Maine Seasons: Two-Dog Days

The first three weeks of the year were cold, filled with colds, and a busy school and work schedule. It was a bit of a downer after the holidays. All we wanted to do was stay home, stay in bed. Then the last weekend in January we took in a second dog from an older friend who is no longer home to care for his best friend. While we had our concerns about bringing another older dog into our home with our energetic two-year-old lab, it has worked out better than expected, and everyone is settling into the routine.

Becoming a
 two-dog home:
I can't resist smiling
when these two happy
dogs greet me with their
enthusiastic tail
wags and cute faces.

Having this second dog has saved my winter from the complete doldrums it was in. Because we live in a rural neighborhood far off the road, Merlin goes in and out without our direct supervision every minute. He usually stays in the yard and returns back to the door within five minutes or within a call out or two. But Ramsay is used to being put on a leash or a run, and because this was a new environment, we've been going outside with him on a leash. Being older and less frisky (although he has a lot of play left in him!), Ramsay takes a slower pace, and he has different habits that require patience. This has made the going-outside routine to take ten minutes rather than the two it was before. Walks have changed from fast and furious five-minute run-rambles up our dead-end road to 15 minutes of sniffing, shuffling, and maybe some light jogging on a fast day. So being Ramsay's caretaker requires a bit of patience.

A two-dog ramble.

At first I dreaded going outside in the cold, but I've bundled up heavily for predawn, mid-day, and late starry night rambles around the yard.

After two weeks of this I realized I wasn't as down about winter as I was before. Having another dog to think about as well as getting outside with the dogs rather than just being a doorman has helped me enormously. The fresh air, exercise, and looking at the stars and snow and hearing the little birds that stick around Maine in winter has helped my perspective.

But oh the hair! I thought our house was dog-hair infested with one, but two has produced infinite amounts and has required far more regular vacuuming than my usual once-a-week sweep-through. Benefit? More vacuuming equates more exercise! (And maybe a cleaner house? Probably not!)

The dog toys have accumulated
with the dog hair!

Ultimately the dogs are happy, and they are making me happy as I watch them adjust and become friends. Ramsay is getting more limber and playful, and Merlin has a companion, and he enjoys the company of people and another dog outside. He's getting more exercise than he was earlier this winter as well. So far, its been a win-win bringing another dog into our home.

Check with me during mud and tick season, which are are just around the corner. (One day at a time, I guess!)

Get outside and play with your dog! Its one of the best remedies for the winter blahs.