Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Isobel: A Fine Dog (1998-2012)




Isobel was a member of our family for fourteen years. She was definately of regal blood as I never took her for a walk in the neighborhood where she deigned to so much as look at another dog or a cat if she could avoid it. She walked right by my heel no matter that she had no prior leash training whatsoever.

In the daytime, "Izzy" shared an uneasy but sometimes friendly backyard domain with our other dog, Abby. When Abby passed away two and a half years ago, Isobel mellowed considerably and became queen of the kennel with a easy patrician style that set the standard for all other dogs along Oak Knoll Drive.

Good-by, dear old "Westie Terrier". You shall be missed.

49 comments:

  1. Awwww! What a shame. Condolences to you and your family Doug.

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  2. Sad event , we get very close to our pets and when they pass on we feel great pain, so sorry for your loss my friend , take care now Rosiex

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  3. Thanks Rosie.
    It's been about a week since she passed and going through the pictures last night made me feel better. These were my favorites.

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  4. Isobel was indeed a very fine dog, there could be absolutely no doubt about that, a most distinguished looking little dog. Sorry to hear or her passing Doug, my thoughts are with you and yours at this sad time.

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  5. I'm so sorry for you and the passing of Izzy.

    As a recent convert to the world of dog, having met Jack six years ago, it's a subject I'm steadfastly refusing to acknowledge. Jack's 14 going on 14 months when he can be bothered, which is quite a lot for an old fellow really! :-)

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  6. Thanks AA. She would appreciate the accolade "distinguished".

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  7. does she clean the plates off before they get washed?...lol

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  8. Thanks Jim.

    Honestly I was hoping to do a little "calender" blog here celebrating Isobel's 14th birthday but didn't get around to it until she got sick. I hope you and Jack have a lot of time together still.

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  9. Yes,Marty, and she knew it, too. :-)

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  10. I'm sorry to read this Doug, They do become part of the Family
    and we miss them deeply when they're gone. My condolences to you
    and your Family.

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  11. That's a great shot isn't it? Totally unposed by the way. She just jumped up there while I happened to be fooling about with the camera in the kitchen.

    Isobel was young then. She might have thought it was a bus stop.

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  12. I know how much our pets mean to us....I still miss each and everyone that died that I loved. Especially those that lived to a ripe old age...so sorry Doug.

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  13. Yes, Marty, the last two dogs just seemed like they would go forever--outlive Shirley and I we feared!--and then declined rapidly. Such is life for our pets too often.

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  14. sorry for your loss Doug I know what it's like to lose a four foot family member. Surely there must be a heaven for them because they brought so much happiness into our lives while here with us.

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  15. My middle daughter has an 18 yr old cat....and some days it looks like its on its last life, and then you turn around and she is playing like a kitten....wonder how long they live?

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  16. Sorry to hear this,Doug.
    My condolences.

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  17. Might she have had a dinner bowl in there, Doug? Sometimes their messages seem awfully obscure.

    Did you see Ichabod, Hungarian Sheep Dog, in the kerchief & sunglasses that I posted? He knew his toys by name, & one day he brought two of the three into the kitchen. Just sat there looking at me. I stared back, & whoopee mental telepathy! He led me away, & we both searched for the one he really wanted. His Squeaky Bird had gotten stuck in the balcony door.

    A loyal & wonderful dog, but I should never have had him. He should have been herding sheep.

    A bus stop,really! That's cute.

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  18. She's absolutely adorable! I'd love to squeeze her, just a little....

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  19. Oh my. Isobel has grace, & regal posture. Defintely a Scot.

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  20. Whoa! Is this the same dog? I guess she lost that cute 'raggedy' look when she grew up.

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  21. Oh dear, it certainly looks like it. They're counting off the paces, I think.

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  22. Oh. I can tell from her coat.

    Smilja's coat looked much the same in her last picture, but she hadn't much left of it. I'd coaxed her to drink some homemade chicken broth. She did everything she could to give me hope, until the very end. She knew it was time to go, & wanted to go alone, just as I do. & all I regret is that I couldn't let her...if she crawled off under something, I'd never find her.

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  23. I am sure she had a character of her own - pets are just like family and via this net I give you
    my condolences Doug.

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  24. I'm glad it made you feel better, Doug. It can indeed be such a very, very sad thing to lose a companion, as that is what they are. I wonder if it's worse when that companion is the only one in your life? When I let myself get in touch with my feelings about Smilja, I can't breathe. But I have things to do before I go...I've had to be in denial for almost a year, although it really seems like only yesterday.

    My condolences...somewhere down the line, I hope you get another puppy. Love is infinite. We have lots to 'spare.'

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  25. I heartily agree with Heaven needing those with four feet Mike. They seem the only animals capable of unconditional love. Thank you.

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  26. I just saw something about two cats on television still living at 19, Marty. Thats waas the way with Isobel for awile as well, she only slowed dramatically at the very end.

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  27. That's possible Lucija, with a dog's keen sense of smell she could have thought "where the food bowl goes I want to go!"

    Amazing the intelligence that dogs have over identifying their posessions. Sheep dogs are supposed ot be very smart i've heard but, yes, they are in need of a lot of exercise. A nice couple I know adopted a retired racing greyhound after his days at a dogtrack were over--he needs a lot of walks apparently.

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  28. Isobel was the ones that kids would visit go over to automatically. She was quite good with the little ones, unlike Abby who was better with adults.

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  29. Yes, it's another of my favorite shots of her. A hundred percent noble "lassie" indeed.

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  30. Once a year at the beginning of Summer we took her in to have her shaved so she wouldn't suffer too much from the heat outside. It really changess her appearance but I think she seemed none the worse for the cut. Believe me, it always grew back fast!

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  31. Looks like they are going back to their respective "corners" for the next round.


    Yes , Abby and Isobel had some "issues" (tussels) with each other for alpha dog status.

    Truth be told, a lot of the time it was just "playing about" to burn off extra energy. A way to have fun.

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  32. I agree Lucija.

    Our grandson Kobe--the one with the leash in the other picture--took this one.

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  33. Yes sounds like you did everything you could for your Smilja.

    Isobel just couldn't keep anything down and she got so thin. Not much the vet could do either. We were taking her in one last time when she just passed on. I was hoping she'd stay at least until turning 15 or 16.

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  34. Thank you Jack. Yes Isobel really had her own character, much different from our older dog. They were quite a pair to have around the house. Anybody who thinks dogs don't have distinct personalities doesn't have a dog.

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  35. I'm glad my wife got this picture. :-) It was colder that day than it looks from the sky.

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  36. What a lovely little dog and so full of character. I am pleased she had a long and happy life with you and your family. Another friend of mine has just lost a beloved cat who was fifteen years old calmly in front of the fire of old age. I hope Isobel's passing was gentle for her.

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  37. Our pets are family members. So sorry for your loss.

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  38. Thanks Iri Ani.

    I don't think she was in too much pain, she was so quiet this last year even before she got sick.

    Cats can be most beloved too. That was the way I hoped Isobel would go, in front of a warm fire. As it was, Shirley and I were both with her toward the end.

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  39. They certainly are, Mary Ellen, never so much than when they are in their last year and it seems they are as much a part of the house as the humans are.

    Thank you.

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  40. Sorry to hear about Izzy, Doug. We've just got our first dog in the last few months, so I now understand a bit better.

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  41. Thanks Ian. After some healing we will likely get another dog, too, but not now.


    Nothing like a pleased dog to see you at the door after a trip or a hard day's work. What breed--or mix of more than one--did you get, just out of curiosity?

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  42. A cockerpoo... (so a mongrel in old money!) i ought to write somewthing about Barney and post some pictures for you.

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  43. That would be fun, Ian. As a fellow dog-lover, I hope you will.

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