Everybody has traveled with a pet, sometimes just a quick trip to the grocery store, other times camping in the great outdoors, dodging squirrels, birds, or other big brown things, like bears. Our trip to Houston was two 12-hour days in Big Red, the F-250, with Cody, the Wonder Dog. Cody is a Cairn Terrier, a blond version of Toto of the Wizard of Oz fame. He’s a cute little guy, mostly likeable with only a few bad traits. He has a lot of fur, but thankfully doesn’t shed. His piercing brown eyes are mostly shaded by his long bangs, and they pull the dickens out of my heart strings. He has a great sense of smell, especially loving the aroma of Montana-bred steak followed by his love of my hand lotion. He can hardly resist a good whiff of either T-Bone steak or a dab of Bath and Body Works skin care cream.
I’ve always liked dogs, but my version of a dog was a Labrador or Golden Retriever, not exactly a lap dog, rather one that would pull me around when we went on a walk, so it was easy to leave him at home. Cody is the first small dog I’ve had, but his size isn’t indicative of his personality. While he is a cuddly lap dog, he thinks he is a Great Dane or even a St. Bernard.
When I first moved to Montana, Cody was a little miffed. He would get in the truck and plant himself on the passenger’s seat and wait. I would hoist myself on the running board and wait. One of us had to give. Me or Cody? It was a standoff, but he has long teeth, which I refused to challenge, so I would wait a bit longer until Cowboy said, “Cody, get in the back, let Miss Gail in.” Cody would sit there for a few seconds, then silently concede to the rear seat, not happy, but knowing he shouldn’t challenge the Cowboy. But then, Cowboy started the pickup and a few seconds later, Cody appeared on my lap, nose to nose, staring into my eyes, as if to say, “Ha-ha! I won after all.”
He also an odd relationship with water. Rivers and water would seem to be the same, and Cody loves rivers, as long as they are viewed from afar, like a bridge. About a half mile before we see a bridge, he senses it and goes bonkers, ready to jump out the window. If I put the window down, I fear he might jump out. If I leave it up, I fear he will go right through it. I’m not sure how many rivers flow between Montana and Houston, but he found them all.
On the other hand, while he loves looking at rivers, he hates the thought of getting wet. Our Erie Canal trip meant floating down a canal, AKA water. Getting off the boat was a challenge, as was getting on the boat, sharp white teeth shining in either direction.
Cody is a great companion for us. He likes to be pampered, as long as it doesn’t include water. He knows our routine and we know his. He goes to bed at 9:00 every night; it’s his bedtime and he respects it. He walks over to Cowboy and looks him in the foot, and opens and closes his eyes and Cowboy knows, it’s Cody’s bedtime…the one-sided conversation goes like this: “Come on, Cody, it’s time for bed, you are a good dog, such a good dog, but it’s time for bed. Let’s go to bed.” Repeat three times, and the two of them head for the dog kennel. So far, Cody has gotten into the kennel and the Cowboy comes back into the living room…but one of these days…who knows?
If you enjoy Gail’s blogs, please share. New book, Murder in the Parsonage, coming out in a couple weeks…I’m super excited!!!! Gailcushman.com
Coming in November!
Murder in the Parsonage
Book 1 of the Maggie Monroe Series
Wrinkly Bits Series, a senior hijinks
