And Then There Was One

You would think Jake had been dreaming of being the “only dog”, not just the “alpha dog.” This would mean that he would no longer have to vie for dog treats, for attention, for anything. But ever since we came home without Dylan, he has been in a real funk.

Jake was unhappy when we drove away with Dylan in the car, leaving him behind. But that had happened before (when Dylan had gone in for a check-up) and he had always come home. When we came back with an empty leash and collar, Jake at first refused to go outside, perhaps thinking he too might disappear.

He ate his dinner last night and out of habit looked to see if he could steal something from Dylan’s bowl, but there was no bowl to steal from. We long ago learned why he is overweight.

We went to bed leaving Jake downstairs as he has always stayed when our children aren’t home to sneak him up to their rooms. He normally just sleeps curled up on the black leather chair. But sometime during the night he started barking incessantly and would not shut up until my husband let him come upstairs. He immediately headed for my side of the bed knowing how much my husband detests his being in our room. He was only content when his head was resting on some part of my body.

This morning after I finished my cereal, he waited for me to split the remaining milk into two bowls and seemed surprised when he got all five sips for himself.

How do you explain to an animal the truth of what happened to his life-long companion? I can remind him to stop looking for Dylan every time someone opens the door. I can tell him Dylan is in a better pain-free place. But Jake simply doesn’t get it. He is still on the look-out.

I fear he will quickly become a complacent lazy old dog now that he has no reason to compete for anything. I know it’s way too early to even begin to think about a puppy. But Jake needs a friend other than me. He was just not born to be an “only dog”.

(Picture nabbed from my husband’s winter post about Jake.)