Dogs & Dads

Beverly, Star of Follow the Dog Home

It's one of the greatest gifts my father ever gave me--a love of dogs.  His dad gave it to him, and I've given it to my children.  Our dogs have been with our families through five wars, the polio epidemic, The Great Depression and many, many good times.  I guess the point is, they've always been and always will be there.

Dad sitting on mother's lap with first dog, Dee Dee, looking on,  1941

The family dog is truly one of life's only constants.  Nothing has changed about them and nothing ever will.  In a world that moves increasingly fast, it's nice that one thing stays the same.

Think of the one person in your life who gave you your love of dogs.  There's a very good chance it was your dad.  Remember your dad this upcoming Father's Day weekend and give him something that will remind you why you're dog people.  In the pages of Follow the Dog Home you will see your own lives and your own stories.

Follow the Dog Home really is the perfect Father's Day gift and summer read.

When Dogs Play Favorites

I made a simple post on our Facebook page this morning, and the response was overwhelming.  It was a picture of my daughter, Amanda, and Beverly between pillows.  The picture says a lot about their close relationship, and that picture is a snapshot of a broader canvas.  Do dogs play favorites?  I don't think there's any doubt about it.

I'm not even going to try back it up with science, but I know what I see, and I remember what I've read.  The original mission of dogs was to serve.  Specific breeds had specific attributes that made them good for whatever the job called for.  But things evolved, and sometimes reversed themselves.  It's a huge generalization, but most dogs I know are now servees, not servers.  And if a dog needs/wants something, it goes to who services them best.

Our previous German Shepherd, Tiffany, was getting up there in years when we had children.  Tiffany had achy bones.  She much preferred the attention that Samantha payed from a safe distance than say an Amanda in your face specialty.

Samantha reading to Tiffany, 2007

 

Amanda up close and personal with Beverly, 2012

Beverly is all about facials.  She'll give and take one from anyone, but nobody makes her face sparkle as much as Amanda.  

Susie, our Golden Retriever from years ago had a sense of adventure.  My brother Chris was probably the more adventurous sibling.  When the jeep rolled up, Susie hopped in.  It'll pain my dad to read this, but Susie was probably most partial to Chris.

Don't worry Dad, this is for you.  Danielle, our Cairn Terrier was his dog.  She spent plenty of time with us kids, but when Dad came home from work, Danielle was all his.  I don't know what it was, I just think Danielle really valued authority, and saw him as the Alpha dog.

My brother Michael Walsh with Danielle, 1979

If it's playtime, Beverly looks to me.  And why not?  I love to play, and she always gives me a break  from the honey do list.

Beverly, all ready to go!

And when Beverly is not feeling well, she goes to Jean.  Don't we all?  She doesn't get chicken soup out of it like the rest of us, but Beverly gets what she needs, when she needs it most--a mother's gentle hands and compassion.

Jean with Beverly, 2012

Who does your dog play favorites with, and why?

Kevin (left) with Zach Hill

I've said it before.  When you're an author, you should always have a copy of your book with you.  You might just bump into someone for whom it makes a most appropriate gift.  Yesterday was another one of those times.

The Philadelphia Flyers were coming to town to play the Boston Bruins.  Having grown up in Philadelphia and covering news and sports there, I know quite a few people in the Flyers front office and on the broadcast team.

Zach Hill is the Flyers media guy and he's "good people."  We always catch up whenever he comes to town.  He made it a point to let me know he'd been following the publicity of Follow the Dog Home and was very encouraging.  He wanted to know more.  So I told him the story about Beverly the German Shepherd leading us back to my father's long lost childhood home site unseen.

Bob Walsh, wearing paper boy hat, returns to his childhood home where his journey with dogs started 70 years ago.  Wellesley, MA

He loved it, and having a dog himself, he said he would buy a book.  That won't be necessary.
I gave him the signed one that I had brought with me to the Garden.

After the game, which the Bruins won 3-2 in a shootout, we took a picture in the Flyers locker room.  Zach said he'd read the book on the flight back to Philly.  I'm sure losing himself in the pages took his mind off a tough loss.  And the next time I see him, we'll have more stuff to talk about.

Dogs and Pajama Parties

Pajama Party with Beverly
and Walsh girls

Is there any happier animal on earth in the morning than dogs? Sure their bladders are as full as ours, but it hardly zaps their zest for living. I need a cup of coffee or two before I'm even close to thinking I'm happy to start the day. If early morning is the time to be grumpy, it's a clock dogs don't bother to read.

I remember several years ago when tennis ace Andre Agassi was going through a rough patch in his life. He had just been divorced from Brooke Shields and his play suffered mightily. Then he got a dog and his attitude became sunnier. He told an interviewer, "I wake up and look at that puppy and he's just happy to be alive. I want to be like a puppy."

Sure it's goofy, but there's a lot to be said for that. If we can have a fraction of that same joy for life, life would be a whole lot better. It's up to us to manufacture it. My girls and a houseguest woke up to an early morning movie and (visiting dog) Annie kisses. I've got a bowl of Rice Krispies and I'm on my first cup of Joe as I watch it unfold. I have a busy day ahead. If it gets crappy at any point, I'll think of the morning pajama party!

How does your dog make your morning better? Share a comment below.

Blind Dogs, A Sight to See

I’m really annoyed with myself. I brought my dog Beverly to the dog park the other day and failed to bring my camera. That’s always a mistake because you never know who you’re going to bump into, and what you’re going to see.

Today I saw a blind dog. Julie, a white standard poodle, lost her eyesight about two years ago. Julie stands about hip high and has a good poodle poof on top of her head.

Beverly approached Julie low and submissive. Julie couldn’t see it, but I’m sure she could sense a dog was coming with her ears and nose. Beverly gave Julie a good sniff under her tail, a gentle body bump, and pretty soon Julie was romping with her new friend. “It’s been so long since she’s romped with anyone,” her owner said. “Your dog must have really made her feel comfortable.”

Beverly, friend to all dogs

Do me a favor. Close your eyes and picture what you just read. You just got inside Julie’s head, adding color and pictures to darkness.

It was great to see the dogs at play. I don’t know if Bev knew her poodle pal was blind, but somehow she gave off that special dog vibe and smell that let Julie know what she couldn’t see was nothing to fear.

Years ago my college coach told me a story about a blind dog that I’ve never forgotten. He had a Bulldog that went blind. Coach’s family found out when they changed the furniture. The dog started bumping into things. They took the dog to the vet who concluded the dog went blind years ago. The only reasonable conclusion was the Bulldog had the house, the way outside and the backyard memorized until the furniture change and—Doink!

Why do I tell this? I don’t know. I just thought that it was a neat story. Sometimes neat stories find me and remind me of other ones from the past. So I share. Have a cool story to share of your own? Leave it below, and include a picture if you have one.