(** Editor’s Note: this was penned on 12-10-18. Ms LoudMouth is now 8 months old and every bit as loud & obnoxious as anticipated.)
Hi, it’s me, Leia!
I’ve been tasked with periodically reporting on issues and events central to Old English Sheepdog life in the Wisconsin area. Mainly, I think they gave me a blog to channel my voice, which, I’m told, is horrifyingly loud and obnoxious. I’m not offended; I’m loud and proud. And they don’t know loud and obnoxious. YET.
I’m a little over three months old. Having been on the planet for more than 14 weeks already, I pretty much know everything. And what I don’t personally know, in case I may have missed something – however unlikely - I will ask my friends and family to share with you.
I live with five other Old English Sheepdogs. Four are my relatives. There’s my great aunt, Sybil. She’s also loud, proud and very, very smart. Then there’s my brother, Luke. I love him, but don’t tell him that. Two of my aunts live with us. They’re a little stand-offish, but I will win them over so I can steal their toys. And then there is my personal chew toy, Dazzle, the resident rescue OES, whom Mom says wears a halo over her head. I’m not sure what a halo is. But I intend to find out so I can chew on it.
We’re big on education here, so I go to class three times a week, where I sometimes get to meet other OES. I’m so glad to see there are more of us. Even my vet – I confess, I am damn lucky – has Old English Sheepdogs.
One of my brothers lives in the Green Bay area with my mother and my grandmother; three of my brothers went to live with families in the Chicago area. I hope to stay in touch, even though the Chicago area has its own Old English Sheepdog Club, which I’m hoping they will join so they can report back to me.
If that sounds like a lot of boys, it is. I have seven brothers and I was the only girl. Even though my ears were not yet open the night I was born, I could sense that Mom said: “Only one girl? She had better be cute!”
I am cute. Let’s be honest here: I’m more than cute, I’m flaming adorable. Mom says all OES puppies are born this way. It’s nature’s way of assuring we’ll be permitted to live.
That sounds a little hostile and less than adoring to me. I know she adores me, because she sometimes gets up in the middle of the night, when she thinks I’m sleeping, and whispers to no one, as far as I can tell: “God, I love that evil thing.”
She must be referring to my brother with the evil remark. But love, yup, that’s me.
Now, speaking of sleeping, I try to do this as many hours as I can. At least eighteen to twenty. I need my beauty sleep. But when I am awake, I try to make it count.
I have so many things to share with you! And I hope you’ll share your experiences with me as well.
Love, Leia.