As promised, I’m going to write soon about helping dogs with Thunder Phobia (and the very interesting issue of reinforcing fear and/or the behavior that expresses it) , but I couldn’t resist posting a few photos from this morning.
Here’s Mr. Will, front and center as usual, as I try to take a photo of the tulips that are blooming over Tulip’s grave. I named Tulip, in part, after the white tulips I planted in honor of my first Great Pyrenees Bo Peep. We buried Tulip with the hundreds of fresh tulips her admirers had spontaneously brought to a celebration of her life a few hours before we put her down.
Tulip the dog may have been all white, but her spirit was a rainbow of colors. The flowers are planted over her grave, in the place that she spent so many hours, chewing on bones, surveying the countryside and barking at coyotes as they howled across the road. I’ve waited all winter in hopes the tulips would bloom, being at risk as they were from squirrels, mice and voles who love tulip bulbs like Tulip loved chicken. I surrounded and over planted them with bulbs that wild animals don’t like so much, like daffodils, scilla and hyacinth, and crossed my paws. I can’t tell you what it felt like this morning to sit beside them, a joyful reminder that life goes on, and that our beloved friends never really die–at least not in our hearts.
Kelly Ladouceur says
Tulips are my number one favourite spring flowers – and Tulip and Bo Peep’s tulips are truly beautiful. Thank you for the snapshots of springtime today.
I love Will . . . he manages to worm his way into pictures, no matter what your intended subject is or was. What a ham!
Jennifer Hamilton says
Simply Beautiful.
LynnSusan says
In the Victorian era language of flowers, Tulips mean “Perfect Love”
I can’t think of a more fitting tribute.
Christine says
What lovely pictures and so peaceful!
Trisha, could you also write about the man-made thunderstorms, I mean the fireworks which we will soon hear all summer long, since people think they can’t celebrate their birthday without letting explode fireworks!
Here in Switzerland the 1st of August is a real problem for us dog-lovers and I know a lot of people who flee with their dogs to the surrounding countries for a couple of days, so that they can escape these loud noises!
I don’t know yet how our 7 month-old youngster will respond to exploding fireworks, thunderstorms doesn’t impress him though!
nan says
What a joyous tribute to a wonderful dogs memory.
Sabine says
What a beautiful way to remember Tulip by. I remember when Tulip was still alive and we all where at a book signing in Alexandria, VA. (Sadly, that little bookstore doesn’t exist anymore……. ) Tulip was very sick and you were expecting a phone call to tell you about her condition. I remember how everybody was relieved when the phone call finally came and the person on the other end told you, that Tulip was feeling a bit better.
Will seems to be the guardian of Tulip’s tulips on that picture ! Way to go, Will – that a boy. 😀
Michelle McConnell says
What a beautiful tribute to your two girls – I remember many of your Bo Peep and Tulip stories.
Liz F. says
Congratulations on the beautiful flowers and an attitude to match!
Marguerite says
I too was at that book signing in Alexandria, along with Devlin, my Rat Terrier, sharing your relief after the phone call. At least I shared the relief, and you shared a cookie with him. He’s also scared of thunderstorms and I think of you and your Calling All Pets advice–especially when thunderstorms come in the middle of the night and I don’t really want to get up.
Mary Beth says
I was so touched by your story about Tulip and all your feelings when you lost her. It reminded me exactly of losing a very special hound. I planted a weeping willow over one dog’s grave which is in the spot where he loved to watch the spring peepers leap into the creek. My hound’s grave is on top of the hill where he would look down on the other dogs and survey his domain. Ironically, now that its the second summer since his death, there isn’t a blade of grass, a weed, or even an animal print crossing his grave. Even the flowers I tried to plant there were evicted. Apparently he still rules the roost with an iron paw!
What a gorgeous tribute to a wonderful dog, Tulip!!
Lisa R. says
Great pictures! How many Pyrs have you had? I thought you had one named Daisy back in the 90’s when I used to listen to ‘Calling All Pets’ in Alaska. But maybe I just picked the wrong flower. Do you think you will get another Pyr? I’m looking to adopt a dog (I put my 12 yr old Pyr – Yukon down in Jan ’08) but I’m having trouble thinking about starting over – even with an older dog…
Thank you Patricia for all that you share; I love this blog, your pictures, your advice, your stories, your wisdom…
Dana says
After reading your books I felt like I knew Tulip; being from Madison originally I know the beauty of a spring day in WI. Being a dog Mom I know how it feels to remember. Your post and the pictures brought tears to my eyes.
Trisha says
Another Pyr? Oh, goodness, I’m honestly not sure. I have had two amazing ones, Bo Peep and Tulip (no Daisy!), and both seemed bigger than life to me. Legendary really, but then, don’t many of our dogs seem that way? Here’s why I might not get another Pyr: I’m 60, and I had a terrible time during Tulip’s last six months of life when she needed to be picked up and taken to the vet. One miserable day I actually rolled her onto a blanket and dragged her, she in crisis and me desperately trying not to panic, onto the blanket outside and into the car. I just can’t lift 90 or 100 pounds of dog anymore. Pry’s are just so big, and if I got a pup I’d be 70 when it got old.
The other reason I might not get a Pyr is a perspective I never thought I’d consider. Here’s the back ground: I’ve heard many people ask me what kind of dog they should get, after having a breed they adored. They’d say “I had a sheltie/lab/collie/german shepherd/terrier (you get the idea) and ADORED her, but just couldn’t get another one.” I honestly never understood that perspective, although I tried to be as helpful as possible. If you loved your first dog so much, wouldn’t you want another of the same breed? (Understanding of course, that they aren’t clones.) Ah, life has a way of helping us to see all viewpoints, doesn’t it? Bo Peep and Tulip lived so large, had lives so big that I’m not sure any other Pry could ever fill their paws.
And to Christine: you can use the same methods with fire works as with thunder storms (see my post today, 5/8). Fire works seem to be a much bigger problem in Europe by the way… we yanks usually only have to deal with them on July 4th. Thank heavens for that!
Here’s the reason I might get another Pyr: Tulip and Bo Peep lit up my life. I adored them both. I miss their big, huge heads and their bright white fur (okay, not always so white) and their deep, brown eyes and their baby polar bear looks mixed with a baby seal faces. They are oxytocin generators of the finest kind, and I miss Tulip’s size and her looks and her nature and her big, goofy paw slapped into my lap.
And thanks to those of you who remembered the book signing in VA, I remember it well too (and Devlin!). Another signing in northern California didn’t go so well… the book store owner interrupted me mid-talk to hand me a call from my panicked farm sitter, was was on her way with Tulip to the emergency room. I burst into tears and the entire room had to sit and watch me try to compose myself while knowing that Tulip was on her way to critical care at UW-Madison. I will forever be grateful to the kindness of everyone there that night! It reminds me that Tulip’s last year of life was quite a year for us all.
Anne says
My parents just got their first Pyr last winter. His name is Thunderfoot and he is just the funniest guy. Just a big love, and those feet! He guards the duck houses at night (foxes had been breaking in and having duck dinners for their families) and the sheep when they go out to far pastures during the day to protect from neighborhood dogs that run loose. This is a serious problem- anyone with a yearning to move to the country so their dog can have room to run should think twice or three times. Even the sweetest dog will run sheep if given a buddy and a chance to do so. And sheep are pretty delicate.
Jess says
Very touching and beautiful!! Thanks for sharing!!
Rachel says
It’s very moving to see Tulip’s tulips blooming. I remember reading about the end of her wonderful life in your column in The Bark. It was difficult to read, because my eyes kept misting over. It’s just amazing how much these animals impact our lives.
I love Will’s face in the picture. What a ham he is!
Dena Norton says
Trisha, please consider this a belated hug as if I’d been at that book signing in California. My eyes teared up reading that.
I love the picture of Will and the tulips. Your farm is so lovely! (Of course, *I* don’t have to do the work of keeping it so.)