ARRIVAL

Ruff came to us from Devore, CA. After Rosie died, we had decided to wait a year or so, but within a month, I found my self surfing the Internet looking for dogs. There are a lot of shelter dogs out there and many of them have web sites dedicated to showing off their rescues. In the mean time my wife had built up a pet sitting business in our home so we were anxious that any dog we got would be compatible with that activity.

A shelter called the Great Pyrenees Rescue of Southern California had a motley collection of assorted bearded collies. We had decided for some time that our next dog would be a beardie.

So we called the shelter and made an appointment for the weekend. The trip was a quick 120 miles, and we were soon mingling with about a dozen shaggy dogs. Amongst the group was a very strange almond-eyed, all white beardie with a pink nose. He wasn't very attentive and his name was Damien.

The owner of the rescue shelter would go around to the local public shelters and pick up any shaggy haired dogs as they were often not adopted, and had a convention of naming all her dogs beginning with the 1st letter of the public shelter where she found them. She named Ruff, Damien, as he was the most energetic of the dogs she had.

We singled him out and went into the back yard to see if we could get to know him. He was kind of stand offish but eventually began interacting with us. Soon he was coming to us and letting us pet him.

Just about then, a neighbor's dog got out and started barking. Ruff (Damien) ran down to the fence and started barking back. I called to him and as he started back up the yard I picked up a nearby tennis ball and threw it to him. He immediately ducked down and skittered off to the side acting just like someone was stoning him. He wouldn't let us get near him the rest of the day and we finally left, dejected that it hadn't worked out.

Two weeks went by and we kept talking about him and finally decided if we prepared ourselves we could go back and win him over. So we packed up some hotdogs and cheese and went back. That did the trick. After a couple of hours we were bonded. He let the shelter owner put him in our car and he rode back to our place without incident.

Due to Ruffs exposure to kennel cough at the shelter, we had to keep him in isolation because of the pet sitting, and he got quite depressed being the only dog after being with so many others. After 6 weeks he was able to start meeting all the guest dogs with his new name Ruff. It took him a while to realize what was going on, but all of a sudden he realized that he was the house dog and would not have to leave like the others!

IN RESIDENCE

Ruff has turned out to be a super duper dog. He is a kid magnet and most people that see him ask us if he is in the movies. He is gentle with everyone, but knows how to rough-house with his friends at dog park. Because of repeat pet sitting clients he has learned to make friends and recognizes them if he meets them at the park, both dog and human.

It also turns out that he travels well. A couple of years ago, we took a 3,000 mile car trip to the Pacific Northwest in an SUV and he fit in nicely. He never barked while in the car and would go to sleep as soon as the car started moving. He even acclimated to the various dog friendly hotels and inns we stayed in on the way.

After we got settled in with the friends we were visiting my wife took Ruff on walks in the area. Soon they met the neighbor and his dog, Boo. Boo was a rural dog adept a rooting for moles and other critters in the beaten down field grass from the previous winter.

One day I noticed my wife talking to the neighbor and Boo and Ruff frolicking in the field. Soon Boo went on his way pouncing on various clumps of grass. I noticed Ruff was doing the same and figured Boo had taught him to hunt. Soon Ruff was pawing at a mound of grass and even starting to dig.

As I watched from a distance, I noticed some colors starting to appear where he was digging. Soon he had unearthed a 6 or 7 inch rainbow striped ball fitted with a loud squeaker. As he ran proudly back to my wife I heard her exclaim, "Oh Ruff, that's Boo's toy! You will have to give it back."

Immediately I heard the neighbor exclaim, "That thing! I was never so glad in my life when Boo lost it. The squeaker was driving me crazy. Please take it."

Ruff carried that toy all the way back home. Making sure he knew where it was whether it was in the car or in the hotel room. The ball is somewhat faded and the squeaker is now weak but Ruff still gets it out now and then to carry around and play with.

DEPARTURE

In November 2008, Ruff celebrated what we think is his 4th birthday. He is healthy in body and spirit and we plan on having him around to share in our future adventures.