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My big bad protector

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

It's been a year or so since I've mentioned dogs on my blog. That's because it was a year ago that we lost our dearly loved Murphy - age 20 months. He was apparently born with bad kidneys, and no matter what our vets tried, we still had to let him go. It hurt too much to talk about it for a long time. 

Murphy was light and love and joy and enthusiasm - all wrapped into a big furry, kissy bundle. There could never be a replacement, and there's not a day that I don't think about him and the joy he brought into our lives. 

However, a house gets too quiet with just old elderly dog sleeping at your feet, so last August we adopted another puppy: Katie Baby. 

Katie is part Rottie, part Great Pyrenees, and part whatever kind of shepherd dug under the fence to meet her mom. She has a voice that could raise the dead, and she raises me off my chair with it when I'm working and she hears a noise or sees movement outside the office slider. 

If we're in the pickup and someone comes near, she tries to scare them to death - acting like if she could just get out that window, she'd eat them. If someone woofs back, she hides behind Mom. (She IS still a baby, you know.)

Katie the guard dog

Meanwhile, she has grown up with Brodie, a friend's Golden Lab. He was 7 or 8 months old when Katie joined our family, and he used to send her head over teakettle when they played. Now... she's just a bit bigger and heavier than him, so he's met his match. 

Brodie has a habit of running full tilt when he sees you and jumping up - so I always turn sideways in an attempt not to land on my backside. But a few days ago, Katie decided to put a stop to it. Every time Brodie started to jump on me, she hit him broadside. He tried it 3 or 4 times as I was walking to the shop after feeding the horse, and I wondered if it was deliberate or if she was just playing. 

Last night she showed me... Brodie came running and when he got next to me, Katie sent him flying.

She does it in apparent good humor, so they're still friends. 

Next question - what would she do if that was a person? I know she can intimidate the heck out of someone, and I hope that's all I ever have to find out!

 

Comments(17)

Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Marte Cliff now you are making miss Jack but I'm still not ready for another dog... but you have me thinking about it.

Apr 27, 2016 09:48 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Bob "RealMan" Timm I'm sorry you lost Jack - there really are no words. 

We've lost so many of these special friends over the years - and no one can replace even one of them. Each one that comes into our lives brings their own special something. 

I read a great wall hanging recently. I don't remember the exact words, but it was along hte lines that every dog we lose takes a part of our heart along when they go. And every new dog who comes to us gives us a part of their heart. If we live long enough and love enough dogs, our hearts will be all dog, and we'll be as kind and loving as they are. 

Apr 27, 2016 09:57 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Very cool saying Marte Cliff , thanks for sharing it.

Apr 27, 2016 10:13 AM
Marte Cliff

You're welcome Bob "RealMan" Timm. The more I thought about it, the more I decided that wall hanging would be a perfect birthday gift for a couple of people I know - so I went on line and found it at Amazon. 

Apr 27, 2016 02:02 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Marte Cliff Sounds like you have a great protector and a new friend . We do love our pets . They bring so much love and joy  to our lives

Apr 27, 2016 10:27 AM
Marte Cliff

Hannah Williams They certainly do. Sometimes they bring a lot of work too, but it's worth it. 

Apr 27, 2016 01:52 PM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I love that she's doing that, but it would scare the bejesus out of me if I saw her coming at me. Hopefully she leaves it to the likes of Brodie. 

Apr 27, 2016 10:49 AM
Marte Cliff

Mimi Foster She's actually intimidated by people if they get too close. She'll stand back about 10 feet and bark her head off at them. 

Apr 27, 2016 01:53 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Marte, Katie is beautiful, I love her face, and the fact that she is so protective of you.

Apr 27, 2016 11:47 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Rebecca Gaujot, the Go To Realtor® My son keeps telling me she's "funny looking" because her nose turns up and her whiskers are curly. This is a better picture of her face. 


Katie

Apr 27, 2016 01:56 PM
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

Cute pup Marte.  We had a house guest dog, but he recently moved out and we are animal free for the time being, not surre if it will last....

Apr 27, 2016 12:20 PM
Marte Cliff

Robert May I don't think I could stand it for long in a house without a dog - or two or three. I must be addicted to vacuuming!

Apr 27, 2016 01:57 PM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Sometimes just the shear size of the animal is enough to scare a person

Apr 27, 2016 12:22 PM
Marte Cliff

William Feela Yes, she's a big girl. Her last trip to the vet was a couple of months ago and she weighed in at 70#. I really feel it when she jumps up on the couch and flops down on my lap. 


Poor kid - she wants to be a lap puppy but she won't fit. 

Apr 27, 2016 01:58 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Marte, she is beautiful! It took me 2 years before I could think about another dog in the house after we put our beloved Duncan down. But we did, and now we have had Georgia for 2 years. Although I still miss Duncan, I sure can't imagine what my days would be like without this goofy, exuberant, beautiful and loving Golden in my life! This was her today .... enjoying the spring weather while we were out on one of our walks. This of course was after she had run full tilt for about half an hour. She needed to nap before we headed back home. 

my happy golden

Apr 27, 2016 01:41 PM
Marte Cliff

Andrea Swiedler You never forget the ones you've lost - no matter how much you love and enjoy the ones who are with you now. I think of Murphy every day - but not more than a dozen or so times. 


Georgia looks like she really knows how to make the best use of a beautiful day - I expect we could all learn from her! 

Apr 27, 2016 02:01 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Marte,  Dogs really are special people.  They all have a personality of their own.  You seem like you have a great dog there.

Apr 27, 2016 02:42 PM
Marte Cliff

Yes Bob Crane Just like humans, each one is an individual. Katie's personality is different from Pepper's - and far different from Murphy's, Ralph's, Suzie's... and I could go on and on. 


Katie's a pretty good baby - and she's an accomplished mouser! 

Apr 27, 2016 02:54 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Marte, what a great looking puppy!  Mixed breed dogs get the funniest combinations of qualities from their various parents and grandparents, and they're just the best!  

Apr 27, 2016 03:07 PM
Marte Cliff

Patricia Kennedy Yes, I think so too. I really believe they're healthier.


After we lost Murphy and got Katie I called the vet to schedule a check up. She asked if Katie was another Airdale and I said no, she was "Heinz 57" and the vet laughed and said "Good. They're the best." 


Not that I wouldn't want another Airdale - I do love that attitude. 

Apr 28, 2016 01:18 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Marte. You are right, one dog can never ever replaceanother but I am so happy you rescued again and honored your beloved Murphy. Katie is beautiful. Such a happy read. TY

Apr 28, 2016 12:17 AM
Marte Cliff

Sheila Anderson My husband wasn't really ready, but I couldn't not. 

Apr 28, 2016 01:19 AM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Hi Marte Cliff Dogs "learn" from their owners. What you "allow" is what she will do and vice-versa. So if you don't want her jumping on people you need to let her know.

The hole that is left when you lose a dog can only be filled by another dog. I'm glad you were able to fill that hole. I'm still hurting 10 years later.

Bill Roberts

Apr 28, 2016 01:04 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Bill Roberts Yes, and Katie is learning. Brodie, however, will probably never learn. He pretty much gets to do anything he pleases. 

We know about still hurting. We lost my husband's best friend 3 years ago, then Murphy last year, and although he does need a dog to be outside with him all day, he can't quite decide to give his heart away. He plays with Katie and pets her, but there's a reserve there that has convinced her that she's my dog. 

Apr 28, 2016 01:23 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Like Sheila Anderson said, when a grieving dog owner gets a new pup, it's really about honoring your lost pet.  I life without a dog is not much fun (IMHO)

Apr 28, 2016 01:24 AM
Marte Cliff

Margaret Goss I can't imagine life without a dog - or two or three.

Apr 28, 2016 02:58 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

I will definitely not be running full tilt at you now that Katie is on the watch! 

Apr 28, 2016 02:33 AM
Marte Cliff

Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert In truth, since you're not a dog, she'd probably hide behind me. She's just a little bit afraid of people. I have no idea what she'd do if she percieved a threat, and I don't want to find out. 


However, you're not very big, so her 70+ pounds would probably knock you flat! 

Apr 28, 2016 03:00 AM
Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale TahoeLauraRealEstate.com
Coldwell Banker Realty, Tahoe City, CA (530) 414-1260 - Tahoe City, CA
Tahoe Real Estate Agent Helping Buyers and Sellers

Marte Cliff - I am so sorry you lost Murphy.  My heart goes out to you, it's nice to meet, Katie!  What a beautiful furry baby!

Apr 28, 2016 04:03 AM
Marte Cliff

Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale www.TahoeLauraLuxuryHomes.com Yes, losing Murphy was beyond hard. For days every time someone said "Have a nice day" I wanted to scream at them that it simply wasn't possible. 


But... his spirit is with me every day and that has to be good enough. 

Apr 28, 2016 08:23 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Marte - Katie is beautiful and has a very intelligent and watchful look to her. And it's obvious that she has your back.

Apr 28, 2016 04:28 AM
Marte Cliff

Dick Greenberg She is indeed watchful - and I think she has bionic ears. Sometimes I wish she wasn't QUITE so watchful when the wind blowing a shrub outside the office slider causes her to bark loud enough to raise me off the chair. 

Apr 28, 2016 08:25 AM