Boomer in the Tomatoes

Our family circle expanded recently with the arrival of a kindhearted old gentleman.  He’s pushing 80, but still thinks he’s a teenager–until his arthritis reminds him of his limitations.  We don’t know anything about his “former life,” but we wanted to make his last years on this earth as happy as possible.

And therein lies the mystery.  Most people would probably share stories of their life, opening the door to let us peek into their past.  Ah, but Boomer isn’t like most people.  In fact, he’s not a people at all.  He’s 80 pounds of pure love, in the shape of a Golden Retriever.

What makes us do the things we do?  Is it nature versus nurture?  Or a combination of both?  We’re learning things about Boomer that make us even more curious about his past, but offer few answers.

Our other dog, Shadow (a black Lab/Corgi mix), is happy to be her own doorman, letting herself back inside after a romp in the yard.  All we have to do is leave the door closed but not latched, and she pushes open the door.  (We’re still working on having her close it behind her.)

The first time we let Boomer outside, he came back to the door well enough—he can see where the door is, after all—and then he just stood there with a happy, expectant look on his face.  I opened the door a bit to show him it wasn’t latched, but he still just stood there.  I opened it halfway and called to him, but his look replied, “You don’t expect me to push the door open, do you?  That would be rude!”  Ah yes, he’s too much of a gentleman to intrude without an invitation.

We were in the midst of tomato season when Boomer joined us, and I was shocked to discover that he was a vegetable lover—especially fond of tomatoes.  His golden-turned-white face now turned a pale shade of green as he browsed among the tomato plants, picking and eating cherry tomatoes at his leisure.  As I fixed supper, he watched me hopefully, and greedily downed the two cherry tomatoes I gave him each night.  You’d have thought they were the most delicious liver treats in the whole world!

Always anxious to get in on Treat Time, Shadow showed up the first time she heard Boomer eating something in the kitchen.  So, I handed her a cherry tomato to try.  She sniffed it eagerly, and then glared at me as if to say, “You’ve got to be kidding.  Do dogs actually eat these things?”

The other day, I investigated a noise in the spare bedroom, where I found Boomer happily finishing off a big green tomato that I’d brought inside before the first frost, hoping it would ripen a bit.  It had been sitting there long enough, Boomer decided, and he couldn’t stand it any longer.  Down the hatch!

We like to eat supper in front of the TV (it’s just the two of us, after all), so after kitchen prep is over, we settle in for some “down time.”  Boomer liked to keep me company in the kitchen while I fixed supper, but he just stayed there after I left the room.  I figured he’d join us when he felt like it.  Awhile later, we were startled by a soft little “yelp” from the kitchen.  Worried that Boomer’s back legs weren’t letting him get up, I hurried in to investigate.  As soon as I appeared, he scrambled to his feet and happily followed me back to the livingroom.

This scenario went on for several nights until I decided to try something new.  The next time Boomer yelped from the kitchen, I called, “Come on out, Boomer!  Join the party!”  Seconds later, his happy, grinning face appeared beside us.  Who knew he just needed an invitation?  Somewhere in his past, I guess somebody trained him to stay put, even without the “stay” command.  He has a memory like an elephant, and he continues to surprise us with his bag of tricks.

If you ever decide to foster or adopt an older dog, keep in mind that he brings with him a whole lifetime of experiences.  Just accept him for who he is, and welcome him into your home with loving arms.  You’ll never regret it.

It’s as easy as buying a pumpkin, going on line, downloading a stencil of your dog’s breed, transferring the stencil onto the pumpkin, hollowing out the pumpkin, and then spending an hour or so, I’d guess, delicately carving out your dog’s likeness.

It looks like something that crafty Martha Stewart would come up with and, for all I know, maybe she has. But the stencil used to carve this dog came from Good Housekeeping, which offers about a dozen breed stencils for free downloading

You can also vote for your favorite one, or learn how to create your own stencil.

Happy carving!

Despite its name, the Irish Red and White Setter is a distinct breed, not just a different-colored version of the Irish Setter. Bred primarily for the field, they are strong, powerful, and athletic, with a keen and intelligent attitude. The coat’s base color is white with solid red patches.

A Look Back

Known in Ireland since the 17th century, the Red and White Setter is thought to be the older of the two Irish Setters. However, due to the overwhelming popularity of its solid red cousin, and separate breeding of the two breeds, the Irish Red and White Setter was nearly extinct by the end of the 19th century. During the 1920’s, efforts were made to revive the Irish Red and White Setter, and by the 1940’s, the breed began to reemerge in Ireland.

Right Breed for You?

Courageous, spirited, and determined, the breed’s energy in the field carries over to the home, so Red and White Setters require regular exercise. Their kind and friendly attitude makes them great family dogs. They need minimal brushing or trimming. Owners prize a natural appearance, and the breed tends to carry less coat than the Irish Setter.

If you are considering purchasing an Irish Red or White Setter puppy, you can learn more here.

* Sporting Group; AKC recognized in 2009

* Ranging in size from 22½ to 26 inches tall at the shoulder

* Gundog

Visit the Dogspired Breeds section of Dogspired to learn more about other breeds.