I’m going to be a guest on a blog, Quid Pro Quills this Wednesday for their regular feature Animals and Authors. Oscar is the star in that post. So since I’ve been meaning to do a post about my dog, Oscar, here on One Writer’s Journal forever, I decided now was a good time. This post will be different from the Quid Pro Quills post. That one talks about writing. This one just tells you about my sweet, odd dog Oscar.
First you need to know that I have not been without at least one dog buddy in my life since I was around eight years old. That was when I got a bad case of the dog hunger. I wanted a dog more than anything in the world. I must have talked about it all the time because a man who partnered with my father in raising tobacco brought me a pup. He said he brought it to both my sister and me, but from day one, that dog was MINE. I named him Ollie after the man who gave me the pup, thinking I was doing the man a great honor. However, it was easy to see he wasn’t as pleased to have a dog named after him as I thought he would be. 🙂 But I kept the name anyway.
But this story is about Oscar. About seven years ago, my dog was a chocolate lab that was getting old. My husband decided I needed a new dog, and he started looking at dogs on the internet and telling me about this one or that one. I would tell him that I already had a dog and didn’t need another one. But then, he found Oscar. Oscar had been dropped alongside a road in a nearby city and a couple who worked with horses rescued him and took him back to the barn. They gave Oscar his name and wanted to keep him but they had to travel with their job and couldn’t take Oscar. I looked at Oscar’s picture and said, okay, go get him. That was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
We didn’t really know how old Oscar was, but we thought he was probably about grown when we got him. On his first vet visit he weighed 55 pounds. Obviously, he was only entering his growth period as now he’s over 100 pounds. For the first few years here on the farm, he refused to come in the house. That suited my husband who likes dogs to live outside. I was more in favor of Oscar keeping me company in the house, but the only way to get him inside was to drag him across the threshold and then he looked like I was torturing him. So he lived happily outside.
Then we were having a porch made into an extra 
room. The builder parked in the field nearer the room he was building and one day when he was leaving, he ran over Oscar. I was sitting with Mom at her house at the time. She had dementia and couldn’t be left alone. So when I got the call about Oscar, I couldn’t go home to see about him. My husband who was at a doctor’s appointment finally went home (not nearly as quickly as I thought he should) and he took Oscar to the vet. There they confirmed my husband’s fears that Oscar had a badly broken back leg and would need surgery with screws and plates. When I asked my husband how much it would cost, he said he hadn’t even asked as he didn’t think it would make any difference to me. And he was right. Oscar was worth it.
After a stay in the doggie hospital, he came home and no longer had a choice about being inside. So I bought him a bed and he took up residence in the room we were building or in my office. At this point the new room was boxed in but not finished. There was no way to go out the back door. That meant Oscar had to walk through the house to the front door to go out. He refused to walk on our hardwood floors. I had to make him a trail of scatter rugs through the house and then he very nervously made his way out of the house. Fast forward a few weeks and his leg healed, the room got finished and Oscar took up residence in his new room. He was fine with coming in the house now. He would eagerly come in the back door, but only the back door. Not the side door that came into the same room. He also would not and still will not come through the open door into the kitchen. The floor is exactly the same tile, but as much as he wants to be with us, he is terrified of walking through that door. You can’t entice him with 
treats of any kind.
Occasionally a visitor will come he really wants to greet and he will get halfway through the kitchen door. Then all of the sudden he will notice he’s out of his room and retreat. Even the grandkids, as much as he loves them, can’t get him to come into the kitchen. He will come into my carpeted bedroom from my office when he hears thunder. At times, during a thunderstorm he has even crossed the hardwood hallway into a different bedroom. A couple of weeks ago after three years of coming down a short hallway into my office, he decided the hallway was a dangerous stretch and would not cross it. After I led him into the office a few times with the leash, he overcame that fear. Our neighbor who takes care of him when we go on trips says Oscar needs counseling.
Maybe so, but for a dog, he’s pretty smart. He’s figured out a lot of things on his own. For one, he never had to be told not to go potty in the house. He just didn’t from the first day he was inside. But he did get so attached to me while I had to t
ake him everywhere on a leash when he was recovering from surgery, that he still expects me to walk out to the field with him while he takes care of his necessary business. I have gotten to see many more starry skies and been able to enjoy all sorts of weather with Oscar. At least, he does generally hurry when it’s snowing or raining. Also, he prefers to go outside to get a drink and will only drink from the water I have inside for him if he absolutely can’t convince me to get up from my desk and take him out.
But in spite of his idiosyncrasies, Oscar is a good dog. He’s a wonderful walking companion. He’s absolutely great with the grandchildren. He’s sweet company while I’m writing and he seems to know he can’t mess with anything smelly he finds out on our walks unlike that chocolate lab I had before him. So far, he has even avoided any encounters with skunks. I had a cockerspaniel as a house pet some years ago. A wonderful dog but he did have a way of finding skunks and cockleburs and mud. All dogs are different but I’m still very glad I said yes to getting Oscar. He might be a bit odd but he’s also a very, very good dog.
Thanks for reading.
Comments 23
So enjoyed the story about Oscar! We used to have a black lab that was so special, but they do get old also. My husband and I visited our shelter, & he became attached to a red heeler, such a good dog. They bonded well. But then when my husband passed JoJo became my protector. I have seen him sleep by my husbands chair and cry in his sleep. Dogs grieve also. A older stray came a couple of weeks afterwards and the grandkids immediately decided Hank was sent from Heaven. So I taken him to vet to get shots & clean bill of health. He loves the grandkids so much and has gained weight. Guess I will have to cut down on his feed. lol They help pass the time with their funny actions.
Author
Dogs can keep us moving too, Edith, although I told Oscar a while ago to be moving faster. It was cold outside. Sad thinking about your husband’s dog missing him. I read a story once of a dog who went to his lost master’s grave to guard it every day. Dogs do have a lot of love for us and now you’ve got two to keep you and the grandkids smiling. You’re right about dogs getting old. I’ve had to say goodbye to several sweet four pawed friends in my life.
Oscar is one blessed dog, but probably not as blessed as his owners. I loved that your husband found him for you. That’s a sweet story on its own.
Author
Thanks, Jan. Both husband and the dog he found for me are definitely keepers.
Love your Oscar ! Makes me want another dog ! My OJ passed away last year and haven’t gotton nuther yet! My mom is planning on moving in and bringing her jack Russell molly so I’ll adopt her as my own always partial to big ol country dogs like Oscar though! Keep m coming Ann ! I’m convinced if you wrote about anything I’d love it! You are my favorite author can’t wait for your new book to come out ! We are blessed to have you !
Author
You’re too nice, Kathi. I need about a zillion more readers just like you. Thanks so much and I hope you and your mom and Molly have a good time after they move in. I’m a big dog fan myself, but then I really loved my granddaughter’s little six pound miniature dachshund. Still missing that sweet little dog that crossed the Rainbow Bridge last year.
I appreciate you reading my blogs and looking forward to the new book. It’s coming soon!
Oscar’s oddities make for good reading. He sounds like an ideal companion for a writer. Thanks for sharing him.
Author
He is a very good writer companion, Gin. And he does get me up and walking too. That might be his most important job. 🙂
I just loved reading about Oscar! You know he is my hero! You simply must write a book (maybe a series) using Oscar as a character! Then you could bring him to book fairs and signings, and I could pet him!
Author
Hi, Roberta. Glad you dropped by to read about Oscar. I do need to let Oscar write some books so he could come to book signings with me. Except he has that problem about going through strange doorways. Maybe I’ll just have to bring him to visit you sometime. Always fun to see you and Lonnie.
Poor Oscar. I am beginning to feel the way he does about going through strange doorways! LOL I must meet him someday. You know that I still babysit my neighbor’s dog, Salvador Doggie. I kept him all month in January and the first week in February. I was working on a new book and hating the snow, but Salvador would get me up and out. Oscar is doing that for you. I think dogs know that we should not sit at the computer too long. I wouldn’t be surprised if Oscar and Salvador send us “personal trainer” bills one of these days.
Author
I don’t think I could pay that bill, Roberta, so maybe Oscar will just keep putting it on my tab. I do know you keep your neighbor dog. I’ve seen his picture with you on FB. Summer might be a better time for dogsitting. Hope the book writing went well.
Summer is better! I suggest that, but it falls on deaf ears. I can’t stand to think of that little dog going to a kennel. It would break his heart!
Your photo together is wonderful, Ann! Such love; bonded for sure. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Author
Thanks, Kathleen. Oscar has been a special dog for me.
I love this, Ann! I miss my doggies even more. I love “walking” with you and Oscar. By the way, tell Oscar we all have idiosyncrasies, so not to worry about it. I’m sure he wasn’t concerned anyway. Thanks for sharing!
Author
I think you’re right about him not worrying about some of those little idiosyncrasies, but he does sometimes worry about stepping on those frightening floors on the other side of doors. LOL. Dogs are wonderful friends. I’m glad to share our walks with you. Hope all is well in your world. See your FB posts and keep up with you that way, Betty.
I love your Oscar!Sound so much like our Lady.she got ran over on the busy 127 by pass several years ago. We never got another dog since.Dog and busy highway don’t mix .
Author
Roads are not a dog’s friend. Always so sad when a dog gets run over. My granddaughter’s dog got away from her last year and ran in front of a car. I still miss that little dog. Oscar is good about the road, but he does want to run in front of any truck that’s driving out through the field. Always fun to hear from you, Evelyn.
I am laughing so hard! I can so relate to your story. Our little Missy rules and I find myself doing things with and for her without even thinking. For instance, it’s a 20 hour road trip to visit my mom so instead of flying we drive, then my husband flies home and flies back when it’s time to come home. Guess it’s me with the idiosyncrasies! Enjoyed getting to know Oscar and glad we have our furbabies. Have a great week!
Author
Sounds as if Missy has a thoughtful owner to me, Linda. Sometimes we have to go the extra mile for our furry friends. 🙂 Always good to hear from you. Give Missy an extra rub for me.
It makes you wonder about his early life, doesn’t it? We rescued a border collie/something big mix from the pound when he was a puppy. His oddity is that ge won’t eat from his bowl if you’re looking at him! He’s a sweety, though.
Author
Maybe he feels like he should be sharing if you’re watching him, Shelley. 🙂 I’ve known dogs that were the other way. Wouldn’t eat unless you were standing there watching them. That’s a problem Oscar doesn’t have. He likes eating. You’re right about not knowing what a dog has experienced when you rescue them. You can only guess. With Oscar, I do know both his ears must have had major infections before he was rescued since he has what the vets call cauliflower ears. And maybe doors were scary for him. He also doesn’t like riding in cars, but no wonder since once he was abandoned. Another time he was taken to a strange place (ours). Then the only other rides he’s taken have been to the vet. He does get in the car better on the way home from the vet than going. LOL.