Nessie the Scottish Border Terrier

Tuesday

Aug242010

August 24, 2010 | by

Dogs - by KPete

I’m a dog person. I like cats too, they are fine. But there is something about a dog, the way they want to please you and they always seem happy. I’ve never really understood the term “It’s a dog’s life’ is that meant to be good or bad? From my point of view, a “dog’s life” should be pretty darn good. I’ve always joked that if there was such a thing as reincarnation where you came back as an animal, I would want to come back as MY Dog!

I’ve always had dogs in my life apart from a 5 year stint as a regular force soldier in the NZ army. The first dog we had at home was an ex Police dog, a long haired German Sheppard called Tina. Tina was extremely maternal. I recall getting very frustrated with her because she would herd me around and pull on my pants to stop me from crossing the street outside our house. I was only about 3 years old and I was always safe and protected when Tina was around.

We lived in a housing corp. house with the power meter inside. Back then the meter readers had keys to enter the house to read the meter in the hallway. Mum got the fright of her life when she came home one afternoon at about 3 pm and found the meter reader in our kitchen, reading a newspaper and drinking a coffee. He had come to read the meter at 10 am and Tina would not let him leave. So he found himself stuck in the kitchen, no access to the phone in the hall. So he made himself as comfortable as he could under the circumstances. There were no issues as a result, just ‘one of those funny things’ of course it was 1972 or 73 and people didn’t make a fuss.

The only other time I ever saw Tina growl or bark was at Maori people as they walked past the section. She didn’t have an issue with the palefaces, but certainly did with the brown ones. I suspect that this was a result of several years’ frontline service in the NZ Police. I’m not sure what happened to Tina, I remember she had a litter of puppies and shortly after that she was gone.

We looked after a couple of dog’s short term – Dombie a Rottweiler X Sheppard and Sam a Doberman. They were given away to a couple of rural families.

Blake was another German Sheppard, but he was Albino. Literally pure white, pink nose and red eyes. A beautiful dog, Blake was the dog I grew up with. People would ask me if he was a wolf, many were intimidated by him, but Blake was pure silliness. He loved to play and run and dig and gnaw bones and he was loved madly by my Mum and me. Unfortunately he got a tumor and stared to get aggressive so at only 7 years old, the hard decision was made and he was put to sleep.

In her grief Mum acquired a Labrador X Staffordshire Terrier pup that we named Boris. Boris was to remain a part of the family for nearly 17 years! He was there during my teens and admittedly being a typical self obsessed teen I paid poor Boris little attention. He was just old Boris, happy to bumble around in his own little world. Mum doted on him anyway. He was a pretty cool old dog and when it was time for me to fly the coop; he was there for my Mum.

I got JD and Mischa in my last year in the Army, from a litter of eight German Sheppard X Doberman pups that were born in a woodshed on a cold Waiouru morning. I’ll never forget watching them experience their first snow. It was simply awesome; happiness is a puppy in snow, seriously! JD was extremely flighty and had to be watched all the time. I failed in this mission and I found JD still warm but very much dead by the side of the road outside a mate’s house we were visiting at the time he was not much more than a year old. He just got out unnoticed and that was it. A hard lesson learned. Mischa on the other hand couldn’t have been more different in looks and demeanor, she was a good dog, but very much her “mums” dog, (my partner at the time) and when that relationship was over, she went with my partner.

Hazel came with my new girlfriend (now my wife), a 6 year old tan Staffy of untold awesomeness! I loved this dog. To the point where I, part jokingly and part honestly told my significant other “I don’t care if she was yours when we met, if we break up, she’s coming with me!” Hazel was the quintessential “happy dog” she loved everything, life was just one big adventure and we did our best to take her everywhere and include her in as much of what we did as possible. She’s even in our wedding pictures. She lived to a ripe old age of around 16 which is pretty bloody good for a staffy.

We took a year off after that, the loss of Hazel left a huge gap that we didn’t have the heart to fill straight away. Isn’t it interesting how in some cases the loss of a dog can be just as awful as the loss of any other family member?

Then after much deliberation entered “Nessie”

Nessie is a Scottish Border Terrier. I wasn’t all that keen to have a small dog, but my wife talked me into and I reluctantly accepted, secretly wantingfor another staffy. All I can say is I have never, ever encountered such a good looking, tough as nails, intelligent dog. Even at just over one year old she is reasonably settled and seriously switched on. Admittedly she needs lots of attention, but we are in a position to give her that and she really is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Obedient (most of the time) and a very fast learner, the boarder terrier is a horse riding sportsmans’ dog. Despite their small stature they are extremely tough, super fit animals – much like the majority of Scotsmen that I have met ( well, the tough part anyway). I’m looking forward to seeing how she will develop personality wise, she already has us in stitches at the best of times. I’ve never fallen so completely in love with a dog before. Maybe it’s just because I’m getting old. Yep, I’m a dog person, there’s no denying it.

by Peter Lang - http://beergoggles.blog.com/

4 Comments |

Reader Comments (4)

Ah, you have discovered the joy of terriers -- the small big dogs! Many a man has never indulged in the joy of a terrier because, well, they' re SMALL.

And aren't all little dogs barky heel-biters?

No, thank heavens, they're not! And everyone I know who has "relented" and had the wonderful experience of living with a Scottish type of terrier has repeated the experience over the years, never going back (at least not completely) to the "big dogs".

I have had many cairn terriers over the years and just recently joined forces with a border terrier. Just can't live without one. Tough, independent, funny, intelligent, loving (and portable, too!) -- who could ask for more?

I loved your dog-life history. Thanks for sharing. I think all dog lovers can relate!

August 30, 2010 |

Melissa

Congratulations, Peter! Borders are the best. Our Rose never met a dog she didn't like and is the only small dog completely at ease in our local dog park when the "big guys" arrive. She plays happily with Rotties, Retrievers. Shepherds, etc. They don't think of her as small because SHE doesn't think of herself as small. Sweetest, sweetest little girl - soon to be three years old. Good luck and so much joy to you with your Nessie!

September 1, 2010 |

Annette

Although to some it may feel oh-so-far-off, spring is on it's way, and here are the louis vuitton to prove it!
New Christian Louboutin spring shoes are hitting the shelves and they are colorful, whimsical and playful,perfect for a spring or summer wedding looking for a little jolt of fun! and now discount for Gucci,Which are your faves?

louis vuitton
lv
louis vuitton wallets
louis vuitton purses
louis vuitton sunglasses
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton handbags
discount handbags
lv
louis vuitton bags

louis vuitton
lv
louis vuitton wallets
louis vuitton purses
louis vuitton sunglasses
louis vuitton shoes
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton handbags
discount handbags
lv
discount handbags
louis vuitton bags

louis vuitton
lv
louis vuitton wallets
louis vuitton purses
louis vuitton sunglasses
louis vuitton shoes
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton handbags
lv
louis vuitton bags

gucci
gucci handbags
gucci bags
gucci wallet
gucci shoes>
gucci sunglasses
gucci men
gucci women
gucci cheap
gucci discount
gucci outlet

mbt
mbts
mbt shoes
chesp mbt shoes
walking shoes
discount shoes
comfort shoes
discount mbt shoes

christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes

ugg discount boots
cheap ugg boots
ugg boots cheap
discount uggs boots
ugg cardy boots
discount uggs
discounted ugg boots
cheap uggs boots
uggs for cheap
ugg
ugg boots
ugg shoes
ugg tall boots
ugg short boots
ugg boots sale
ugg boots on sale
ugg boots on cheap
ugg discount
uggs
discount uggs
ugg sale
ugg kids
ugg women
cheap ugg

ugg discount boots
cheap ugg boots
ugg boots cheap
discount uggs boots
ugg cardy boots
discount uggs
discounted ugg boots
cheap uggs boots
uggs for cheap
ugg
ugg boots
ugg shoes
ugg tall boots
ugg short boots
ugg boots sale
ugg boots on sale
ugg boots on cheap
ugg discount
discount ugg
uggs
discount uggs
ugg sale
ugg kids
ugg women
cheap ugg

weight loss
diet pills
how to lose weight fast

ed hardy
ed hardy clothing
ed hardy clothing shirts
ed hardy clothes
ed hardy t shirts

christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes

October 25, 2010 |

arthashe

Oh my, your dog is so cute.. I like her so much..

October 25, 2010 |

pet burial urns

Post a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »

Author:

Author Email (optional):

Author URL (optional):

Post:

↓ | ↑

Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>