It’s time I gave Abby, our setter/lab, some attention. Everyone oohs and ahhs over Mr. Magoo, my pug. His funny face and jaunty attitude grab attention, and often Abby gets overlooked. But this large black dog has many good features.
Abby is easier to live with. Although the bigger of the two, her 75 pounds to Magoo’s 24, she doesn’t require a lot of effort. In the car she sprawls out and sleeps in the back seat while Magoo, in front, arrogantly flits about. If I open the car window, he sticks his head out. If reprimanded, he settles down briefly, but only briefly. Abby, on the other hand, loves her relaxation and doesn’t allow much to disturb it. She’s a fabulous traveler. Her sleep is interrupted only occasionally when she rests her head on the back seat and gazes out the rear pick-up window.
When we stay in hotels, Abby is the good one. She stays in her dog bed, as instructed, while Magoo is always ready to sneak off and inspect corners when he thinks he can get away with it.
Mealtime brings out another “good” Abby trait. She eats her meals slowly, methodically and chewing carefully. Unfortunately she hates pills of any type, one of her few faults, and frequently spits out the fish oil capsule I’ve hidden inside a scoop of canned meat. This wouldn’t be a problem except for Magoo who is a “foodie” and inhales his meals.
He finishes his dinner in warp time – no problem with pills – he loves them and, when left to his own devices, gallops over to Abby’s food where he hovers like an annoying fly, waiting for her large fangs to finish chomping. I’ve heard a few low-pitched growls from Abby when he gets too close and can’t blame her, so I feed him in another room and shut the door till Abby finishes her meal before releasing him.
When it’s time to go outside and do “business,” Abby never takes more time than necessary and heads back inside to her favorite spot on the sofa. Meanwhile, Mr. Magoo is fanatical about the perfect spot to do his “business.” This search can take forever. I can’t tell you how many times this past winter I’ve been out in the cold freezing my tutu trying to get the pug to do his business while Dick and Abby are back in the house nestling on the sofa, cozy and warm.
While the pug gets chuckles and smiles, Abby has her fans too. Many people love big dogs especially smiley ones. Yup, Abby is a smiler, one of her most endearing traits, once you realize she’s not barring her teeth. When she wants to charm someone, she stretches her lips in a big grin and ducks her head in a shy bow. It’s impossible for Mr. Magoo to understand, but every now and then, someone oohs and aahs over Abby, and I swear a sly grin flits across her face.
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