Lakota was Raiders first
and only puppy to raise. The first time we brought Lakota home
as a small fuzzball, Raider feared him! How he thought this little
fuzzball could harm him was pretty funny. But after a couple
of days he adopted him and protected him with his life. The first
situation was when a couple of small thug dogs, always loose
and looking for trouble, saw the lil Lakota and went into full
run and attack to get him. Raider stepped in even though he was
leashed, and grabbed one of the thugs by the butt and wouldn't
let go. When he did, both dogs went running down the driveway
and back home where they should have stayed. Next day, the dog
that Raider prevented from attacking Lakota was seen with a shaven
butt and stitches. Okay,,it did look funny and made me smile,,,but
the owners knew the dogs got loose and these dogs always tried
to attack. Raider was watching his own and those lil thugs never
did come in the yard again. *:) Good job Raider! *:)
Through their years together Lakota ended up being alpha dog
with Raider being his brawn. There was nothing Raider wouldn't
do for Lakota. He'd give up his food, he'd give up his bed,,but
he did have a hard time giving up his favorite monkey. Raider
loved stuffed toy monkeys. He'd look up at me and whine if Lakota
tried to steal it. It was so funny really seeing tough Raider
beg for his monkey, but I made sure Raider kept his last white
monkey. Lakota saw it his duty to remove all squeakers from toys.
It was a surgery of sorts. Once the squeaker was removed he felt
it safe and the toys could be continued to be used for months.
But,,,with that last monkey of Raiders,,,he never got to do that.
These two were inseparable. Lakota sensed Raiders illness before
I did and he didn't mourn. He just knew and accepted. But,,weeks
after I witnessed something that proved to me that Raider still
hung around. Raider had a bed in the living room beside me and
the computer. He'd always be in that bed if not on the couch
kicking me while I tried to work. Lakota would "sneak"
in to the living knowing that at any moment Raider would attack
him and the game/chase would begin. When Raider did pass on,,Lakota
no longer snuck in waiting to be attacked. Except for one special
night. I was at the computer and I saw Lakota hesitating at the
entry. He looked over at Raiders bed where I left a few of Lakota's
toys on it in hopes of having him occupy that spot. His eyes
weren't on toys though. His eyes were above the toys. He was
looking into Raiders eyes! He slowly stepped in,,sneaking his
way to Raiders bed. I felt the tension as I waited for Raider
to jump up and begin the chase. But Raider always waited,,,waited
for Lakota to grab the toy first and then run out of the room.
And Lakota did grab a toy and ran out of that room in full retreat.
Raider came back to play with him and he let me see it. There
was NO difference in how Lakota played that night then when Raider
was here. Since then,,,I pay attention to Lakota's actions, specially
in the living room,,but there's no sign of Raider through him
right now. But I got to see him play one more time with Lakota
and Lakota enjoyed it as much as he always did. Raider left us
both with special gifts.
Lakota is a very sweet Samoyed who is a wannabe wolf, polar bear,,anything
but bunny. Call him bunny and he'll bark at you. *;) He loves
ice cubes, being brushed and loves to talk (he woooo's). He can
even howl like a wolf on command! Okay, a wannabe wolf. He's
a snow dog and will burrow in deep snow. He's a stuffed animal
that lives. He's a lover for sure. Well, ummm,,,unless he has
a stuffed animal with a squeaker in it. It is his job after all
to save that stuffed animal and get rid of the noise. Once gone,,he's
proud, and the toy has a few more months to be played with.
Since Raider left us, Lakota has become more in need of me. I'm
not the brawn Raider was,,but we're doing fine in helping each
other through Raiders loss. Lots of love to share and soon we
hope to get a new lively spirit here to teach us new experiences.
When that happens, he or she will be listed on this site.
Oh,,and Lakota wants everyone to know,,that's not dirt on his
head, but a tuft of black hair that's been called his "feather"
since he's been with us. *:)
UPDATE
Shadow joined
our pack. Read his story for more. *:)
Lakota & Peggy
NH
Lakota giving Shadow his opinion on getting a cat
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