It has been a while since Tucker or I have posted here.  He is now a handsome two year old young man that is my constant companion. Here is my favorite photo of him taken by my other best friend, my wife.

I feel  a bit melancholy today, because Tucker had to go in for surgery this morning to see if they can find the gut problem, that has plagued him since he was a pup. Neither my wife nor I had much sleep last night thinking about his ordeal. I woke up early, and Tucker and I took a walk so we could spend some time together before he had to go in. Ms Teri, my wife, brushed him, so he was looking the handsome man he certainly has become this past year.

My throat had a huge lump, and I could hardly breath as I left my best friend at the vet hospital. We are missing him terribly this day. We have said many prayers for his health and safety, now it is up to the Vet and the Lord.

Just a bit about this tender soul we call Tucker. He is a golden retriever-German Shepherd mix. We thought at first his mom was a lab, but it turned out she was a golden retriever. He is a strikingly handsome dog, and everyone who sees him remark about his appearance.  He no longer has the puppy attention-deficit  disorder that he and all puppies suffer from. He is smart and very well mannered. Tucker is a townie dog. What this means is just about every time I take my old butt to town, Tucker goes with. He rides in the passenger seat, and likes to hang his head out the window, if we are in a slow-speed  zone, or at a stop. When I stop to do errands or for a visit, he goes with me. He goes into every other establishment I do, except for restaurants, grocery stores, or medical buildings. If we do happen to eat out, we pick a place that has outdoor seating, so that Tucker can sit and eat also. He has NEVER been asked to leave, and his manners are beyond approach. He makes me proud to be his dad.

When visiting the local insurance agency the other day, the owner commented that this was one of those once in a lifetime dogs. I couldn't agree with him more.

Hiking Dale Hollow

Tucker received new hiking gear this last week, and we decided to try it out yesterday. This doggie backpack is made by a company called RuffWear, located in Bend, OR. This is their "Approach Pack" model and it is primarily a day hike or overnight type backpack. Tucker can carry his two bottles of water, collapsible food bowls, and food on any our outdoor adventures. Yesterday, we hiked about 10 miles in the Dale Hollow Lake area, traveling on old hunting trails, over rocks, and through heavy brush, without having any problems with his gear sliding or moving around. Tucker seemed to be comfortable and seemed not to take any notice of his load. The pack sells for about $80, and comes in several sizes, this is a medium.

I do not think Tucker enjoys anything better than hiking or running the bluffs and ridges here on the Cumberland Plateau. He is now eight months old and I let him hike both on and off his leash. He comes to call or whistle, and is rewarded with treats for his good behavior. I am a very proud dad!

   

Snow Day

We have had our brush with snow already this winter, yet today it snows again. I don't mind, and as you can see by my mom's great photo, I can really get into it!!

Living the Goode Life

My life with the old Buzzard and his mama bird is everything I had hoped for. (By the way, the way I am not supposed to be on the furniture*)

They took me into their home, introduced me to my new brothers and sister, and bought me a special room with a bed, so I could sleep inside the house at night. I especially liked that part, I had never stayed inside before.

Mama bird insisted that I be taken to the vet right away, to get an examination and shots I would need. Mom was sure right, because they found some nasty old worms in my body, and I had to take special medicine to get rid of them. The nice ladies at the vet's office gave me a tag indicating I was now vaccinated, and mom bought me a great collar, so I could wear the tag around my neck, along with the very special tag she had made for me with my name on it. My mom loves me, and sees to it, that I am protected!

Dad said it was going to get cold soon, and I needed to become house trained. Of course this involved special training, and after about a month of practicing going to the bathroom etiquette principles, I was allowed to stay in the house as much as I wanted, as long as I behaved. (I am still working very hard on this behavior thing.)  Mom got me into a special school, so that I could learn my doggie manners as she puts it. I'm not sure exactly how that's going, but mom and dad say I have a long way to go yet. Mom and dad say that I am smart, maybe too smart for my own good; whatever that means.

I get fed twice a day, and of course with only the right foods, and I have bones to chew on, and get treats when I am good or do something correctly. My very favorite thing is chewing on bones. Sometimes I go out and bury them, so I can chew on them later if my brothers and sister don't find them first. They are Dachshunds, and my parents say they have special skills at finding and digging up things that I bury. I personally believe they went to a different school than I did, because you're not supposed to take another persons stuff or have the wrong stuff. At least that's what the police dogs are being trained to understand at the school I attend.

Mom is the one that gave me the name Tucker. She also calls me a knucklehead, bonehead, and clumsy sometimes. Dad, on the other hand, calls me all sorts of things, including things that mom seems a little upset about at times. Mostly, he calls me Tucker or Brother Tucker. Dad's the one who wakes me up in the morning, and takes me outside. Mom brushes my coat everyday, and gives me treats when I listen and do as she says. I especially like when she tucks me into bed at night, giving me a bedtime treat for being such a good dog. I try, I really do!

So for the last three months I have been living the Goode life so to speak. I eat well, chew on bones, play with and tear up my toys, pester my brothers and sister, nibble on anything I can get away with, dig holes, bury bones, go on hikes, play in any water I find, explore the great outdoors, bring home sticks of all kinds, and use my big boy bark to let everyone know when someone is here. Most certainly I know I have a home, so when my dad or mom whistles; I come running.

Dad's Special Day

Today is my dad's special day. He told me that I was a big part of it. You see last year, on today's date he had open heart surgery. I am not sure what that means other than he said he was real sick, and for a long time. He told me that when he started to feel better he started to walk and jog to get his exercise, lose weight, and get in shape, so he could live a long time. I Like that! Before me, he said he would walk or run with Lady Gaga. I don't know her, but dad said she wasn't a bad workout date. Oh well, he has me now.

He said that when I became part of the family, I also became his walking partner, and then later his hiking partner. I like to hike you know. (Dad took this picture of me while hiking up a mountain) Dad and I would go walking every morning until the snow started to fall. He would teach me to walk and run on a leash, and go through all the commands like sit, stay, down, come, and most of all to focus. This is also where I learned about treats and rewards. I like treats and rewards allot!!

Well anyway this is my dad's special anniversary day, and I am glad him, and I are partners in these things.

My First Post Ever

Hello, my name is Tucker. My dad and I were talking recently, and he suggested that since I am so special, I might want to document my life in a journal for the sake of posterity. Since I couldn't write it by myself, I have asked my dad and mom to interpret my thoughts and share them with the rest of you. Dad said I should tell everyone a little about my life up to this point, so here goes...

I was born somewhere around the end of May or early June 2010, over near McAlister TN.  We're just not sure, since I am a rescue, and we have limited source information. I know that I have a brother somewhere because he and I were given to two men who were working in the area that wanted us puppy dogs. The one man who decided I was a good choice, brought me back to his house among the hills and farms here on the Cumberland Plateau near Dale Hollow Lake. His name was Brad, and he rented the house from my new dad, living there with his wife Megan and their little girl Leah. They were good folks, but Brad being a lineman hanging wires up on poles all around the country couldn't stay home and take care of me. Ms Megan became sick and was hospitalized for a very long time and no one was there to take care of me. I was about four months old at the time and considered an outside dog, so I pretty much just stayed around the porch waiting for someone to come home or drop by to see me or maybe play.

I met my new dad as soon after arriving in this area. He would come over once a week with his tractor to mow the grass and take care of the yard. I would follow him around, and he would stop his work and play with me for a while. He told me later that he had liked me the very moment he put eyes on me. I liked him too, and tried to nip at his hands or tools constantly. One day mom and dad got a call from Ms Megan's family asking if we could go over and take care of the dog, because no one had been there to feed and water me for a few days. Dad came over and fixed me up with some food and water and played with me for a while. He said that he later told mom he felt really bad about leaving a small dog like me outside with no one around to take care of me with all the wild critters around in the hills and all. At the time, they didn't know how smart and brave I was, and that I could take care of myself a little. I found water at a nearby pond of a neighbor down the road, and had already eaten a snake or two that came out of a field where the farmer was cutting hay next door. I like snakes, but not dad. Mom says dad screams and jumps like a little girl when he sees a snake.

After a few days, mom and dad discussed the fact that I should have a good home and someone to look after me. They already had three other dogs at the time, so they were not sure how I would fit in, since they were all smaller and older weiner dogs, and I was destined to be such a big dog. Mom gave the final okay after talking with Ms Megan's family who said they were going to have to take me off somewhere since there was no one available to take of me. Dad came over and brought me home that same day, and mom and dad have loved and taken care of me ever since.

So that's the story, of how I came to live and love my new family here in the hills of Tennessee. I have a human family that loves me, two brothers and a sister dog that mom and dad say barely tolerate me. I am not really sure what "tolerate" means but again, since I am so special I am sure it means they are thrilled to have me around. The next time I will tell you about life with the people I love!