We have two beagles named Buddy and Buster. We brought home Buddy when we were newlyweds. We loved him so much, we brought home his cousin, Buster, not six months later. He was with us two short days before we almost took him back. He barked. He cried. He terrorized. The Mister had a friend from work who loved beagles, and for a split second we debated calling him to see if he would take Buster. I started to cry.
“I’ve never given up on a dog before.”
“I haven’t either,” said the Mister. “Let’s not start giving up now.”
So we didn’t. Beagle puppies are a lot like babies. Both Buddy and Buster woke up every couple of hours the first couple of weeks, but Buster took it a step further and cried and cried and cried. The only way we could get him to calm down was to wrap him in a warm blanket and pace the room like parents to a newborn. I sang lullabies to him, which made the Mister roll his eyes…until it worked. Then he tried, but since all my lullabies are in Spanish, he ended up feeling stupid walking around our room singing to a dog, “Mmmm, mmm, mah mah, laaaa.” It was funny, even at 2am.
And then, maybe because of the lullabies, Buster became my dog. Like the Mister, Buddy is stoic, loyal, and calm. Buster is more like me, excitable, impulsive, and nurturing. Yes, Buster is nurturing. All that pampering and singing made our Bussie a full fledged mother hen. If someone is hurt or sick, he is there. When Nicholas cries, he is the first to show up for snuggle duty, unless Nicholas is faking, which he does a lot. I don’t know if fake tears smell different than real tears, but Buster always knows the difference.
The school called me yesterday. Two hours and one pediatrician’s office visit later, Mikey stumbled into the house with back pain and a fever of 103. He was tested for the flu, which came out negative (yay!), but still needed to rest, of course. And Buster was right there to accommodate him. The second we walked in the door, there he was, sniffing Mikey up and down. When Mikey went to the sofa, Buster walked right next to him, glued to his calves. When I told Mikey he couldn’t watch TV and needed to go straight to his room to sleep, Buster trailed after a sobbing Mikey.
I tucked Mikey under the covers and looked at my feet. There was Buster, giving me a look that said the world would counter-rotate before he followed me out of the room. I sighed and waved towards the bed. “Okay, fine. Up you go.” I didn’t have to tell him twice.
Twenty minutes later, I came back to check on them. Buster didn’t move a muscle and ignored my camera. Mikey, hot with a fever, was sound asleep. I left them both alone, knowing Buster would let me know if things changed for the better or worse.
Sure enough, within a half an hour I heard a yipe behind Mikey’s door. I opened it and out came Buster, smugness oozing from every hair on his body. Had he nodded his head in satisfaction, I wouldn’t have been surprised. I heard him make his way towards the sliding doors and out into the backyard while I checked a sleeping Mikey for fever. He was perfectly cool to the touch, fever gone.
I got chills and cheered while reading this post. I had a cat like Buster–it did not matter that I was horribly allergic, he was my guard “dog” and always seemed to know when I was not feeling well. If I was asleep and someone walked into my room he would hiss to keep them away.
I love Buster!
Glad to read that Mikey’s fever is gone.
One of my favorite posts yet. Hugs to Buster. xoxox
I love Buster, the compassionate Nana, to sick boys! I do believe dogs can be specially tuned in to our emotional states and health. Our Irish Setter, Bailey snuggles with me whenever my back has me down and out. And if my daughter is having a bad day, Bailey siddles up next to her and licks tears until turned to laughter. Glad to hear Mikey’s fever broke! I’m a sucker for a happy ending…
Peace,
Donna
Buster’s new name is The Compassionate Nana. I love it. :)
Sweetest thing ever … sigh.
No fair making me cry at my desk on a Friday morning!
what a wonderful story to start of the weekend! you are a gifted writer and it makes me want a beagle!
I love to hear about dogs acting human like. When my daughter, my husband or I are not feeling well our dog Rocky will stand guard or snuggle with us to make us feel better. I love the healing power of dogs. Give Buster extra love and treats he deserves them!
Ah, I had a beagle in the 6th grade named Rocky. He died when just a very young puppy. He slipped through the bars in our front gate and was hit by a student on her way to school. Everyone was traumatized, including the student.
I hope my dog will be like this one day. Such a sweet story.
This is amazing! I cannot wait to get a dog. =) I’m glad Mikey is feeling better and has not one but two ‘moms’ to nurse him back to good health.
so good! love this story. you have a such a sweet family, Jules. i hope everyone feels better and you have a great weekend. :)
Thank you! Amazingly enough, Mikey woke up fit as a fiddle! He was great the rest of Friday and all of Saturday. Today, Sunday, he seems to be coughing now. :(
Love, love that picture! I am a firm believer that every child needs a dog. There is just no better companion. Glad to hear your little man is feeling better.
oh my word. I love Buster.
Just found your blog from Andrea’s. Love it. Love the look and your writing. I’m so adding you to my blog roll.
The sick crapola that is going around is awful. Get better, then stay well.
I’ll definitely be back!
Buster has a big job. Our cat, Madeleine, is a hard worker just like Buster … she adopted us. I am terrifically happy about that.
PS.
I adore your blog.
I love this story Jules. Our Golden is just like this. You always know who isn’t feeling well in our house by where Brooklyn is. She takes her post very seriously. Sometimes I like dogs more than people…
Thank you for sharing!
Sometimes I like dogs more than humans, too!
You have a nursing dog! He clearly deserves his spot on the bed. What a lovely story.
There is nothing better than a good dog. We have two and with them on duty, we know we are safe.
I know what it’s like to be ready to give up on a beagle, only to have him end up being one of the best dogs you’ve ever had. Kudos to Buster and Buddy. This was beautiful. (Also, I love Mikey’s dog quilt!)
I know you are a fellow beagle lover. Don’t you do beagle rescue?
This brought tears to my eyes. What a dog! My first newfoundland had am amazing sensitivity too, it’s very special.
Ugh! This brought tears to my eyes!
Isn’t the love of a pet just amazing?
As a cat and dog lover/owner- they never stop surprising me!
Thank you for writing such a lovely blog.
This is the sweetest thing!! I think this post would make me cry any day but it’s especially heart wrenching today since I hugged and kissed our family dog goodbye this morning before moving to Chicago. I’m now contemplating flying home every couple of days to hug and kiss her some more.
Please give Buster (and Buddy too) lots of hugs, kisses and treats for me :)
I was so sad to leave my family pet (Prince, another beagle) when I went to college. He passed my senior year in college. I was DEVASTATED.
Love. this. post. Thank you.
Love love love. We have a beagle and it’s so true that the “baby” months are trying but oh so worth it. Best friends ever. My husband just had surgery and every time we change a dressing Matisse is right there supervising.
We have 2 beagles too. They are they most subborn, hard headed dogs we’ve ever had! But so smart and funny they make it worth all the trouble:) Glad to be over the baby months tho….
I love that Nicole and Christine can back me up with the beagle baby months. I swear, you’ve never seen more needy, clingy, cuddle bugs (and rascals) in your life. It’s like having an infant!
i love this… family pets have healing powers, don’t they? my husband and i recently got a beagle (who we lovingly named junie b.) and already she’s made us a little bit more laid back and patient. we love her! (as the owner of a beagle, though, please tell me: any tips on controlling the hair that she seems to continually shed??)
Ugh. No! Buster seems to shed MUCH more than Buddy, and we don’t know why. Maybe the white coat? That brush you get on the market–the Furmirator or something–seems to work okay, but it’s still a chore.
Oh, sweet helper dog. This made me tear up a bit.
One of my kitties is a healer, too. If I have a migraine, and it’s going to be a bad one she sticks to me like glue. If the meds are going to take care of it she just checks in on me from time to time :)
What a beautiful story :)
oh i just got tears in my eyes… the animal family connection is like no other. how lucky we are to have them in our lives…
awww! there are LOTS of beagles at animal shelters waiting for their furever homes … please don’t ever buy a puppy from a pet shop, or breeder … adoption is the ONLY option!!! we want OSCAR’S LAW!!!!