The Couch Crew : 2019

Tuesday Dec 3

Originally I planned to blog about Athena and how hard it is dealing with a dog that has DM.
Then yesterday Duchess returned from play care a shadow of her self.

Watching all the craziness

She was her normal happy self when I dropped them off at play care earlier in the day. She was not right when she came home. She just stood there with a vacant expression. It was like someone just sucked her whole personality out of her. She walked very very slowly. Taking small steps. She would not eat (a DEFINITE sign something was wrong). She would not lie down. She would walk the house (pace) and just would stare off. She would walk to a corner or wall and just stare.

I was freaking out. My baby girl was sick and I was not prepared for this. I slept horribly all night, getting up to check on her. This morning I got her to lie at my feet and relax enough to fall asleep.

After running to work to grab my work pc, I came home and was able to call a full service clinic that opened at 7am. Our vet opens at 8 and has to send out for blood work--so I just went somewhere else.

It was a nice day Sunday Morning

At 8am we were walking into Avon Lake Animal Clinic. Blood work, X-rays, & an Ultrasound found that my dear sweet Duchess had a large mass (most likely cancerous). Skipping over the details-- ultimately we've made the decision to ease her suffering.

Rich will be coming home soon and we'll be on our way to send our baby to hang out with her older siblings and my Dad.

I'm devastated. Onto Duchess---

Duchess was actually chosen by Rich. We were looking for another dog and she was one of the ones he was interested in. I sent inquiries and on June 11 I took Galen & Sheba with me to Wayne Cty to meet this girl.

The ignored each other which was a success and we made plans to come back on Friday to take her home.

Her profile pic

June 14-my birthday-- we brought this gorgeous girl home with us. She got along with Galen & Sheba and was more than we could have hoped for.

Completely house trained-- she never had an accident in the house. She was a bit aloof at times, but appreciated being petted. She was pretty chill at first. Eventually her playfulness started to show and we knew we'd need to find her a play mate.

She loved to play with her food. She'd pick out pieces and flip them in the air. She loved playing with her pack. She would try to get Sheba to play, but Sheba's age prevented that. ALong came Athena and the 2 of them would play.

June 11 2013

When Peryn came along- she was in heaven. We discovered she preferred to play roughly. Peryn was up for the challenge. The 2 of them would play often and it always made me smile.

After doing a DNA test, we discovered she was a Boxer/Husky cross. My beautiful girl. We joined NOHME and began meeting other husky owners. Duchess, while loved playing with her family, wasn't much of a socializer. She would often walk off on her own to explore than play with the other dogs.

June 14 2013-the Pack

At parks she would run off and explore. During one of these park visits we found she LOVED big open spaces so she could run. The big smile on her face said it all. Duchess was happiest running free.

She loved getting attention from her humans, but she would NOT kiss you. She doled out only a handful of kisses in her time with us. It's become a contest on who she would kiss on the face next.

ALDP 2013

We got compliments on her all the time. She was a beauty. Everyone loved her ears. Loved her eyes.. They just thought she was so beautiful.

She was a bit difficult around others. If she saw someone running, she would jump up towards them--and keep on running. We called this a drive by as it scared the crap out of people. She had a ferocious bark and let it loose on those she deemed suspect.
She didn't realize her size and would knock someone down if she jumped up on them.. She was picky about who she liked.

Those she loved-- man she loved them. Our neighbor Kara, our neighbors Mike & Lissette, our friend Stacy, my brother Dave, my Dad, my Mom......the gals at play care.

Playcare-- I was leery at first sending her there. With her being a loner, I didn't think she would like being stuck with dogs all day long. It soon became apparent I had nothing to fear. She would go bonkers when we were driving there.

Lazily looking out the window

First Kiss to Uncle Dave

Once- and probably the last time she ever did--she kissed me after I picked them up. Blew me away. Soon I come to find out, my little loner isn't really a loner. She had a boyfriend. Then it's a couple of boyfriends. My girl was a big ole flirt. She prefers larger male dogs to play with. This brought so much love into me because I knew it brought her happiness.

Duchess loved her siblings. She was always near one of them. I have picture upon picture of Duchess with one of them. She was a true pack dog. Even her little sister--pain in the ass sister-Lada. While Lada ruined all of Duchess' fun and they would go at each other most days--- Duchess kept an eye on Lada and vice versa.

Duchess liked her routine. 4am was her "brusha" time. I would get up (or be woken up ) to let them out and give them their Brush Chews followed by a cookie or 2. Heaven forbid you be late.
I would come home from work and she would jump around happy to see me and then I'd let them out. She'd come right back inside and walk over to the "treat center". Time for her "afternoon snack". Her other favorite things were sunning herself in the back yard, looking out the windows and doors --and just being with us.

She loved to eat snacks. Any chance she got, she was begging for it. That's why Kara, Mike & Lissette were her favorites. They gave her snacks.

She would still occasionally play with her food. When she wasn't playing with it, she'd push it out of the bowl when she was bored with it.

She loved going for walks and loved to walk over to the park a few doors down from our new house. She just loved going on walks period.

With Her Dragon

She was my beautiful girl.

When we first got her it was summer and we only had a queen sized bed. Rich began sleeping in the guest room--so Duchess slept with me. When Rich attempted to return to the bed a few weeks later, she wasn't having it.
And so began the nightly ritual of Rich and Duchess having a stand off over who got Rich's space in bed. She lost most of the time, but she always let him know she wasn't happy about it one bit.

As I sit here typing this up, I'm crying and little girl is beside me trying to stop me from crying She was with me, Dave, & Mom when we were with Dad as he passed--so I know she senses my grief.

She was always my girl, but really for the past few years--she was Rich's as well. Whenever he was in his office---she was there as well. She liked being away from the craziness that was Lada & Peryn.

The Crew

Begging for food

I know her last few weeks were great. She had visitors left and right between our housewarming party, my Mom & Dave's visit and then Thanksgiving. She loved our new house and patrolling the back fence as walkers on the path passes by. She got lots of treats.
Tuesday night she got lots of Turkey as I prepped the garbage for garbage day.
She got lots of affection -- she was pretty damn happy until she wasn't.

I will miss you -you beautiful girl. Run Free!!!

December 5 2019