We had to say goodbye to our sweet Howie at the beginning of October. We've had a month to get used to him not being here but I still forget and wonder if I let him back in the house or catch myself just as I'm about to tell a kid to go let him out of his crate when we get home from being out and about. He wasn't always ours but I'm so glad it ended up that way. We got him when he was about three years old when Paul and I were still dating and our girls don't have a memory without him here.
To say he was the most anxious, high-maintenance, quirkiest dog is an understatement. He turned pink if he drank unfiltered water {makes you wonder about the water?}. He flat-out refused to eat people food but would loiter wherever we were eating like maaaybe he would but then, nah, never mind. {At least three times a day I would say, Howard...help a mother out with these crumbs why don't ya? Please?}
He had a few nick names..Howie Bowie, Boward, The White Wizard, Norman. When his fur grew out just enough from a grooming, he looked like the white dragon in the Never Ending Story. He had the craziest, crooked teeth and itchy ears.
He came to us with a full wardrobe and had these tiny green snow booties that were hilarious. About once a year when it snowed, we would put them on him and die laughing at how he pranced around when he was wearing them. I don't think we ever got a video of it but I so wish we had.
Until the last few weeks he was with us, he barked constantly. At everything and nothing. The wind. A person going by. His shadow. Me with a towel on my head. It drove me crazy and I miss it the most. His favorite place to be was literally right under my feet...unless my mom, sister, or a few select other visitors stopped by and then he would choose to be their shadow for a bit.
He never knew if he wanted in or out and one day in our old house I let him in or out 70 times before I lost track in the dinnertime craziness. He was never much for playing with dog toys or a game of fetch but every once in awhile he would join the nightly game of chase around the couch. Which was always hilarious. Given a whole couch to curl up on, he would find a book, computer, or the back of the couch instead.
He was so weird and quirky but he was ours. And this dog was the most loyal, sweet natured pup you could ever ask for. Even though I probably had too many babies in too little time for his liking/attention needs and even though he had to reluctantly take on the role of long suffering playmate to a string of toddlers, he did it well and loved us through it. He became Drew's little buddy in the last few months and he let her carry him around as she went from room to room throughout the day.
I knew in the thick of it...with twins and then four under four and then moving and growing...I knew I was going to look back and feel sad about how I wasn't able to give him the time and attention he probably wanted. But I'm also thankful to know that just being near us always seemed to be enough for him.
I miss him barking at all hours of the day, even nap time. I miss tripping over him 8 billion times a day. I miss him just being on the edge of everything we were ever doing. But how lucky we were to have him at all.
To say he was the most anxious, high-maintenance, quirkiest dog is an understatement. He turned pink if he drank unfiltered water {makes you wonder about the water?}. He flat-out refused to eat people food but would loiter wherever we were eating like maaaybe he would but then, nah, never mind. {At least three times a day I would say, Howard...help a mother out with these crumbs why don't ya? Please?}
He came to us with a full wardrobe and had these tiny green snow booties that were hilarious. About once a year when it snowed, we would put them on him and die laughing at how he pranced around when he was wearing them. I don't think we ever got a video of it but I so wish we had.
He never knew if he wanted in or out and one day in our old house I let him in or out 70 times before I lost track in the dinnertime craziness. He was never much for playing with dog toys or a game of fetch but every once in awhile he would join the nightly game of chase around the couch. Which was always hilarious. Given a whole couch to curl up on, he would find a book, computer, or the back of the couch instead.
He was so weird and quirky but he was ours. And this dog was the most loyal, sweet natured pup you could ever ask for. Even though I probably had too many babies in too little time for his liking/attention needs and even though he had to reluctantly take on the role of long suffering playmate to a string of toddlers, he did it well and loved us through it. He became Drew's little buddy in the last few months and he let her carry him around as she went from room to room throughout the day.
I knew in the thick of it...with twins and then four under four and then moving and growing...I knew I was going to look back and feel sad about how I wasn't able to give him the time and attention he probably wanted. But I'm also thankful to know that just being near us always seemed to be enough for him.
He looked like a happy dog in a happy family. RIP. I read all these posts years ago and didn't say anything at the time, but I did appreciate reading it. Thanks.
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