Buddy who? My 1 and half year old fawn labrador. I've been meaning to write this post but somehow i know, this is one post that would never end. There would always be many more.
Buddy came home in September of 2008. Ever since, our entire world has very literally been topsy turvy. The sofa covers are on the floor. The leaves from the plant would be all over the balcony. Slippers would have no straps. Keys with chewable key chains, would not have key chains, mattresses would have no cotton... and the list goes on.
He came in when he was a month old. We picked him up at the Vet's clinic. He had a small scar on his head. The scar is still there, his differentiator from all other labradors. As we sat at the clinic, Abhi, Mohi and I, Abhi held him while i was busy buying stuff for him. Within seconds he was busy chewing the band around Abhi's wrist. He was just the dog i was looking for :).
The reason we bought another dog was coz we felt Amma needed a companion. I was to get married soon, Abhi was to go abroad. Candy is there, but the sweetheart that she is, you can't quite expect an eventful day with her around. She would do as you tell her and is totally unobtrusive. We needed life after we lost Ranger. Basically we needed a clown :)
At home there was a war before Buddy was accepted. With no choice left Dad and mum had to give in. I even threatened to walk out of the house with Buddy. You just cant help getting attached to the fella. How did we name him? We picked lots. We had 5 names in mind. We were four of us, and we picked lots. All 4 times, we got the name Buddy. Buddy was officially christened.
As a pup his morning schedule. Howl and bring the roof down at 5 am out of hunger. Amma learned his ways fast. More than Buddy adapting to our household, we adapted to his ways. Amma just had to heat milk and mix Complan and allow it to cool before he came dashing out of the door. 5 am!! He would run out lap up the milk and run for whatever he found to chew. Paper, Cushions, Slippers, shoes - anything that was non metallic!
Taking him for a walk, is more like taming a mad horse. He would not walk, he would pull and run. The first 5 minutes invariably go in a tussle between the walker the walked the leash and the collar. The sole survivor would be Buddy, the rest would either be on the floor or ripped apart.
He's grown into a handsome muscular and extremely lovable dog now. Taking him for a walk is still a challenge. The common belief is that dogs mature with age. Buddy is an exception to probably every defined rule, including gravity! His main target is almost always Amma. His morning routine - Amma would go around setting the sofa straight, the cushions, the covers. Buddy would very religiously follow and pull them all down. He would then have a sip of coffee from Amma. If she refused, a battle of howls normally ensued.
Amma bought a beautiful vethalai chedi (betel leaf plant). She kept it on the balcony close to the verandah grill. Abhi used to religiously water it. One day Abhi was out, when he got back the plant did not exist. Buddy put his snout through the grill and chewed every leaf he could lay his teeth on.
When Amma comes home every day, she has the habit of tucking her keychain on her saree. Buddy's duty is to jump on her, push her, take the key and throw it. There are 6 specific spots in the house where the missing keys would definitely be found. Never underestimate Buddy's capabilities. He can eat a stone. He can break a wall. He can chew cane chairs and leave them legless.
Mischief apart, i can bet on anything, that Buddy understands every word we say. When you talk to him directly, he inevitably responds with a bark or howl depending on the tone which we use. Amma and Buddy have had quite a few of these. Extremely receptive and also quite stubborn if something had to get done it just had to get done. And he had a way of asking for it. He would ensure you know what he's asking for - be it a glass of milk or a stroll around the house. A dog who knew his mind... and ours!
And yet he is the most lovable creature God has ever created. I will stop here. This is a haphazard post, but there is just no end to Buddy's antics :)
Buddy came home in September of 2008. Ever since, our entire world has very literally been topsy turvy. The sofa covers are on the floor. The leaves from the plant would be all over the balcony. Slippers would have no straps. Keys with chewable key chains, would not have key chains, mattresses would have no cotton... and the list goes on.
He came in when he was a month old. We picked him up at the Vet's clinic. He had a small scar on his head. The scar is still there, his differentiator from all other labradors. As we sat at the clinic, Abhi, Mohi and I, Abhi held him while i was busy buying stuff for him. Within seconds he was busy chewing the band around Abhi's wrist. He was just the dog i was looking for :).
The reason we bought another dog was coz we felt Amma needed a companion. I was to get married soon, Abhi was to go abroad. Candy is there, but the sweetheart that she is, you can't quite expect an eventful day with her around. She would do as you tell her and is totally unobtrusive. We needed life after we lost Ranger. Basically we needed a clown :)
At home there was a war before Buddy was accepted. With no choice left Dad and mum had to give in. I even threatened to walk out of the house with Buddy. You just cant help getting attached to the fella. How did we name him? We picked lots. We had 5 names in mind. We were four of us, and we picked lots. All 4 times, we got the name Buddy. Buddy was officially christened.
As a pup his morning schedule. Howl and bring the roof down at 5 am out of hunger. Amma learned his ways fast. More than Buddy adapting to our household, we adapted to his ways. Amma just had to heat milk and mix Complan and allow it to cool before he came dashing out of the door. 5 am!! He would run out lap up the milk and run for whatever he found to chew. Paper, Cushions, Slippers, shoes - anything that was non metallic!
Taking him for a walk, is more like taming a mad horse. He would not walk, he would pull and run. The first 5 minutes invariably go in a tussle between the walker the walked the leash and the collar. The sole survivor would be Buddy, the rest would either be on the floor or ripped apart.
He's grown into a handsome muscular and extremely lovable dog now. Taking him for a walk is still a challenge. The common belief is that dogs mature with age. Buddy is an exception to probably every defined rule, including gravity! His main target is almost always Amma. His morning routine - Amma would go around setting the sofa straight, the cushions, the covers. Buddy would very religiously follow and pull them all down. He would then have a sip of coffee from Amma. If she refused, a battle of howls normally ensued.
Amma bought a beautiful vethalai chedi (betel leaf plant). She kept it on the balcony close to the verandah grill. Abhi used to religiously water it. One day Abhi was out, when he got back the plant did not exist. Buddy put his snout through the grill and chewed every leaf he could lay his teeth on.
When Amma comes home every day, she has the habit of tucking her keychain on her saree. Buddy's duty is to jump on her, push her, take the key and throw it. There are 6 specific spots in the house where the missing keys would definitely be found. Never underestimate Buddy's capabilities. He can eat a stone. He can break a wall. He can chew cane chairs and leave them legless.
Mischief apart, i can bet on anything, that Buddy understands every word we say. When you talk to him directly, he inevitably responds with a bark or howl depending on the tone which we use. Amma and Buddy have had quite a few of these. Extremely receptive and also quite stubborn if something had to get done it just had to get done. And he had a way of asking for it. He would ensure you know what he's asking for - be it a glass of milk or a stroll around the house. A dog who knew his mind... and ours!
And yet he is the most lovable creature God has ever created. I will stop here. This is a haphazard post, but there is just no end to Buddy's antics :)
