HE’S HARMLESS
He’s got quite the charisma as he greets you with his signature “howl and growl”. With paws the size of Texas, he likes to show them off at face level while he “double high fives”. Sometimes scary, yea – but to know him, he’s harmless. This four-pawed, puppy-hearted, bouncing-of-a-ball personality has some good looks too, as he dances and flaunts his gray, short-haired fur coat when he’s filled with excitement.
Luc is his name, and he likes to chew things. If he’s got a favorite, I would have to say a super hard plastic bone might be his choice but then again, he devours furry toy animals like you can’t imagine. He’s got some smarts too. When I tease him by waiving one of those soft and furrys, he’s pretty good at knowing the difference between my hand and the cotton-clothed toy. When we’ve got a tug of war goin on with the unfortunate fuzzy in our grips, using his large snappers he bites his way as close to my hand as possible. He’s teasing me too, but I’m no saint either. We play hard. All is cool, and that’s the way it is when your hanging tough with Luc….my new best friend.
HEAD OF SECURITY
Hanging out, we’re holding the fort down here on Magnolia Drive. Its Luc’s digs and when I’m visiting, each of us takes on a few house chores for which we’re pretty serious. I’m good for keeping the food on the table and handling the electric stuff like the lights, fridge and the laptop for music…he guards the frickin place. And I have to say it feels pretty safe having Luc being in charge of security. Man, he can whiff something from a mile away and if it gets closer, his growling bark lets you know he might be onto something. But things get even wilder when we step outside into the backyard. I get out for the fresh air and a little exercise. But Luc, he gives craziness another meaning as his energy blows up the second he pokes his adventurous snout through the half-opened storm door.
ENERGY TO SPARE
So it goes down like this; as soon as that wet nose gathers up even the smallest scent of the outdoors, his green and yellow eyes grow big, nickel-sized, and only god knows what he’s thinking as his energy is now without restraint. Like a racehorse through an opened gate, he sprints outward, dancing on his hind legs, turning in circles, then bolts a few more yards only to stop and circle himself again. Repeat. Repeat. I don’t get it but as long as he isn’t hurting himself, it’s humorous. Usually he starts at warp speed, parallel along the fence line then gallops back to the patio for a brief overview of his property and then god forbid if he spots something suspicious (or moving). He’s good at what he does and that’s the reason he’s top dawg here at the Skinner residence.
A GIRLFRIEND?
But I’ve learned to know when Luc plays for fun, and when he doesn’t. Don’t… mess… with… his… lady… friends! My humble intention was to say a quick “hello” to the short-haired white spotted brunette, the one with a cute barking voice – on the other side of the fence, in the backyard, his neighbor. I’m still not exactly clear what Luc’s got goin’ on with this gal, but sure as hell he wants me no part of it. He has that “look” and it starts when he inconspicuously sits still at attention, like a statue, facing forward. But when his eyes turn as far left as they can physically go, I know he’s spying me! With a bit of a growl and a few paws at my face I get the picture, dude! I head back to the patio to rest on the lounge chair while Luc “makes time”.
Best friends understand each other and it’s no different for me and Luc. There are very few “terms and conditions” for the both of us when we’re chillin’. Just about anything goes and we got it nailed when it comes down to the art of layin back, and layin low. After all, we usually need to rejuvenate from a long walk or after hard day’s play in the backyard. That’s when those power naps come in to play. And so it goes, as we always have each other’s back for the down time too.
It’s snowing now. Quite the Nor’easter has been howling through the region all morning and it’s still snowin’ and blowin’ at 3 in the afternoon. This time Luc and I watch from the warm side of the windows as the heavy, soaking flakes blow sideways from the wind gusts. Too wet to go outside and chew on a stick, we choose to enjoy the warmth indoors while the weather throws a white blanket on our fun. Our outside adventures for the afternoon have been postponed because of the extreme weather and now there’s two of us having that sad puppy dog face.
There’s always a tomorrow for our shenanigans though, and there’s no doubt we’ll pick up where we left off as we share the same adventurous blood.
It’s a dog’s world, in a man’s home, and what a day in the life it is when they come together.
BZ
Luc isn’t much of a wood burner but he sure likes trees. Check out his video below.
