Riley is going to Auntie Dory's house while we are gone. He knows something is up. He watched us pack our bags. He watched me pack his overnite bag, food, and treats. It is 8:30 pm and on any other normal night, Riley would be sound asleep by now. Instead, he is curled up on the couch next to Jeffrey, his head in Jeffrey's lap, eyes open. Any second now, we will hear Dory's footsteps coming up our front stairs and he will jump up, throw his head back, and woof at the ceiling. He will be a wriggling puppy again when he sees her. He has known her since he was a puppy and we started taking him to Beaverbrook to play with other dogs.
Beaverbrook is a conservation park on the Watertown/Belmont line. It is a nice neighborhood park that is used for picnics and BBQs in the summertime and used by dog owners all year round. Dogs are unofficially "off leash" here. Riley knows just about every dog that comes to the park but he only has a few "best friends" whom he will engage in wrestling play. We a part of this dog park community. Everyone knows everyone else's dog's name. Some people know other people's names, but not many. There is always someone to walk with and talk about the latest dog park gossip. It is a strange but familiar community culture. I have met a wide array of people here, simply because I must walk my dog.
Dory is owned by a beautiful dog named Agave. Riley is just one month younger than Agave. They are best friends. They absolutely love each other and this is why I don't mind going away without Riley. If he's at Auntie Dory's house, he will be loved and he will constantly be preoccupied by the boundless energy of Agave. (she is part Lab) Dory is a wonderful dog-loving person whom I know would treat any dog as if it were hers. What started out as, I'll take your dog while you are away and next time vice versa, has become a good friendship. I really like our set up. I won't ask someone to just come over to walk him, leaving him to wander in an empty house day and night. I am even hesitant to leave him with semi-familiar people, especially if they have no dogs for him to play with. And I refuse to leave my baby in a kennel. This way, both Agave and Riley always have a second home. So far, it was worked out well for all of us.
Riley and Agave have very different personalities. They are quite complimentary. Riley is more dominant. He will tell Agave when he's had enough or when he gets first dibbs. But Agave has this wonderfully sweet and subtle persistance that refuses to be told no. So most play sessions begin with Riley trying to hoard all of the toys while Agave keeps taking them out one by one. Then Agave may bring a toy up to Riley to invite him to play. If it is tug-a-war toy, they may play for several minutes, often ending up in "lip lock." They may stay in this position, lip to lip, both sets of teeth holding on, maintaining tension, for several minutes. It is quite cute to watch. Most often, Agave gives in to Riley and he takes the toy, with his tail held high, and he goes for a victory lap. Agave most likely just finds another toy and brings it over to him. Riley will drop the first toy to try and take the new one and another tug-a-war ensues. When Riley finally gets bored of this game, he refuses to take the toy in his mouth. Agave has a very cute way of dangling the toy in his face and will even try to shove it into his mouth. She can go on almost all day long. Riley, on the other hand, is exhausted by her energy. Whenever he gets home from his sleepovers at Auntie Dory's house, Riley sleeps almost for an entire day in order to recooperate.
What is it people always say? A tired dog is a happy dog. How true.
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