When I met the Old Man, a little, curly haired, gray and white Pomeranian named Toto, he had been living happily with his wife Dorothy, an even smaller brown and black Pomeranian who looked like an Ewok, for 15 years. They were very happy together.
They each had their health issues. Toto had diabetes that had caused a lot of his hair to fall out. You wouldn’t know it in winter because he wore a very snappy, red turtle-neck sweater that looked great on him and covered most of the bald spots. Dorothy had a heart problem, but it was hard to tell because she was so perky and cheerful. They were both on medication and they made an adorable couple.
When Dorothy died, soon after I met them, it was very hard on Toto. He was obviously depressed and stopped eating normally. His people now had to feed him by hand in order for him to eat enough to take his insulin. They decided to get a new Pomeranian puppy to keep him company and help him get over his loss. The new puppy, a tiny, long haired, white fur ball that looked like a large cotton ball, was named Yoshi. He was only seven months old.
Yoshi was a handful, especially for Toto. He never stopped moving and, as puppies will, he wanted all the attention for himself. When I visited, they both barked excitedly and Yoshi ran around like a maniac. He would crash into Toto and literally jump on his head when I tried to say hello to Toto. He acted as if all the toys were his and if Toto was doing anything, he wanted to do it instead. He seemed to show no respect for the Old Man and I felt sad for Toto that he had to deal with this crazy little puppy every minute of every day, on top of everything else.
Soon I was asked to pet sit Toto and Yoshi for two weeks. I was a little daunted by the insulin shots, so I paid close attention when they showed me what to do and agreed. I had several weeks beforehand to think about this job and I resolved to try to make Toto’s life a little easier while he was in my care.
When I arrived for my first day of pet sitting duty, both dogs were extra excited to see me because they had been alone over night. Toto twirled around in circles while barking his head off. Yoshi was racing all around the house at top speed and seemed to be aiming to bump into the Old Man every time he passed. I picked Toto up and walked into the living room while telling them both what good dogs they were.
Instead of sitting on the sofa, I chose a narrow rocking chair and put Toto on my lap. There wasn’t enough room for Yoshi to jump up next to me, so he stayed on the floor and I pet them each with one hand for a while until they settled down a bit. I felt appreciation from the Old Man in the way he looked at me, he seemed relieved that Yoshi was not jumping on his head, but also somewhat bewildered or surprised, like he had no idea it could be this way.
I was pleased we were off to such a good start. I let them outside and played with them. I was careful to bring out two toys. I threw one toy as far as I could, for Yoshi, who gleefully chased after it and brought it back. I didn’t throw the other toy more than a couple of feet because Toto wasn’t much of a runner. He was happy just trying to kill the squeak inside, with only some tugging and occasional tossing on my part. It seemed like a real joy for him to be able to play with his toy in relative peace. Of course, the Puppy was interested in the Old Man’s toy when he came running back, but as soon as I grabbed his own toy and threw it, he was off and Toto was left in peace.
We ended up sitting together on the sofa on the patio. Yoshi kept pestering Toto until I sat in the middle and kept one on either side. I petted them both at the same time, so no one felt left out. Again I was rewarded with a look of deep appreciation from the Old Man. He seemed content to sit there for some time in peace and comfort, but it was time to get down to business.
I had been instructed to start with a doggie treat with medicine hidden inside. No problem. Both dogs sat and waited patiently while I stuffed the pill into Toto’s treat and Yoshi left the Old Man alone while he ate his own. Then, without warning, I picked up the Puppy, put him outside and closed the door on him, so Toto and I were alone. Neither dog knew what to expect next because their people usually allowed Yoshi to stay in the room while they fed Toto. It also took a great deal of effort to keep Yoshi away while they spoon fed Toto. My plan was to keep Yoshi out of the way, so I would be free to feed the Old Man slowly, with no pressure.
Toto was clearly surprised when I offered him food. Yoshi was barking non-stop outside and the Old Man kept looking around apprehensively, like he expected to be tackled. When it didn’t happen, he decided to eat what I offered him. He took a few tentative spoonfuls, still on his guard, expecting the Puppy at any moment. Then he stopped and wouldn’t eat any more. I knew this might happen, so I didn’t pressure him; I just put it aside knowing we would get back to it. I then took a small spoonful to the door and made sure Yoshi saw it before rushing in, so he got a little treat for waiting outside.
I tried several times to get Toto to finish his food, each time putting Yoshi outside, but had no luck. Yoshi was enjoying all the treats, but I started to worry that Toto needed his insulin. Finally, the Old Man ate and it was time for his shot. I was glad the Puppy was still outside while I performed this more difficult and nerve wracking task.
They quickly adapted to my new way of doing things and I think Yoshi even came to look forward to the reward that came with waiting outside while Toto ate. We all grew very fond of each other which became particularly apparent on my first visit after their owners returned. They were overjoyed to see me and when I sat on the sofa, the Old Man and the Puppy jumped up, one on either side of me, and loved all over me without bothering each other, just like they learned in my care.
As a bonus, their people noticed and adopted my methods. I was pleased to have succeeded in making Toto’s life a little easier, and not just while he was in my care.
