Arite had four very simple goals in life.
The first was sleep.
Cats may nap but my dog knew how to snooze. If there was no chance of food or a walk, Artie would plop down and pass out. Always, it seems, right in the middle of the action and we’d find our self stepping around his snoring body as we went about our play.
But Artie’s secret love was to sleep on our bed. From the moment we took him home from the shelter I believe he was plotting his avenue to attack. We had the kitties when we brought Artie home and we were a bit worried about how they’d get along. We had a fenced dog run in the backyard and we thought he’d sleep out there. What fools we were. It was early August and hot and we were sleeping with our windows open. After the first night of listening to him bark and whine all night long, we quickly realized outside was not an option. I guess after spending three months caged in the pound, Artie was not going to settle for any more time alone in a cage.
So our next plan was to get Artie a crate to sleep in indoors. At night, we’d tell him it was time to go to bed and he’d walk sadly over to his crate and curl up inside. We’d shut the door and retire upstairs for the night. This was when the problems began. You see, the kitties could not believe their good luck! Here was a dog locked up but still within paw swipe reach for their personal night time amusement! And so they’d poke and prod him all night long and make him miserable.
Another plan was needed and I thought I was pretty smart when I decided to put Artie in his crate with the crate door open and erected a baby gate in the doorway of the room. We thought it would keep the cats out and let Artie move about as he pleased. In hindsight, it wasn’t the best of plans. The cats jumped the baby gate only to find themselves face to face with a very loose and very grumpy dog. A madcap chase then ensured worthy of a Tom and Jerry episode with the result of cats yowling, dog growling and the baby gate crashing down at 2am waking us from our sleep. Clearly, we needed another solution and we settled on ignorance. Every night, we’d tell Artie it was time for bed and he’d put himself in his cage. We’d kiss him good night and head up stairs. As soon as we reached the top of the stairs, we’d hear him get up and pad back over to the sofa were he’d jump up and sleep all night.
This didn’t last for long though. Our dog trainer recommended we get him his own bed and let him sleep in our room so the pack could stay together. We put it next to our bed where it stayed for the next nine years and he was happy to use it……. except in the winter.
Back then, we slept in a converted attic at 69th and there was no heating in our bedroom. At winter time, we’d turn on the small, stinky, space heater and huddle under our feather bed. Artie quickly decided that he wanted in the the warmth too. So at night, after we’d get in bed, we’d look down at our feet and we’d see his little head resting on our bed. Tail wagging, puppy wolf eyes pleading, and you know we gave in. He was a smart dog and always started very respectfully. He’d curl up at our feet and doze off. Unfortunately, as the night wore on, he’d forgot his manners and would slowly uncurl and move up the bed until he was lying back to back with Kevin all limbs splayed. Now, on a full sized mattress there is room for two people or one person and a fat sausage dog but there is no way to fit all three. Because I love him so, I just couldn’t kick him off so I’d usually end up grabbing my pillow and going downstairs to sleep on the sofa for the rest of the night. Lucky dog. We finally fixed the situation by buying Artie his very own electric blanket that I’d turn on to warm his puppy bed at night. What a lucky dog!
This house, thankfully, has heating in all rooms so he never tried to sleep with us at night. Instead, he liked to sleep in the bed when he thought we weren’t looking. As soon as the front door closed and we headed to school or playgroup Artie would hop up on our bed for his morning nap. I caught him several times when I had to dash back in for a forgotten Patches or snack bag. And although he looked guilty up there, I never shoo’d him off. Instead, I’d rub his belly and let him be and I’m so thankful that I did!
Kulia, especially, loved it when Artie got on the bed. When we’d come home in the morning from our errands, she’d turn to me with a twinkle and give me the “shhhhh” finger. “Shhhhh, mommy, let’s see if Artie’s on the bed!” she’d whisper and I’d do my best to turn my key very quietly in the lock. As soon as the door was open, she’d dash upstairs to see if she could catch Artie still napping. Most days, he was waiting by the door all innocent but occasionally she’d sneak up on him still in bed and it would tickle her pink.
Yesterday, as we came home, she asked me to open the door quietly.
“Why, honey?”, I asked her.
“Because I want to see if Artie is on the bed”, she answered with her best sneaky smile.
“Oh, honey, Artie isn’t here, he died, remember?
“Oh”, she said, “I forgot.”
And that’s what is so hard right now. It’s so easy to forget that he’s gone. We have so many routines that we did for him without thinking that when we fall into one it shocks me into realizing that he is gone again. I have to unlearn all my Artie actions and so far is isn’t easy.
So these are the memories I have of Artie and his love of sleep. On the sofa, the floor, his bed or mine, that dog knew how to enjoy his sleep. Rest in peace Old Man. I miss you.
