A lovable pup

I’ve written about Nittany, our 15-year-old Lhasa Apsa – Bichon Frise, a ton over the past several years. I most recently wrote in Every dog has its day about how she’s getting older and how I worry about her. She’s become my favorite topic. I love writing about her crazy tricks and “who-me?” attitude, but she’s got a lovable side too.

Here’s what I mean:

• Everyday my wife heads off to work. Nittany watches her leave with a droopy, melancholy face. She sleeps much of the day. When three o’clock hits, however, she ambles to the top step on the second floor to watch the front door for my wife’s entrance. It’s still early, my wife won’t be home for at least another hour, but she lifts her head every time she hears a car outside the house. When my wife finally does come home, Nittany runs down the stairs like it’s Christmas morning. If a dog can be giddy, she fits the description, jumping up and down until my wife acknowledges her presence. If by chance, I have a free minute and walk down to greet my wife, Nittany considers it a race. She rushes to get in front of me and block me out, so that she gets all of the initial hugs and kisses. Yup, there’s nothing like competing with your dog for your wife’s attention.

• Lately Nittany has been coming into my office at odd times throughout the day to check on me. She’ll look up at me with an innocent face. I’m thinking she wants to go outside, but instead she just wants to sit in the same room with me. At least, that’s what I tell myself. Of course, I should probably add that she lies in a corner on a soft cushion for a minute or two and then gets up, looks around with a look of disappointment and disgust, and leaves. I have no idea what she was expecting, but I’m pretty sure it has something to do with treats.

• Our son came home recently for a weekend. The trip was so quick, I’m not even sure Nittany had a chance to spend any time with him. Sure enough, the next work day, I was in a meeting, when I heard a scratching noise coming from the hall. She was trying to get into his room. She missed him and wanted to see him. That or she wanted to leave him a little surprise in his room without me knowing.

• Another weekend, we went away and my sister-in-law watched Nittany, taking her for long morning and evening walks. I take her for long walks too, but I’ve been a bit lax in recent weeks. Of course, come Monday, Nittany knew exactly how to let me know that she had enough of me falling down on the job. She was whining again, this time right in front of the spot where we keep her leash. I had just spent a full thirty minutes with her outside, but she wanted to go for a walk and she wanted to go now.

• Finally, my wife and I have been on the go the past week. With it raining much of the day, we decided to take a nap together. It wasn’t a long one, but it still did the trick. Or at least I thought. I woke with a twinge of pain on my side. I didn’t think much about it, but I still felt it on Monday. I tried to think what might have caused it. It hit me like a sledgehammer. When we slept, Nittany decided to make herself comfortable sleeping on my ribs. She’s not all that heavy, but she certainly wormed her way into a sensitive spot.

Yes, yes, she’s lovable alright, she just doesn’t love me.