August 17, 2005
Cesara
My wife Kathy and I have a new puppy.
Cesara, a 10 to 12 week-old Australian Shepherd-Border Collie mix will never be a replacement for our beloved Panda who died three weeks ago of inoperable bladder cancer.
Panda will never be forgotten. Cesara will be her own girl. Already she has snuggled her way into our hearts. She isn't trained yet, but from all indications she will be a genius–if there are genius dogs. I think there are.
We first saw her a week or so before Panda died. Cesara was from a litter of 12 we saw advertised in the paper. As luck would have it, she was one of three or four still available about three weeks after we initially saw the litter. At that time she was un-named. That didn't last long.
One might ask how we selected her name. Well, that pholks, is an interesting story. Kathy loves a program called the "The Dog Whisperer," on the National Geographic Channel. The dog expert, named Cesar Millan, has captured my wife's admiration for his training techniques and success. She vows that's the only attraction although she has referred to him once or twice as a "cutie."
Anyway, previously we had thought "Button" might be a good name, but someone we know has a dog by that name. So, when we carried our new companion to the car and Kathy suggested we name her after "The Dog Whisperer," the issue was clearly resolved. It took only a couple more minutes to add an "a" to Cesar and put the proper gender to the name.
"Cesara" was an instant hit at our first destination, the pet store where a "happy face" leash, a food bowl, shampoo, a squeaky frog toy (complete with one extra replacement squeaker, mind you) and "special" treats were gathered up and placed in the shopping cart, along with the "well-behaved" puppy who had endured her first car ride, first experience in public. The trauma of the first half-hour with her new family was handled pretty darned well for a less-than-three-month old baby girl.
"Cesara" has already had her first round of puppy shots and an appointment for the next. The vet declared her in perfect health. She responses to her name, chases the frog and brings it back, and does all the things a puppy is supposed to.
She is doing well on potty training and should graduate pretty soon.
She and the cat, "Sidney" are getting along quite well. "Sidney," that name is also an interesting story, is handling the sibling rivalry and battle for attention pretty well. No fights yet, although the cat did issue one odd growl. In the last few days "Sidney" has found herself being chased around the house–even when she isn't in the mood. Though this is a good method to help Cesara get rid of some of her puppy energy. it's a good bet "Sidney" will make it clear when he doesn't want to be chased. Cats are like that. "Cesara" will learn that fact soon and it will be on to the next lesson.
I must get back to paying attention to "the kids'" but not before I thank all you pholks for the kindness shown after my tribute to our "Panda."
It's still a difficult thing to handle, especially when we went to pick up her ashes. I did pretty well.
Life goes on and if Cesara keeps going as well has she already has, she could be writing this column within a year. She will, however, first have to master potty training then learn how to spell pholks like her daddy does.
If she doesn't get the spelling right we will still love her any way.
Thanks pholks.
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