This is a post that I know I need to do, writing and getting all of my feelings out is very helpful. It's just I don't want to, I'm still heartbroken over our dumb dog. Here's Bailey's story: (and here comes my tears as I type!)
Bailey was a gift from Brent to me when I graduated from JMU in 1998. We got him from a breeder in Fredericksburg. I still remember going and picking him up. We knew we wanted a boy dog, there was only one left. He was in the bottom of the pile of female puppies. I remember the breeder picking up the puppies one by one sorting them based on their anatomical parts. Then there he was, so small and so cute. I took him, he whimpered a little and then wrapped him in a towel. Then his dad showed up. We knew we were in for it, Bailey's dad was ginormous for a golden. He was truly the size of a mastiff--very broad shoulders and just a big dog. I was still living with my mom at the time so I took Bailey home and began the journey of raising him. We crate trained him and his first night with me was rough--he walked in his crate and cried all night long. I can remember thinking I wouldn't make it as a parent! Bailey continued to stay with my mom while Brent was at his mom's and I went off to PT school. When Brent would visit, so would Bailey. Bailey was always a lap dog, he had NO concept of his size or strength. We have countless pictures of him sleeping on us, sitting on us, just being with us. He would prefer sleeping in to getting up early, laying in the sun over chasing balls and sitting with you over exploring on his own. We always said we were blessed with the lover and not the fighter. Which brings me to another point, Bailey NEVER showed any aggression towards me, Allison, no one. He was attacked twice by other dogs--the first was when Allison was about 4 1/2 months old and a husky charged though our fence in South Riding. I remember I heard the fuss, literally (gently) tossed Allison on the floor and ran out the door. I never thought twice and got in the middle of the dogs, grabbed the husky and threw him out of our yard (super human mommy strength kicked in!) and then comforted Bailey. He was mortified, and Momma was ticked.
Bailey loved going on hikes, specifically Prince William Forest Park. We would go running along trails and chase whatever moved. There was one rock that Bailey always climbed on and posed--think Lion King, that's what it really looked like!
Bailey went on car trips with us. You never knew he was in the car, he would just lay down and sleep, no whimpers no cries. I remember one Christmas I even made my Mom and Nick repack the car because I didn't want Bailey to be too far in the back and wanted to be able to get to him if he needed anything.
When Allison was born, Bailey assumed the 3rd parent role. He got up with me when she cried and was with me through diaper changes and even got in on the fun of tummy time. I'll be honest, his loyalty to me with taking care of allison lasted about 2 weeks then in typical Bailey fashion, he opted to learn to sleep through her cries. I think he was the only one who could! He always woke up and acknowledged me but opted to roll over instead of getting up. It was important for us for Bailey to know he was still an important member of our pack and I was completely fine with my new baby being licked and sniffed by Bailey. And he was protective of me and of her. Not in an aggressive way, but especially when Brent was gone or not around Bailey became the alpha dog. Especially on walks. When Allison was in the stroller and someone was passing us on the street, Bailey would step in front of the stroller (blocking any further progress) and stand and wait and watch for the person to walk by. It wasn't a mean gesture, it was a gesture of love and his way of saying, "this is my pack and I'm in charge!" Which is funny, but he was not a macho man! But in his own way he expressed his love and concern for us. And on walks, he was ALWAYS in front. There was no heeling. He was in front checking out the sights before we all got there. Which became challenging with a stroller, but we made it work. I can remember walking with Maura and Jen with their strollers and explaining to them that Bailey had to be in front--just go with it, he will be in front!
Bailey caught a bird once. I cam remember seeing him in the backyard (this is when we lived in Greenbriar) and he was just holding the bird in his paws. It was obivious to us he had no idea what to do. Eventually the bird got out of our yard and Brent and I were convinced the bird flew off and told his bird friends of the silly not so smart dog in the yard and to feel free to fly and do whatever you had to do there because the dog wouldn't hurt you!
When he was mad at us, we knew. He was famous for getting in to our bathroom trash and shredding tissues, whatever he could get his hands or paws on! And if we traveled without him, he literally ignored us for what felt like days. He would welcome us home and then poof, walk away and stay away for hours. Again his way of saying, "unacceptable Mom and Dad!"
Bailey liked to have paw held. Most of the time he would lie on the floor and you would have to hold his paw while he laid on the floor. If you dropped his paw, he growled at you and quickly raised head with a gesture that said, "Umm, excuse me, no, hold it!"
And his food. Water had to be on the left and food on the right. Get that wrong and he wouldn't eat. We put peas in his food and Hhs food HAD to be shaken twice during meal time. Once when you gave it to him and then again when he was just about done. If you weren't around, he would stomp, literally and growl at his food. If he drooled too much in his dry food, he wouldn't eat and you would have to throw it all away and start over--shaking and all.
Then there was exercise. He was not the chase the ball kind of dog in fact it was funny how lazy he really was. We would throw a ball and he would just look at it, and in his own way say, "you threw it, you go get it!"
The folks who knew Bailey instantly knew how special he was. We have such treasured gifts of people who acknowledged his uniqueness and knew how deeply we cared for him. Hand-painted Christmas ornaments, plaques, even a Tshirt with his picture on it. By far the most treasured gift came from Connie, she had her neighbor artist Raymond Bell paint Bailey. He captured Bailey's gaze and when I opened the gift I cried like a baby because it was like looking Bailey! We have since moved the portrait from our basement to our upstairs hallway so that we can see Bailey whenever we walk out of our bedroom.
I have so many fond and silly memories of Bailey. (baby!) But I really think he came into our lives to teach Brent and I about unconditional love and the begin to prepare us for parenthood. He taught us the importance of making special time just to go for a poop walk or the importance of a good belly rub. And no matter how busy we were, he wanted us to hold his paw for not only his comfort but ours. He was happiest when he was with us and when we were with him. He was so patient with Allison, He endured her crawling on him, pulling his fur, his ears and he never batted an eye, growled or grimaced. He taught her what it was like to be a big sibling, to be patient and share time with Mom and Dad.
I still find myself talking to him like I did when he was with us. I must say he slept with me every night especially when Brent was on travel. He was our night watchman making sure his pack was okay. He would stay in bed with me until I fell asleep and then he went to the floor and slept aside of me.
Bailey was the best dog and we still miss him terribly. Even up to his last moments of life, he wanted me to hold his paw, which i did. We are so thankful he was in our life and he made us better parents.
