In a couple of months, we’ll mark the first year of our surprising life with Bud. I have different names for Bud. Sometimes I call him My Little Man, sometimes the Little King. Sometimes the Monster Dog From Hell.
Gus was my first gateway into the small dog experience, his death left me wanting more, Bud gave me more than I wanted or bargain for. But it has all worked.
Bud is a very large dog in a small body, that is the magic and mystery of the small dogs. Nobody told them they are small, so they don’t know that they are. Bud will challenge just about anything that moves – dogs, snakes, mice, cats, raccoons, birds.
He’s not a killer, he’s a chaser and annoyer. He gets in the face of everything, but the only things I’ve seen him kill are a bird (that seemed to be an accident), a snake, and some bees and moths.
I think he’s like to kill a chipmunk, but if he actually caught one, I’m not sure he would know what to do with it. Bud is a very affectionate dog, a cuddler, a snuggler. He never tires of having his head scratched or curling up in my lap when I lie down or take a nap.
He is sometimes wary from the ordeal that was his life, but he trusts us now. He roams over every inch of the farm, returning to his bird, mice, chipmunk sights, occasionally slipping across the stream and into the woods. He always comes back, usually if I shout loudly once or twice.
He only occasionally eats dogshit or takes a whack at the donkey manure. He will otherwise eat almost everything edible that he comes across, even if it is old or dead. Mostly, he goes to the bathroom outside, where he should, he resists going out in the rain.
Bud loves to ride in the car with me when I go into town, he is very serious about his rides, starting purposefully out at the road or at passing cards. When I am writing, he lies down on Red’s old bed, snoring and waiting until I turn off the computer, just like Red did.
We are good pals, Bud is a good old soul, even though he is not yet three years old. He is looking strong and fit, he gets to tear around the farm, which he loves, and gnaw on his bones and treats inside, which he also loves.
Bud is a good friend to the other dogs, he stood up for Red and tries to encourage Fate to herd the sheep. I think he will love a new Labrador puppy, he would play all day if he could.
I’m happy to have him and grateful for him. I am just beginning to understand why the Big Men In Trucks ride around with these little guys.