My readers have probably noticed the mention of my dog buddy Zip. Let me introduce you to him formally.
Zip is a Wire Hair Fox Terrier.
He lives next door. He's 13 years old, and we've been buddies for almost 7 years now.
I say buddies and you probably imagine a tail-wagging jump-in-my-lap friendly little guy...right? You couldn't be more wrong! Try to picture a cat in dog's skin, and that would be Zip.
Every morning, he arrives at my window. When I open the door, he pops in, sits down and totally ignores me...doesn't even say hi! He stays for anything from 30 seconds to an hour, depending on his mood, the weather, noises outside...who knows what goes on in his head? In the winter, when he finds a sunny spot, he'll turn around once and plop down...showing what for him is almost glee...it's so cute.
He goes home, takes a nap and comes back...again no Hi!, stays for as long as he wants, then goes back home.
This goes on most of the day. Some days he stays longer...like when it's raining. Yesterday, I had the air conditioning going full force, with my curtains closed to keep the heat out...I sprawled out on the couch just as he lay down and we actually had a nice nap together...about an hour.
The only time Zip really pays attention to a person is when he's hungry...then you can't get him to keep quiet. He doesn't bark...he just sits and 'talks' while looking you right in the eye...if you ignore him, he starts to tremble and his voice goes up an octave. If it's too early, he eventually gives up and wanders off as if nothing had happened!
I take care of him on occasion...during the day when his owners are out, overnight when they're on a trip...the longest stay was for 8 days. We all agree that that's probably why he's so comfortable here. One day, he was begging about an hour early, so I told him he had to wait until 6. He gave up and went back to sleep...and at 6 on the dot, he was back! What can I say...LOL
Some nights he arrives around 8 or 9, lies down in his favorite spot on my sheepskin rug and goes to sleep.
Deep sleep...I can be banging around in the kitchen, wandering around the living room getting ready for the next day, brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed, and he doesn't move a muscle! I have to wake him up, and then he's so groggy, I either have to carry him home or have his owner come get him. Some nights, he doesn't even hear me open the window and go next door to get his owner...total trust?
Oh, and you should see him in his Burberry rain coat!!
And even his bed....Not my favorite plaid, but on him, it actually looks good...^-^
Did I mention he's spoiled? He won't climb the stairs when it's time to go to bed, which I can understand as they are a bit steep and he's getting old. Lately it seems he won't come down, either, when he's home...no problem when he stays with me...he just bounces down in the morning without any hesitation. And when he goes to visit his daughter (who lives about a mile and an half down the road), he rushes up and down the stairs there without a care in the world...go figure!
And I could go on and on...some days he drives me nuts, but when he's not home and I don't see him all day, I miss him...he is a sweetheart in his own unique way.
