Baxter

A few months ago I went to the church building to learn how to make gumbo from a guy who is from Louisiana. In the course of the day I learned the recipe, but also found out the man's girlfriend was moving and looking to get rid of her Australian Shepherd-Australian Cattle Dog mix. His name was B-Boy. I was interested in getting another dog for our sweet girl Gracie. 

Gracie is a red and white border collie. We've had her for about 8 and 1/2 years. She's a great dog, but keeps mostly to herself and prefers the company of other dogs to other people. 

B-boy came to live with us in April. He was extremely cautious and hadn't had much socialization. Since he had been neutered too early and peed nervously a lot, I was informed he spent pretty much all of his time outside and had been since he was born (he was 8 months old). I was advised to keep him as an outside dog because he was also not very bright and very destructive and liked to chew. I was a little nervous but found him a little funny. 

He growled at me a little from the arms of his previous master but something about his sweet face made me want to laugh at him. He clearly had an ego problem and no size to back it up. After the previous owners left him with me, relieved because "he's a lot of work" but also nervous looking as they left, B-boy sniffed out his new digs. I tried to get him to come to me but he was skittish and wouldn't bother. I was also told B-boy did not like food--- dog food, people food or treats and would be difficult to feed. I tried feeding him one of his treats in the hopes of building trust but he spit it out. I looked at the organic nutro-nutrious green puppy treats. I would have spit that out too. I had just made my kids some microwaved kettle corn and tossed him a piece. He sniffed it and came right over. And pretty soon, B-boy and I bonded. 

All of a sudden, I realized B-Boy was much more than the dog they said he was. He was incredibly intelligent.  He was virtually housebroken by the second day, and would not leave my side. Any where I went this bouncy little dog followed, even to the bathroom. From day one, I refused to leave him outside. He didn't like spending time out there except to chase Gracie or go to the bathroom. His favorite place to sleep was on top of my legs in our bed (which I've never had a dog want to do before). He was incredibly affectionate and I realized a better name for him would have been Velcro. We bonded very quickly. My husband and I decided that B-Boy just wasn't the best name for him, it was too aloof and not personal enough for this warm and affectionate boy. And so we renamed him Baxter (yes, after that Baxter, from Anchorman). 

We spent most of our time together. If I washed dishes, Baxter laid on my feet as I did them. If I watched tv, Baxter sat with me and watched tv. Even right now, as I blog, Baxter is laying on the bed next to me in front of my crochet bag. He is without a doubt, the big furry band-aid on my soul. Baxter brought me this one day over the summer. I really believe he knows I love birds ( if you know me, you know why) and one morning he brought this to me, laid it at my feet and wagged his tail with pride "Here Mom I made this out of macaroni for you!" I was honestly touched by his gift. He even dug a hole for me to bury it in. 

I can't help but wonder, what was Bax's life like before us? This dog was absolutely nothing like the one that had been described to me. The other owners had to choose between him and another dog which one they would keep, and which one they would give away. I have to wonder... why would they ever want to get rid of him, he is the best dog a girl could have!

 A lot of dogs I know think they are people, but I've never met a dog who is more happy to be a dog and yet has more affection like a little boy. He fits in right with our kids and plays with them for hours a day. He needs them, he needs us. He is in love with his own reflection and loves looking at himself in the windows. His favorite food is kettle corn, and for a piece of cheese he will do anything you ask even get in his kennel. He will gladly endure any sort of play with a Baxter-sized sense of humor. This morning we had a bandanna tied around his head like a granny kerchief, which he, and we, found very amusing.

I hate to put him in the kennel, but Baxter hates to be alone. And when he hates to be alone, he gets destructive. And somehow, it's only destructive toward my things (my clothes, shoes, crochet supplies, papers...which incidentally works out well for the rest of the family). He hates when I leave him and I hate leaving him.

He's part kangaroo, part teddy bear. If there's anyone who has his personality I swear to you it's Snoopy from Peanuts. 

Baxter, I fully believe was an "I love you" from God. There has been so much hurt and heartache this year, and I was a shell of my former self. What took one man mere hours to wrench from my life, Baxter brought back into it with warmth and pure joy. He knew I was hurting and I think he was hurting too. 

I've been through it, but I'm still here and Baxter has everything to do with it.