Sakima

[johninny]

Leih, where should i post that. been trying to get myself together about this: 2 DS pups 2 weeks ago almost by accident.it has been an odd and wild journey, quite literally! i thought i would wait til i had a real handle on pics. but i haphazardly posted about it in ''whatever: puppy names - take 2''. Christie had asked for names and back in october i had researched a lot of possibilities, so i spewed then out in that thread and then said i had just used two names to re-name 2 pups: Poncho [ hate it and he did not even know it was his name - a shelter reference] to Sakima [ Saki, Saki-dog], which is ''chief'' in native American; and Captain to AleXANder [ most often Xander-dog], with alexander, xander, and xan all meaning defender of man.

i 'found' Saki [ aka poncho] online while at a shelter [ i mean i was at a shelter, but so was he] during that horrible post-storm period on long island. i agreed to adopt him even before my power came back, but then he escaped from the shelter. Julie Bear at ABMCR and Trudy at NADSR both posted him missing immediately and everyone was great. but days went by, so i could not help but drive to the southern IN/IL border to join the hunt for him; spent days [and nights] in the car and on foot patrolling for him, but after 13 days missing [ and coyotes and coyote traps out in the area], i thought the situation may never resolve. meanwhile - on the trip- i had become aware of another pup in trouble in KY, so at night i drove to KY. Saki was found at 8am the next morning. so i drove back to IN/IL with an 8mo old unneutered, dark, drivey male in the car and picked up Sakima - probably 7mos and a bit.
got as far as NYC and cracked my head open falling over flood-related piping on a sidewalk. fortunately a friend witnessed this from across the street and saved the dogs [ AND me!!]. quickly wound up in hospital, but had no idea how bad it was for some hours - and really glad no one told me right then. against all advice, i finished the drive back to south fork of LI a few days later so the dogs could begin settling in.
so it really has been quite the odyssey.

i will keep Sakima. i had deluded myself for awhile that maybe i could keep both, but that only works as long as i stay put in the country. but they are both amazing DSs, each in his own way. i love both of them and they adore each other. they sleep together, chew bones in same bed, climb into same chair together, etc

Xander, who will be seeking a new home soon, is sweet as hell, even AMAZING with children, despite his very high drive. he has the greatest ability and inclination to track that i could imagine; takes him seconds to find something or to precisely follow a trail across an acre. also can catch anything flying thru the air. he has done agility, loves the water, very, very athletic and driven, but so so sweet and gentle.

will try to post pics with this, but if doesn't succeed, will post pics in photo section soon. and soon will have a youtube channel up and running for both creatures.
thanks for catching that and asking!

[icvanstra]

NOTE - Adminstrative split of this post from another topic. Originally posted in the monthly photo contest. Moved for clarity and to keep the monthly contest about the monthly contest...

[Schlussdibusti]

wow, what a story! I am glad you and the pups are alright.

[johninny]

thank you. the pups are very happy - from the start - and this weekend i noticed a whole new aura of contentedness settling over their puppyhood.

[Schlussdibusti]

Are you sure you want to give up Xander? Although I understand your reason. I read in another post that you and your dog TD traveled a lot and went to a lot of big cities. I had two black Labs and we went everywhere together. Of course not to the extend as you described. But as long as the dogs were well behaved, we were always welcomed. There was a certain "magic" and synergy about them.

Just saying..... Don't want to get into your business.

[leih merigian]

What an amazing story! Thanks for taking the time to share it.

I hope your head injury is a thing of the past with no lasting effects...

It must be heart breaking to have to give one of them up already.

Love both of their names...and wish you many years of joy with Saki.

Of course, in time, we'll need to see lots more pictures

[johninny]

oh no, don't worry; it is OUR business.
i am VERY conflicted. each time i go into city i decide one has to go. now that i've been in the country for more than a week, i started wondering [again] today if i could keep them both. i sure love both of them. they love me and each other - they are so very happy.
but TraceDog and i were really NEVER separated except for overseas business travel in his first 8 years, then for his last 4 years, i canceled all trips. i even selected lawyers [especially so]and doctors where TD was welcomed which is mo mean feat in nyc area; he attended all business meetings. and he made it all a breeze - no hassle. he was always as precise and well behaved as a long-time human companion would have been.
2 dogs participating with any degree of intensity in my life away from the house would be a challenge greater than 2x more than 1 dog. but i also fear that with 2 of them, i will never achieve with either the kind of rapport i achieved with TD - never mind the training.
curious though, in your travels, are you by yourself with 2 dogs, or are there 2 of you to manage?

[feraloup]

Just to throw my 2 cents in...

Disclaimer: I've no doubt that whatever happens, you keep both dogs, or you were just in the right place at the right time in life to be a waystation and facilitator for Xander in finding his eventual forever home, what will be will be what was meant to be. You are a kind and loving human and are doing right by your dogs.

Not to influence either outcome, but just to share personal experience, while I am now a mother and living with a child and fiancee in addition to my fur-family, I was for many years living contentedly alone and romantically unattached with 3 dogs and 2 cats.

And I travelled a lot. (Not out of country as much as you, but states-wise, all over the place,) My dogs came with me everywhere and were welcome where I went because they were well-trained and well-behaved. Including Boston, where I went often for visiting old college friends and a martial arts trainer. I also felt better that on the rare occasions they weren't accompoanying me, they had each other.

Granted, their ages and training levels were spaced out by a few years each, I wasn't training concurrent beginners from scratch together, but I did find I had a special and unique bond which each of them on their own level, and their bonds to me and to each other were not adversely affected by the dynamics with the others.

I made time for us to do most things together, but also put aside one-one-one time for each of them several times a week, as well. (And I did this when it was just Cory and Cedar and I, before Maiyou joined us as well. And then continued to do the same when Maiyou joined us. She's having an interesting time of it, now, too, *lol* as she had always been the youngest and the low-dog on the totem pole, and then when Cedar crossed the bridge, has been an only dog for 3 years, now all of a sudden, with our new Moko on the scene, she is experiencing being senior-dog for the first time!)

So I do feel that if you were to decide to keep both of them, you may find it will be different that the dynamic you and TD shared, but not necessarily less intense or less quality of bonding, just, different and with its own "flavor"

Just something for consideration.

Again, whichever way you decide, it will be what is right in your heart and for the dogs, that I have no doubt of.

[Schlussdibusti]

curious though, in your travels, are you by yourself with 2 dogs, or are there 2 of you to manage?

Just me to manage two dogs

[Schlussdibusti]

Including Boston, where I went often for visiting old college friends and a martial arts trainer.

Boston is a great town with dogs, so is Austin, TX

[johninny]

yes, both same age is a huge problem. there is no senior partner to stay above the fray at the appropriate times. they are having too much fun - which is great - but neither plays the stabilizing role a trained and bonded dog would - for stopping, paying attention, setting example, etc.. when it is convenient for both, they simply look at me as a spoil-sport and continue their merry way.
they are a real scream together, though. Xander will jump at and over Saki's head landing straddling saki's back with xander's head at saki's tail. they repeatedly jump onto their assigned furniture and make huge leaps onto the other on floor like a cat would do. they sit and lay down on each other ALL the time, on floor, in a single bucket chair, in their beds. and xander, if he he going from point A to pt B and saki is in his path, then xander simply goes under or over him as if saki was nor even there. they seem to have NO boundaries between them.

[felixone123]

We have 3 dogs - 2 DS and 1 spare parts girl - lol!! I manage them all day by myself and we, meaning dogs/husband/me are all bonded closely. We take them everywhere with us, but traveling abroad would be a problem.

It is definitely a challenge to travel with 2 and it sounds like your dog trace was very well trained - so, if both are well trained IMO it makes things a whole lot easier when traveling and they will keep each other company too!! Sounds like all 3 of you are close already.

Like you said in another thread - "go with your gut"

[johninny]

and, yes, the great positive, they do entertain and keep each other company, that is for sure. will set up a youtube channel soon but never have managed to catch the funniest and most outrageous things. they hold back their best performances for when camera is away.

love having both [ most of time ] at home [ in country ], but my gut says the two together will drive me crazy when away from here and destroy my life as i have known and envision it. i know i am doomed either way: if i keep Xander, a year down the road i will think ' OMG - what have i done?!' but i could never push a dog out of his home at that point and the 2 of them would have a jolly time for the next 14 years while my life gets obliterated and 2] if i do not keep him, 6 mos, 1 yr, 5 yrs, forever, i will think ' omg - what have i done?! i let one of the best and sweetest dogs i could have ever imagined purposefully leave his family and WHAT A FAMILY WE COULD HAVE BEEN!'' personally doomed no matter what i decide!

[Sugars Mom]

You have a super tough call to make. I see your points on both sides (keep or not to keep) and they are very good points indeed. I say go with your gut...if you really feel that keeping the both is best, do it. But if giving up one seems to be best in the long run, that do that and feel good about "making the best decision" even tho it is hard. Follow your gut...it will lead you to what you need to do. All the best to you, in whichever direction you go!

[Schlussdibusti]

and, yes, the great positive, they do entertain and keep each other company

Just imagine trying to wear out a 7 months old DS puppy by yourself !

yes, both same age is a huge problem

Not necessarily. My two black Labs were just 6 weeks apart and it was great because they were in the same life stages and development. When I adopted Marco (Marco was about a year when one of my Labs had passed away) the other Lab was a senior (12 years +) and the both of them couldn't play with each other. Although I have to admit, the Lab house trained Marco extremly well and took that task off my back.

Your life will be definetly different with 2 dogs. But even with one dog, life will not be the same as with your dog TD. Life is full of changes and may be this experience is your destiny. The way you described how it came about that you are ended up with 2 dogs, makes me think "destiny".