Puppy Fever

Kirby doesn't know what he's in for. Or maybe he does. We love our little guy dearly, but we all seem to be missing that big dog energy around the house. Baxter has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled... even so, lately we've been feeling a bit of puppy fever. I'm not sure exactly when it started, but a few weeks ago, both my husband and I compared notes and realized that we each had started looking at websites for Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. We decided maybe -- just maybe -- it was time to start looking for another puppy.

Meanwhile... our last trip to the beach with Kirby made it quite obvious to us that he still misses his pal. When Baxter was around, Kirby used to happily tag along with him as he ran and explored and sniffed every clamshell and bit of driftwood (and the occasional dead fish or bird). They chased and played and Kirby seemed more free and more confident at the beach than he did anywhere else except the inside of our house. But without Baxter, our trips to the coast have been different. Kirby hangs at our heels. He doesn't explore. He doesn't play. He will sometimes run to greet another dog, but then quickly runs back to us. He looks around constantly, flinching at noises and things that move. Oh, he still enjoys the unfettered running, but the paranoia seems to have taken some of the joy out of it.

We thought maybe hanging around with some Griffs would help us know if we were ready to bring another dog into our lives, particularly one who might look and act a bit like Baxter. We decided to visit the woman who first introduced us to the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. She welcomed us to her home where she now has three Griffs and two Dobermans running around. Kirby played tirelessly with the Griffs (the Dobies were segregated so as not to overwhelm our little guy...three vaguely familiar dogs were overwhelming enough). Actually, Kirby didn't seem overwhelmed at all. We were a little nervous that he seemed quite comfortable running with the big dogs, to the point where we knew roughhousing might lead to tears (ours).

We had a great time soaking in that energy -- and there really is a Griff energy that is unique. It's hard to explain, but if you've ever known one, you know what it is. It's a lightheartedness, a goofiness, a sweetness. Well, here's a wee glimpse of it...



So, perhaps it is time. For all of us. We want that big dog energy, that Griff energy in particular, back in our lives. Now to find a puppy...