IS THAT A PET POSSUM?

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us it seems!!  I love to piddle around out in the yard, but this heat is almost too much for me to handle.  No matter, I go outside everyday and try to do, or at least start, one of the many projects on my list.  My faithful companion, Brutus, takes every step I take.  Brutus turned 13 last month and I like to tell people he's my longest lasting relationship with a male!!  Brutus is a red Dachshund and is named after one of our Doxies from my childhood.   

Brutus, from my childhood was the son of Duchess who was given to me for my 6th birthday.  I loved Duchess and she was my companion for 10 years.  As a child I would put a rope around her and pull her up into the tree with me where I liked to sit and read.  Duchess usually went to Florida with us during the summer when we would go and visit family.  Seems like every night of my life that I had Duchess, Mama would tell me not to let that dog sleep in my bed.  Now, I know good and well Mama knew Duchess slept with me every night.  The evidence was on the bed sheets from the few little red hairs she would shed.  

Dachshunds apparently were bred to be Badger hunters.  I can't imagine these sweet natured little dogs hunting badgers, but that's what I've read.  Back in the day Duchess had chased a rabbit or something down into a hole and she was nearly buried in that hole all the way to her hind legs.  Ole Brutus, her son, was just sitting by watching the show when my Daddy told him to get up off his lazy butt and help Duchess.  Brutus suddenly stood up and started digging right where he had been sitting, which wasn't where Duchess was fiercely trying to reach her prey.  It's amazing to think that Brutus understood what Daddy said to him, but he must have or why else would he have suddenly jumped up and started digging!!

Now, my current day Brutus is a champ all the way around.  He barks anytime he hears a sound.  He barks at anyone that walks in the door, even if that person has walked through the door 15 times for 10 years.  He travels with me and always sleeps and is no bother at all.  Recently, Tam and I drove to Cleveland, Alabama (about 100 miles one way) to buy a camper and Brutus went with us.  When we got there he got out of the SUV, watered the tree, sniffed the butt of the dog that lived there and walked straight to the camper to look inside.  Once we looked at the camper we all went inside to do the paperwork.  Brutus sniffed around and I just knew he was going to hike his leg on something, but he didn't.... he was a real gentleman.  He made friends with the sweet lady we bought the camper from and her little dog too.  Apparently, he made such an impression on that sweet lady that she emailed me and said if I ever wanted to go out of town she would be happy to keep Brutus.  Apparently, she could see the champ in Brutus too!!  Also, she obviously didn't get a kiss from him because his breath smells as bad as his farts!!  Brutus is one smelly little man!!  I tell my kids and Tami to learn to embrace the stench because Brutus isn't going anywhere!!

I have 7 other dogs, but as you can tell Brutus is extremely special to me.  I have 5 other Doxies, 1 pit bull and 1 border collie/heeler mix.  It always amazes me that the other dogs seem to understand Brutus is the Boss!!  Boss Hog as we sometimes call him.
One more thing I have to share about Brutus..... he's always been on the muscular side. lol  His mama weighed 7 lbs, his daddy weighed 11lbs and Brutus has always weighed more than both of his parents put together.  One Thanksgiving Brutus and I were visiting with family in Huntsville.  We were all in the backyard which joined other back yards when we noticed this man kept looking over at us.  This went on for about 15 minutes until he finally walked over and announced that he was sorry for starring, but he thought we had a PET POSSUM!!  Brutus.... a possum ??  Everyone thought it was hilarious except for Brutus.... he didn't eat very much for the next few days.  Guess he wanted to slim down!! lol

Nanette

P.S.  We have a Duchess too.  She's a tiny black and silver dappled Dachshund that weighs about 6lbs.