere and him playing and chewing on the plastic. How can toys only last 4.6 seconds when they cost so much? I should have just bought him a bag of squeakers.
He was such a delight to have around. He made our whole world better. He loved being petted so he loved being groomed. You could never stop petting him. He'd grab your hand and pull you back. No! Don't stop petting me. Ken would always pet him before bed and if he stopped Joey would tell him NO. Ken would say, I can't pet you all night, buddy. So Joey would turn to me like, OK, your turn mommy.
Speaking of bed! He sure could make a mean bed. When it was time to change the sheets, we'd slowly pull the old one out from under him and Joey would run around the four corners as we made them.
My love for him will never fade. My memories may but he'll forever be with me. Rest in peace you magnificent dog.
Joey - 12/15/04-6/1/15
