A Threesome

Our friends are on their way to Costa Rica for two weeks of cool birding. Their dog Teak is staying with us. He's stayed with us several times before. Though on his last extended visit he tore an ACL in his knee. Teak started limping on the way back from our morning walk, the last morning before Phil and Carolyn arrived to take him home. He'd just finished running and leaping after a frisbee, repeated many times. It was days later, when his limp did not improve, that we all learned he'd torn a ligament. Surgery followed and he recovered nicely. But Teak was a young guy and the vet said he might be prone to joint problems.

Teak, now 7, grew up with Aria and Fargo. He is an exceptionally sweet and gentle large (100 pound) German shepherd. Aria, Fargo, and Teak were best friends. Fargo is gone. Aria is aging, but still lights up when Teak comes and he reciprocates with happy moans and gentle nudges. And now there is Kodi, the one year old.

Twenty-four hours have past since Teak arrived and he and Kodi have become fast friends. When Kodi gets rough, Teak bares his big teeth, opens his big mouth wide, and snarls if necessary. Teak is a bit of a baby (as Shepherds are known to be), so sometimes he complains loudly if Kodi bites or pounces too hard. We also wince, hoping that Teak does not tear another ligament on our watch!

Note to Phil and Carolyn: happy birding -- not to worry, all is well! Just look at the pictures.

So, we have a threesome for just under two weeks. They are three happy, gentle dogs. Kodi it seems, like Aria and Teak, could not hurt a flea. He sits quietly to receive a dog biscuit and takes it gently from our hands, even when another dog is nearby. He calmly meets small children and likes hugs and back rubs. He does dig, but mostly to burn off all that young energy.

Teak is good for Kodi. He'll teach him some life lessons and give him some play. Aria will complain some, only because her aging body does not allow her to enter the fray. She is game, but the body resists. Yet, each morning she walks with us, as far as Teak and Kodi. She is the energizer bunny.

Kodi says, water is good, life is great