Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Nikki the Wonder Dog....

Not really in keeping with the usual subject matter of this blog but I can't help that just for today..
This post is in loving memory of our puppy Nikki who we had to put to sleep yesterday.
I'm not going to bother you all with the details.. suffice to say that she was 15 and a half and she'd had a very good and happy life... and I want this to be a celebration of her, and NOT at all maudlin.

'Go away.. he's mine'... 'oh and btw I look good from this angle don't I !' 

When I first came to live in Canada about 8 years ago, Nikki had already been with Bill for almost 7 years.. and she was very put out at the arrival of a new woman in HER house.
When I first arrived I got a lot of looks like the one above [and the one below for that matter] from her ladyship.. unlike her older brother Norman, who adored me from the off.

Norman did not care for photos.. Nikki in the background is sulking, as you can see.
But then Norman liked to nip noses and Bill wouldn't let him do it to him.. so I guess I was an easy target.
Then Bill went away for 6 months, posted to the middle east and Nikki and Norman and I were pretty much on our own.. and over the course of those long long months we fell into a happy state where we all just sat sprawled on the sofa eating chocolate.
I also taught her to walk off the lead and obey commands, like sit, which she really got quite good at, and stay.. which she did when SHE felt like it.


One of our favourite indulgences was always for her to crawl in next to me after Bill went to work at 6 in the morning. Especially after Norman died in 2005.. then it was just us girls for most of the day.
Of course it wasn't always necessary for me to be there at all...
Mummy is quite surplus to requirements actually.
Those are Bill's pillows she's asleep on.. I guess she could smell him, so it was always a favourite place.

So over the years Nikki and I came to an understanding... I was the head bitch in the house, and I made the rules.. and I had HER permission to say so ;o) .
That having been said she was always a daddy's girl.. as evidenced here by her ability to jump and sit on this precariously soft foot stool so she could watch out of the window for his return from work one day. I found her like this, having come in from the garden to find out what she was doing..
Just waiting Mummy.

Bless her.. Nikki awaits the return of the chief.
And although over time I came to be a very close second, Bill was always her favourite.. quite naturally, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

She liked to sleep when he slept..


 And work when he worked.. or played for that matter.

'Manchester United will win that one daddy, better put Berbatov in your team'..
Now that I come to think of it she liked to sleep a lot... and even though we had had her 'fixed' so to speak.. she wasn't always alone..

Please forgive the faux fur.. it was hiding a REALLY ugly Laz-y-boy.
She was an absolute tart when it came to having her picture taken, and unlike Norman who's backside I have dozens of shots of.. since at the first sight of a camera he would turn tail and flee.. she was ALWAYS front and centre when it came to photo time.

Flower girl at my sister's wedding in 2008, in our garden at home. 
She LOVED to sun herself.. and was always able to find a sunny spot, usually at the top of the stairs where the sun streams in through the sky light.
Or in the garden....
Just last August on the now much greener grass out the back.
Or on the brand new carpet that we had just had laid in the living room, before any of the furniture had gone back in..

Dreaming of digestive biscuits, or chasing the ducks at the pond, no doubt.
And she never looked cuter than in this is the last photo I took of her, last Thursday.
She had just had a rather severe hair cut and was feeling a little chilly round the nether regions what with all the snow.. but that didn't stop her posing for a series of shots from all angles..


So there you have it... Nikki the wonder dog.
Almost everything was entirely on her terms.. she loved you when she wanted you, she was aloof when she didn't. But she was our dearest companion and we loved her more than it's possible to say with just stupid words.
I'm going to end with my very favourite photograph of Nikki and Norman with Bill on Airforce beach from the summer of 2005..


Rest In Peace darling girl.. we will always love you.

Mummy xx

Of course Bill has his own perspective which is beautifully heartfelt..
He's such an old softie, and he adored that puppy.

17 comments:

  1. I totally am an old softie Jo! Those are some very special memories of Nikki the wonder dog. Jo you made me cry and now Karen is laughing at me.
    I have a wonderful poem that I will give you the next time I see you.
    xoxoxoxo to you and hubby

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  2. What a sweet tribute to your Nikki. Such joy she brought into your lives and how brave of you to keep a stiff upper lip..My heart is with you as we have been there and it is never easy.

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  3. Perfect way to remember our puppy, sweetie. I'll link it to my Blog later.

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  4. Thank you so much for the kind words.. It means a lot.
    And believe me the attitude has more to do with self preservation than bravery. :o)
    Jo xx

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  5. You have an absolutely wonderful way with words Jo - you have summed up exactly what it's like to be owned by an animal companion (it's definitely that way round...) - sending you and Bill big snowy hugs from London Emma xxxxx

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  6. Jo -

    What a sweet dog and what wonderful pictures you choose for her tribute.

    Monica

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  7. You made me laugh and cry now Jo! Nice to read your story. I hope you are both OK. *Big hug*

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  8. What a sweet post about man (and womans) best friend. She obviously came from a very loved house and Im so sorry for your loss!

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  9. What a perfect tribute to a best friend.

    Hugs from Australia.

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  10. Thank you all so so much..
    I don't know what else to say
    Jo xx

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  11. Jo, I'm so sorry to hear this. What a cute pup she was, I'm sure you guys miss her so much. You wrote a lovely story about her. Take care.

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  12. Awesome blog, thanks for sharing. We had to put our Schnauzer, Mozart, down in 2005 just after getting to Europe. I still miss the furball.
    They have CHARACTER!
    Rej, old chum of Bill's from Germany, and Sheena, the adoptive Schnauzer momma.

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  13. Thank you Erin and Thank you Rej.
    We are so grateful for your kind thoughts.
    Jo xx

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  14. Perfect tribute, lovely pictures and memories. *hugs* from Germany. Nolwenn

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  15. What a beautiful way to remember a special family member <3 Jo and Bill, I'm so sorry for your loss, but I can tell from your words that you will always be grateful for the special love only a pet can give. Take care of yourselves, and know that you have two furry little guardian angels now :) xo

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  16. Nolwenn.. thank you so much for taking the trouble to read about Nikki.. she would have got a big kick out of all the fuss :o)
    Vikki..
    You are so sweet.. Your post to Bill about the Rainbow bridge brought tears to his eyes when he read it.. and to both our eyes when he told me about it.
    Thank you sweetie..
    Jo xx

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  17. Jo, just catching up. Haven't been blog hopping for ages. So sorry to hear about Nikki. She seems like she was quite gal. Hugs to you both.

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Thanks for letting me know I'm not talking to myself..