I’ve been dog-less since 2008. There was extensive travel in those years and moderately extensive excuses not to have a dog.
That phase is over as of today.
Meet Felix, a 22 month old Australian Shepherd / Catahoula Leopard Dog mix. Yeah I had to look up that breed:
Louisiana’s “hog dog” is a jambalaya of native American dogs, Spanish Mastiffs, and Greyhounds. Catahoulas were created to track and drive feral hogs and cattle when it was time to butcher them, and not surprisingly they are aggressively resolute in their work.
This tough yet strikingly beautiful dog can have a spotted, brindle, solid, or patched coat of many colors. Other outstanding physical characteristics are his webbed feet, which allow him to swim well and work in soft, marshy areas, and his eyes, which may be blue, green, brown, or amber. Some Catahoulas have eyes that are each a different color or “cracked” eyes: two different colors within the same eye.
Befitting their heritage as herding and driving dogs, Catahoulas are wary of strangers. They’re protective of their families and opinionated about who is and isn’t trustworthy. People who live with them say they’re excellent judges of character.
Expect to provide this hard-working and independent dog with at least an hour of strenuous exercise daily as well as firm guidance during training. When their exercise and leadership needs are met, Catahoulas are loving, calm, and dedicated companions.
Getting a dog was a plan I had with the prospect of the 18 month contract work with Creative Commons. I was going to wait… after our first May meeting in Washington DC, and maybe after a June trip for a week in Guadalajara for a second round of the UDG Agora project.
Then last week, the thunderclap… thought “What the heck are you waiting for?” So on Monday I made a visit to the Humane Society of Central Arizona in Payson (30 minutes drive from here).
Of all the dogs I’ve had, they were found (Dominoe), or from a breeder (Mickey and Cadu), or ones that someone else brought home (Skamper and Fresa). This was my first trip to the shelter, and yes, I left Monday without a dog. but I found two I liked, the second one I spent time with was Felix.
flickr photo shared by cogdogblog under a Creative Commons ( BY ) license
I wanted to wait, some just to think, but mostly to prep the house. And I needed every possible dog item, I had nothing (a big trip to PetSmart). But today at noon, they brought him out for me to take home.
flickr photo shared by cogdogblog under a Creative Commons ( BY ) license
I was super happy Felix hopped in the front seat of my truck (aka Red Dog) and was happy to sit there calmly on the drive home. We spent some time outside first, letting him get the sniffs of the neighborhood and the yard.
And with good timing, today’s DS106 Daily Create was to make a video about puppies (Felix is close enough).
Later we took an hour long walk.
He’s amazingly calm and happy for being tossed into a new environment. There’s that unknown of not know what the dog’s past is like, and the energy in the shelter is so manic you cannot judge all the nervous barking there.
But Felix has been super affectionate, jumping into my arms even, we’ve done fetch, and he seems pretty comfortable sleeping now on new dog bed. He seems to have “sit” as a known command, and he walked well without too much pull. The few yappy dogs we passed, he became alert, but he was not charged up aggressive.
He seems to be settled in nicely:
flickr photo shared by cogdogblog under a Creative Commons ( BY ) license
I feel fortunate to have this fella around.
Okay so I have made a namesake of dogs and use them as metaphors frequently. They are loyal and playful and fun yet so much more. A few weeks/months ago Mariana Funes shared this video of one man’s experience with a rescue dogs that literally saved his life (warning, this video likely will generate tears):
I’m not expecting life saving, Felix, just be your dog self. In my house. In my life.
We some adventures ahead of us!
flickr photo shared by cogdogblog under a Creative Commons ( BY ) license
Top / Featured Image credit: A photo I took about an hour ago… now a flickr photo https://flickr.com/photos/cogdog/26010856790 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
Congratulations to both you and Felix! I’m so glad you found one another.
Every once in a while a dog enters your life….and changes everything. Feliz Felix in his new home, looks like he will settle well and as my friend Steve said to me a while back about Colin: I think he has decided to keep you 🙂
Beautiful! Be happy, you two… looks like a great start 🙂
This is awesome. Anto and I regularly marvel just how much joy Daphne has brought to our lives over the last two years. And I am very happy to see the dog bag in CogDog. Congrats Papa Dog!
Yay for you and Felix! He has a great smile and you look as happy as a Cogdog should. And I am envious. Time for a Vermont dog.
I have an Aussie Houla mix rescue, too, and she’s turned into the Best Dog Ever. Congrats on getting yours!
Holy moly I want to go the shelter now! Awesome stuff. Thanks for sharing.
I am happy that you have unconditional love (and cuteness!) in your home Alan. Many adventures upcoming!
I ?? Felix!
In the “life likes to rhyme” department, we left you to spend four days in LA with Peter’s son Daniel who was shooting a Pet Smart commercial.
And yesterday we met another new-breed-to-us dog, a Bologna–sort of like a walking cloud.
Welcome, Felix!
Congratulations, Alan and Felix! Great story and such a cute puppy but you know me and puppies 🙂 Love it! Enjoy!
Felix is the dude! Cool coat
That’s great Alan! Seems like a great dog. Very dog looking but an unusual color scheme … a bit exotic I’d say. 🙂 We had to put our Australian Shepherd down a few years back – she was “calm” for an Aussie, so glad Felix seems not too intense. Have fun learnin’ each other
This makes me happy. Thank you.
That’s one awesome dog, dog! Have fun – when a dog steals your heart it is a beautiful thing. Spike certainly did me the power of good.
& make sure you introduce Brian to him.
Love Felix! Congratulations, can’t wait to hear all about your adventures!
Felix is the dealix!
So happy for you! What a gorgeous puppy! Looks a little like a southern husky with those eyes. I wasn’t expecting to come home with a dog when I went up to Kuujjuaq but Luna found me and has become one of the family 🙂 They may not all save lives but they bring so much joy – love – into a home. Maybe you’ll hop in your red truck again and our dogs can romp the northern forests together!
Thanks Tom… wow I am out of the loop, I had no idea you moved to the very far north. Yes, I am hoping for road trips, and while that might be as far from Arizona as I could drive… well never rule out possibilities. My best to you and Luna.
No road to Kuujjuaq yet my friend, but I’ll be glad to meet you in Montreal! I still live “down here” in Montreal 🙂 Glad to see your photos of dog walking, pie eating and general good-life-living. Luna has certainly changed my life for the better. I’m late replying, but let me not be remiss in wishing you a happy birthday today!
Muchas gracias, amigo. You will be first to know if I get to Montreal, not too sure when, but let’s leave the door open. And if you ever travel to the American Southwest, you have a standing invite to visit.
He is perfect for you. Can’t wait to meet him!
Will Bailey approve?
Hurrah!
Congrads…. I just got a puppy this week also after loosing my dog of 15 years. Fergus is 8 weeks old and an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix. I had almost 2 weeks without a dog, and it was very lonely. He came from a great no-kill shelter here in Asheville, Brother Wolf.