I’m not sure how this is possible, but Willie turns twelve years old today (July 3rd). Wasn’t it just last month that he was a seven-week old fuzz ball? Or just yesterday when he finally stopped being terrified of unfamiliar dogs after years of conditioning and training?
Time is indeed relative. It’s been no time at all since Willie came into our lives. And yet it’s been an eternity, because I can barely imagine life without him. Those of you who have read my memoir, The Education of Will, know that our story together is a complicated one. His fears as a puppy set off my own, and things got a lot worse before they got better. But they never would have gotten better at all if Willie hadn’t forced me to dig deeper in my own recovery efforts than I had in the past. Every dog we have is special, but dogs who allow you to “reclaim your life,” as stated in the subtitle of the book, are special indeed.
Happy Birthday Willie, my Willie Billie Boy, my lunkhead, my muse, my tough love therapist, and the dog who changed my life. I love you.
In other news, it’s July and time for my traditional “summer slow down”. I’ll still be posting, but there will be a few more throwbacks and ‘nothing-but-photos’ than usual. However, I am already working on a post for later in July related to training that is tentatively titled “The Pause That Refreshes,” so my brain has not completely turned to mush.
Speaking of brain mush, it’s been so freaking hot that I can barely think when I’m outside. (That is not the adjective I am using when conversing with my friends.) Like Border Collies, my genes are deeply embedded in the cool, misty mornings of Scotland and Wales, and this kind of heat flattens me. But, the garden still needs tending, the sheep still need moving from pasture to pasture, and the dogs still need exercise. I’ve been working Maggie in the mornings, but even by 8 AM it’s a hot, sticky mess. We don’t work long but we still both come back dripping with sweat or saliva. Actually, it’s been better the last day or two, and thank heavens for that. (Please don’t suggest that I’ll be longing for this weather in winter, as many people have lately. No, I won’t. I absolutely adore it when it’s 20 degrees outside.) I know I should get up at 5 AM when we are all wide awake, but oh how I love lying in bed, drinking tea and reading something wonderful. Translation: I’m getting lazy in my dotage.
Lots going on in the garden–early July is a Lily extravaganza and joining the party is my tiny patch of roses, along with some astilbe that seems to think our nasty clay soil is the perfect growing medium. Of course, in true social media fashion, I am not showing you photos of the Bleeding Heart plants that have turned yellow and grey-brown and are covered in mold, or the daisy leaves chewed into submission by flea beetles. Someday I think I’ll take photos of the ugliest parts of the yard and just post those. Believe me, I’ll have a lot to choose from. But til then, enjoy?
Haarriet says
Oh, Willie Will!! Have a wonderful happy birthday day today. You are the BEST.
Diane Mattson says
Happy Birthday, Willie!
Chris Wells says
Happy Birthday Willie Boy! ❤️
Beth R says
Happy birthday, Will! Thank you for your role in the memoir – what a wonderful work and a beautiful insight into the minds and lives about humans and canines. Thank you both for sharing this very moving work. I work with rescue dogs and have seen the trauma and fear so many times. Thank you both for all you do to help dogs and people recover, grow, and thrive.
Jennie Berkson says
Happy birthday Willie! Today is also our Belle’s one month “rescue” birthday as we picked her up one month ago today. We have been immensely helped by your work and writings with her as we were with her predecessor Buddy, also a rescue.
andrea heitzman says
Happy Birthday Willie! I love the photos.
Linda C Thomas says
Happy birthday Willie.
Jan says
For so many reasons this is one of my favorite of your posts haha!
Happy Birthday Will! Sweet boy <3
Monika & Sam 🐾 says
♪ღ♪░H░A░P░P░Y░ B░I░R░T░H░D░A░Y░░ dear Willie! ♪ღ♪
Nicola says
Happy birthday beautiful Willie boy! Have been following your adventures with tall two legged female for many years now and can’t believe you got all grown up…..❤️🐶🐾 sending chicken and cheese treats 🍗🧀
Robin V. says
Oh Happy Birthday Willie!!🎉🎉💕
You are still oh so handsome!!
Dianne Fecteau says
My Chloe sends a birthday woof!
Marguerite Harris says
Happy Birthday to Willie!
Sweet!
Super HOT here in Ontario as well, funny…I was just telling my sister that this heat and humidity turns my brain to mush (too!).
Love the photos of Willie, flowers etc. Thanks!
Aurora says
Happy birthday Willie!
LisaW says
BC for Willie
BeCause by BeChance you BeCharmed and I BeCkoned
We BeCame as BeClasped as BeCkett and Bray
BeCalm and BeCLoaked in Happy Birthday BeClamors
Alexandra Speers says
Happiest of Happy Birthdays Willie!!! May your year be full of frolicking, love, and joy!
Trisha says
Ha!
andrea heitzman says
I have a question. Has anyone heard of “Hands Off Dog Training”? The advertisement states $37.95 for the DVD s plus bonuses. But when you go further down on the information, that price was download only. The devs were more.
Renee says
Happy Birthday Week to you, Willie, you super dog!
Chris from Boise says
Happy birthday Will! Twelve years – wow. Here’s to more years of health and joy!
And here’s to dotage – not that you’re anywhere near that yet, Trisha. Enjoy lying in with that cup of tea. And remember – scorching weather is what siestas are made for.
Doug Harris CPDT - KA says
Happy Birthday Willie Boy, and mom loves you very much for helping her over come here fears of the past, you are both the best. Love your readings. Keep up the great work in helping all us behavior geeks learn so much about dealing with animal behavior!
HFR says
Happy Birthday, William! My boy is 12 too and for some reason that landmark has thrown me for a loop. May they both live long(er) and happy lives.
May I suggest a topic for when you return? Can you talk about some of the viral videos online? I’m fascinated by them and wonder what they say about behavior or if they are completely fabricated or misinterpreted. I mentioned in an earlier response to a post the one with the lab who “rescues” his friend from the pool. But the one we are having the most fun with now is the “What the Fluff?” videos (google it and you’ll find a million of them). This is where a person holds a blanket in front of themselves and then drops the blanket while they disappear behind a wall. Some of the dogs’ reactions are really funny, but I can’t help but think that these are little crowd-sourced behavioral experiments. Much to our dismay, me and all my dog friends have tried this and our dogs have done nothing in response. Most of the dogs in the videos seem to be huskies and herding dogs, so I wonder if that has something to do with it. Either way, you can just see the dogs’ brains working to figure out the mystery of where their owner went. So I’d be interested to hear from you what you think these videos displayed in scientific, behavioral research terms…if any.
BTW, I prefer the winter to the summer also. Just not the shorter days.
Anyway, please give Will a virtual hug from all of us!
Beverly Ann Hebert says
Live long and prosper Willie boy – wishing you a very special Happy Birthday.
Corrina says
I’m late in wishing this, but doesn’t make it any less so: Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Will! Kisses and treats!
JMM says
I’m late to the party, but Happy Birthday, Willie! You look like a young pup.
My own girl will be 12 in September. Would you consider a post dealing with the needs of aging dogs?
Kay East says
You taught us so much throughout your brief years thus far on this planet, Willie. Congratulations and cheers to you on your 12th birthday!
The East Family..Mike, Kay, Simba, Houston & Skye
Sheridan Davis says
Happy Happy Birthday Willie! May you live as long as Bramble and continue to enjoy life to the fullest with your humans. So grateful you came into your Mom’s life, inspiring her wonderful, healing memoir which I read for good medicine again and again. Enjoy another spin around the sun Willie Boy! And to your Mom–I take it as a sign of robust good health to own that you like to sleep in, drinking tea with a good read. Me too!