Nikki (1989-2007) was the coolest Cocker Spaniel in the world.
She let the kids dress her up anyway they wanted. Nikki was my cuddle bunny.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tag Archives: Cocker Spaniel
10.27.12 My Rescuers
Puppy Sofie in shopping cart
My friends, Mojo’s humans, are trying to decide whether to bring a new puppy into their lives. They are struggling with the decision on many levels. This made me think about how animals have come into my family over the years and the driving forces behind their adoptions.
Nikki was my first puppy at 8 weeks of age, and I got her from a breeder because I wanted a Cocker Spaniel puppy, and that is the only way I thought you got one. I did not know about rescue in those days and my mother told me that dogs from shelters all had 3 legs (it is a long story and probably was her attempt to get me not to keep asking for another pet). I was in my twenties and learned all about late night feedings and whining and potty runs, down 2 flights of stairs in an apartment. I got Nikkolette, even though I had 4 cats at the time, because I missed having a dog, and had just had major back surgery and had a need for the attention and unconditional love that a dog gives. She was part of my recovery. Nikki was with me through out-of-state moves, purchases of new homes, the birth of my daughter, divorce, remarriage, step kids, more cats, and, in her last years, the addition of my first rescue, Squash E Bear. 18 years is a long time.
Squash E Bear was already middle aged when he rescued us. Nikki must have been 17. I wish that I could have seen Squash as a puppy, but he was such a spry 5 or 7-year-old. V and the kids found him on the road and none of us ever looked back. He softened the blow when Nikki passed over and forced me to exercise several times a day, no matter how much my body hurt, because, he needed to walk and I needed him. If you have read the blog you know that he will always be my Soul-Dog. He rescued the whole family in magical ways.
Louise was about 5 or 6 months (that is still a puppy – right?) when we brought this terrified little mess home to be Squashes eyes (he had gone blind from the diabetes). I thought it would help him stay connected in his dark world and she absolutely did. He was probably about 9 or 10 when she came. To this day she likes to take other dogs leads and walk them. She was there for me when Squash passed over. So the walking continued and though it was just her and me now, we started to find our rhythm. She continues to teach me a different view of the world from one who is shy and fearful and gives me unconditional love and devotion.
I was mourning the loss of Squash so much, and for some reason my back had taken an unexpected turn so I was laid up for a few months, at which time V thought maybe I needed a puppy to brighten my heart and get me out of bed. Hence how we found the ever-loving, Miss Sofie Bear. She was supposed to be a Collie/Shepard (kind of like Squash) but turned out to be a Sheltie/Corgie or something like that – so unique and so wonderful. She was about 14 or 16 weeks, who knows with rescues. And there she is (pic above) on her ‘Gotcha Day,’ in a cart at Home Depot with me. My little sausage patty, who is always happy and smiling and wants a tummy rub.
Each of my dogs came to me at different times in my life, for different reasons, and I am so blessed by every one of my animals and the lessons they teach me.
So why did you get your puppy?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.20.12 Change Is In The Air
Squash E Bear
Fall 2007
This weekend I was missing Squash E Bear a great deal. He will be gone 2 years in February. Now you know I love my current dogs. Louise and Sofie, very much, and I have had many wonderful dogs and cats and guinea pigs over the years. But every couple of month I just really miss Squash. I think it is weird because Nikki, my Cocker Spaniel, who I adored, was with me for 18 years, but she does not come to mind with the ‘missing’ that I feel for Squashy. Squash was rescued already middle aged, he was with me only 5 years, and he was a medical handful because of the twice a day insulin shots he needed for his brittle Diabetes and the overall care when he went totally blind. However, I think Squash was so easy. He and I walked off lead most of the time (when he could still see) and he stayed within reach (in the woods he would walk in the trees and I would walk on the trail but we were always in cadence.) Squash never barked unless he had something urgent to say (which was not often) or he was telling a joke (which he liked to do while rolling on his back and laughing). He loved to travel with me and filled the backseat of my Prius with his 90 lbs of fluff and would just lay down and stay there for long rides anywhere. The only time I saw him angry was when my neighbor’s aggressive dog came running out of the house toward a member of the family while he was on leash. Oh yeah, he did like to be a little too dominant at the dog park. He would find one beautiful ‘bitch’ that he liked and then would not let any other dogs near her. Squash would proceed to place his paw over top of any male dog that might come to close. (We did not go to the dog park much for obvious reasons). Ok, so he did have a few quarks. I guess maybe it is the impending changes in my life this week, with Peanut leaving to college for the first time and K8 going back, which means V and I will be ’empty nesters’ for the first time ever – if you can call having 28 paws (7 animals multiplied by 4 paws) to take care of ’empty.’ Or is it just that Squash and I enjoyed our fall walks so much? Change is in the air.
Squash Fall 07
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
7.31.12 So what were they doing while I was gone?
Many times I wonder what the animals are really doing while I am gone. I have thought about installing one of those spy cameras, like the kind you use to check up on your human child’s babysitter to see if they are really taking them out to the park or letting them sit in front of the ‘idiot box’ TV all day. But, then I realize that might be, well, a little obsessive. Basically, I think that Louise sleeps for most of the time. Sofie, on the other hand, may try to sleep, but the cats tend to set her up to get in trouble. For example, the cats get on my desk and throw stick pens down to Sofie. Of course Sofie can not help herself and chews through the plastic until it is unrecognizable. This kind of trouble is not only dangerous for Sofie but is messy. One time, about 23 years ago, I had left Nikki dog (who was about 3) and the then kittens, Alice and Gertrude, alone all day while I was at work. I had obviously lost my mind because I left a full try of just baked brownies on the counter to cool and went to work outside the house all day. Well, when I got home, not only were the brownies and the glass baking dish on the floor, but there was one very crazy puppy running circles around the house. Now I know the only way that a little Cocker Spaniel got that heavy baking dish was with the creative pushing of it off the counter by 2 little kitties. It was not funny at the time. On second thought, maybe I should install that camera…..
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
7.17.12 Nikki and Peanut
This was Nikki; my absolutely gorgeous buff Cocker Spaniel, after my daughter, who was about 7 years old at the time, did her hair. That dog would allow Peanut to do anything to her. Nikki (D&L’s Nikkolette) was actually my first child. She was the first dog that I raised from an 8 week old puppy to the good age of 18 years. In her puppy days I lived in an apartment and had to carry the little thing down 2 flights of stairs several times a night. I was younger then. Her crate was at the foot of my bed and the little thing would cry and wake me up, and half asleep, I would stumble down the stairs so that she could relieve herself. I worked really hard training Nikki. She and I went to many training classes and even had a private trainer. I did not have much understanding of what I was doing, or suppose to be doing, with a dog in those days, and she was so easy. Then, when she was about 3, I gave birth to Peanut. Nikki loved the baby so much. I remember introducing the animals (in those days it was Nikki dog and the cats, Alice and Gertrude) to the bassinet, even before I went to the hospital, and letting them sniff new smells before the baby came home. I love to watch the interaction between children and animals. Children and animals, for me, they are just perfect together.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
3.21.12 I am better because of them
I am a better person because of my dogs. I have had to learn a lot over the years about caring, and sharing, and patience. The gifts that they have all brought me have been immeasurable. My first rescue, Jazmine, taught me humility. I had her for 2 days. I had just graduated college (I thought I could take on the world), when I rescued her. She ate my comforter and my hairbrush in the first 24 hours. I learned I was not as all knowing as I thought and had to rehome her. My second dog, Nikki (many years later), taught me that I could actually be a good parent. Nikki was a pure bred Cocker Spaniel who I adopted at 8 weeks old. Together we had 18 years of caring and sharing and kindness. Nikki was my first baby. I spent hours everyday training her for off leash control and when she was about 4 I had my daughter. The love and devotion Nikki gave me over the years was wonderful. When the kid’s found Squash E Bear walking along the road and he came to live with us, he became my greatest teacher. He taught me unconditional trust and love in a way I never knew. Giving him shots twice a day, he never complained or questioned my purpose, and always was by my side in return. He also brought the family together at a time we really needed it. Louise (Lulu Bell) has taught me patience and quiet control. She is fearful and needs time to handle the world. I have learned to be quiet with her. Sofie is teaching me persistence and consistency. I must stay on task and must work with her in a repetitive manner. Lessons, lessons, lessons. Thank you all. I am a better human because of all of you. Just another dogdaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
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