Chix-A-Lot Friday: My One-Year-Saved Brother the Bug

January 4, 2013 By in Uncategorized 49 Comments

Just look at this dog:

Snickerdoodle-120110-44-2-2

And also look at this one:Snickerdoodle-120306-7

Was there ever really any doubt that we were never gonna let him go?

My brother the ‘Bug came home a year ago this week — on January 2nd. We spent about two months pretending we were just fostering him, but when we talked about it the other night, we pinned the timing as about 10 days before we all kind of knew but wouldn’t admit that he was with us for good.

And can you blame us?

Chickerdoodle-120309-11

My brother the ‘Bug has been through a lot in his first year with us. Just after the stress of being uprooted from his home at the Arlington, TX slammer animal shelter, Doodlebug was hit with a superscary incident: the morning we awoke to him coughing up big puddles of blood. We knew he had those nasty worms in his heart, but we just had no idea how badly they were trying to kill him until that day. So he started his treatments. A couple of days after his first shot for the worms, I took advantage of his weakened state and got him in trouble with my dumpster-diving trashcan-diving escapades. I couldn’t resist– it’s what big brothers do, right?

Well I guess my escapades were just what the ‘Bug needed to lift his spirits, because just a couple of weeks later, he was feeling awesome, and totally confident that he was going to whoop those nasty worms right in the butt!

Not long after, Doodlebug started school — first Basics class (where he learned that I am the ruler of the universe how to be basically obedient), then Canine Good Citizen class, where he had to learn how to be masterfully obedient.

You might think that learning to be masterfully obedient is hard, and yes, you would be right. It absolutely is. Especially when you are faced with all of the other setbacks that my poor ‘Bug has had to deal with this year! First there were the worms in his heart, then there were some worms in his ring. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he had to be dipped in some rotten-egg-smelling yellow water every week for what seemed like a very long time, to help him with the worms in his ring. And on top of that, he had some kind of bacteriums in his poopie hole. Yuck!

That’s enough, right? How much can one poor dog deal with? Well, there’s more. Throw in some of the worst allergies our dogtor has ever seen (that made him have to wear a t-shirt all springtime and go almost totally bald) and a terrible, frightful, no-good, very bad Grand Mal seizure that led him to be diagnosed with hypothyroid disorder, and you’re getting close to understanding all my poor ‘Bug has been through.

But of course, we’ve had our fun too. Doodlebug got to go with me and mama and dad to Canine Camp in the spring, where he learned lots of agility, got to run a lure course, and went kayaking for the first time.

And speaking of agility, the ‘Bug has become quite the agili-dog. He and I went through a class, and although I thought it was ok, the ‘Bug totally loved it!

And then there are the trips out of town — to backpacking places and to the Turkeyman’s house. Yeah, I’d say my brother’s first year has been a pretty good one. And the icing on the cake, of course, is his CGC — which he earned fair and square last month. I have to admit, I’m proud of the kiddo!

So now that he has been with us a full year, mama and I have put our heads together and come up with the perfect Gotcha-Day present for him: his very own blog feature! I have my own Chix-A-Lot Friday, and that won’t ever change. But now my brother will have his very own thing, too!

Stay tuned next week and he’ll tell you all about it.

Happy Saved-A-Versary, Doodlebug!

 

49 responses

  1. This is such a lovely story, and you have quite a special dog on your hands! Love everything you are doing for pit bulls and the messages you are sending to dog owners around the world! Keep it up! nerdwithtaste.wordpress.com

    Reply

  3. Sheesh, I’m getting all teary eyed over here! Glad you’ve found your forever home, Doodles, ‘cuz I have a feeling there’s a lot of people out here in the blogosphere that are head over heels for you! I sure am!

    Reply

  7. I remember the heartworm, but not the rest. Poor, little ‘Bug. But good lovin’ and good company have made all the difference. You go, ‘Bug. Say hi to Chick.

    Reply

  9. Happy Savaversary, Doodlebug. Chix-a-lot Friday has always been a highlight of my week so I’m looking forward to your day as well. I’m eager to learn your “voice.”

    Reply

  11. Chick AND Doodlebug blog posts! Now that’s extra special and something great to look forward to! What a great gift for ‘bug…and for us! Happy Saved-A-Versary!

    Reply

  13. Happy Saved-a-Versary, Doodlebug! You have gone through so much in one year and I’m so very impressed with how even with all of the not so good stuff, Doodlebug has excelled and accomplished so much!

    Reply

  14. Saved-a-Versary, what a great thing to be able to celebrate! You’ve had a great year, and I’ve loved reading all about it (and seeing the lovely pictures)!

    Reply

  19. Awwww! I am so glad you kept him. He has fit in so well I almost can’t imagine your blog or lives without him. Who is Chick without his Doodle?

    Congratulations to all of you!

    Reply

  20. He is such a beautiful boy, and I’m so happy he found such a wonderful family. I knew he had his trials and tribulations, but to see them all listed in once place – wow! It really has been quite a year for this boy, but sounds like his health issues are under control. Thank goodness!

    I cannot wait for the first Bug blog post! What a great Save-a-versary gift to us!

    Reply

  31. I LOVE your blog! You guys are so inspirational, in both your actions and your photography! Happy saved-a-versary Doodle dog!

    Reply

  34. Happy Saved-A-Versary, Doodlebug! How wonderful it has been to read all about the adventures that you and your handsome brother Chick have had and not to mention all the beautiful photos that your Mum has shared with us. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us 🙂

    Reply

  37. Wow, I’d forgotten how much Doodlebug went through this past year! He’s so lucky to have become a foster-then-adopted member of the family!

    Reply

  39. Doodle bug. Showed Grandma your blog. She remembers your first days in our kitchen. She is so happy for you am your family. Happy save a verasary

    Reply

  40. Happy Gotcha-Day ‘Bug’! I believe Doodlebug is right where he needs to be… in a home, and with a family that truly loves him! It has been a long year for not just Bug, but for all of you involved in his daily life. You are very special, caring people. Thank you for sharing your lives with us, through your posts.

    Reply

  46. How well written and how sweet 🙂 ‘Bug is a lucky baby to have such a good home!
    Could you share with me where you took him for Agility – I would love to take my Dog too! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi Shalini,

      Thanks for the note! Are you in the Austin area? If so, you should come to Agility class at the Canine Center for Training and Behavior, which is in Oak Hill. The boys and I work there, and we can tell you with great certainty that it’s a SUPER fun place for dogs and people! If you’re not in Austin, let me know — we may be able to help hook you up with a place in your local area.

      Best, Aleks

      Reply

  47. Pingback: Dear Doodlebug: a new blog feature « Love and a Six-Foot Leash

  48. Lovely post, made me cry a little when I was reading it, so sad what these dogs went through before you rescued them and gave them a MUCH better life, I think that would be the hardest thing having to let them go, after you have worked so hard to bond with them. Im very glad you all decided he was here to stay as he couldn’t be in any better place 🙂
    Love this Blog
    Victoria xx

    Reply

Leave us some love

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: