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| When I first saw this nameless dog, she looked a bit dejected. |
Scout has been with us for a year, as of yesterday. She was a former stray and the equivalent of a teen mom who started out skinny, cautious, and confused about a lot of things. We've all learned a lot during the past year, and she's become a much healthier, more confident, and happier dog.
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| At our first meeting, she wasn't sure what to make of me, and was too shy to even hold up her head. |
I don't really know what exactly appealed to me about this dirty, sad little dog. Although she is probably from a long line of hard-working ranch dogs, something about her appeared a bit exotic, as if she were descended from wild dogs of some type. In any case, I thought she would benefit from a change of scenery. It turns out a change of scenery, a name, and some attention was just what she needed, and a furry, enthusiastic little buddy was just what I needed.
The name Scout came about while seeking a single syllable name that wouldn't get too tiresome. Many people assume her name was influenced by Harper Lee's
To Kill a Mockingbird, but her name was probably more inspired by the
International Scout, though any influence was subconscious. I just liked the sound of the word, and the general definition of the word seemed to fit her characteristics and personality.
Now, fully fleshed out and with a nice coat, Scout still appears a little wild. Curiously, she has about the same dimensions as a coyote, with a similar aloofness around anyone but me. She also revels in the wilderness. As I've noted on this blog several times before, Scout is a natural
biking dog, and especially appreciates mountain trails. I probably have more photos of her trotting along beside my bike than doing anything else. I certainly don't have many of her sitting or staying, as those are commands we have yet to master. Here's to many more years and many more trails with Scout.
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| You're going to share a bit of whatever it is you're eating, right? |
Yay for Scout! I love a happy dog story.
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun having her around. Now all we have to do is to get the basic commands done, and to wean her from the idea that my hands are chew toys.
DeleteThere are so many dogs that are born into suckdom. And then it gets worse for them from there. They're worth rescuing, and I can say this with confidence, because I'm on year 6 of my adoption of a 2 y/o rescue mess. Trouble at times? Oh yeah. Worth it though, oh hell yeah. Scout hit the lottery. Wishing you tons more fun riding/runing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat. Scout is my second consecutive rescued dog. Heidi, my first, was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dog, although her lifespan didn't coincide much with my blog (http://bigdummydaddy.blogspot.com/2011/04/365-days.html). Scout probably appealed to me because of similarities in her prior life situation to Heidi's. Both had been young mothers, were despondent, malnourished, wary of people and scared of men. It's a lot of investment to take on a dog who has come from suckdom, but the payoffs can be terrific for all involved.
DeleteCongrats to you and Brandy on 6+ years of a great symbiotic relationship. You've hit a lottery of your own. What I've seen of you through your blog inspired me to introduce bikes into my own canine-human endeavor. All the best to you both.