One way our pets who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge can live on for us is through our current pets. Luke seems to have a knack for doing things that remind me of our past dogs. I don’t know if they are things he learned from them when they were here, or if he simply shares characteristics they had. When we lost our beagle Kobi in February of 2014, I wrote the post “Heaven Sent Us An Angel”, and in that post I wrote about how Luke was doing many things that Kobi used to, such as sleeping in his spot, seen in the photo below.
Of all the dogs we’ve had, I think Luke most often reminds me of Kobi. He often walks just like Kobi did when he was younger, or he’s a combination of Kobi at different ages. When Kobi was young, he was a puller, and Luke can still do that, though I’ve trained him to do better. On walks this week, Luke reminded me a bit more of our beagle Cricket – he was trucking along when we were on the road. Cricket was always full speed on the road, and then pokey on the woods trails where there were more scents. I picked up my speed to keep up with him, and then we saw that darn fox exiting our woods trail!
The fox saw us and high-tailed across the road. Luke didn’t try to chase it, thank goodness, though he did pull a bit that way. When we got on the trail, he tracked that fox all the way back to our yard by the chicken coop. I’ve said it before, but I find it so hard to believe that Luke doesn’t have some beagle in him. He certainly has the nose.
At other times, he saunters along the road constantly pulling off into the brush. When Kobi used to do that, I’d tell him “stop trolling for ticks!”, since the ticks tend to be in the brushy areas. I now find myself often saying that to Luke, and though sometimes I might feel a bit sad for missing our beagles, more often it just makes me smile at those happy memories.
His penchant for stopping to eat grass was a Kobi trait as well, along with leaving me standing there, more patiently now than I used to be, waiting while he smells something intently. Kobi would have loved all the deer poop we see in our woods!
Kobi and Cricket had pretty opposite personalities. Kobi was laid back and happy with a simple walk. Cricket was high energy and high strung, and though she slowed down a bit with her age and heart condition, she still needed to play ball daily.
While Luke is turning out to be far more like Kobi than Cricket, I think he takes comfort in taking over both of his late siblings’ routines. Inside the house, Luke has picked up many of Cricket’s habits. She trained him well to go straight to the pantry when we get back from our walks and ask for a treat. He’s taken over her favorite spot in the chair as well; that spot I touched every morning for a while after she departed for the Bridge. As our morning routines have changed, I stopped doing that for the most part, though I still occasionally do. Now I more enjoy seeing Luke there, lying on top of the pillow he moved just like Cricket used to.
Luke does still like to play with toys, mostly in the evening. Though he’ll only chase the ball once, and not give it back, he does make me smile when he goes to the toy box and selects a toy that was one of Cricket’s favorites, like the yellow Duckworth duck* seen in the photos below. While Luke doesn’t seem to have a lot of our late golden retriever Sheba’s personality traits, when I am the one who has to chase him down the hall and play tug with the toys, I miss how our golden girl used to entertain him in the evenings so I didn’t have to.
Though it is sometimes tinged with sadness, I am thankful for the times like these that Luke brings back a memory of his siblings and makes me smile. He helps to keep their memories alive for us. ♥
Thank you to our friends at Brian’s Home for hosting the Thankful Thursday blog hop. Please visit them and other blogs through the links below!
Awe I often feel the same with Tilda. Not sure if it’s because Ginger basically was her dog Mom and Tilda has never been around other cats but she begs for food just like her and will stand in front of the refrigerator just like Ginger used to waiting for cheese. It’s so funny to see a cat acting like a dog. LOL
xoxo,
Bell Fur Zoo Mom
I love that!! It must be so cute. ♥
Lovely comparisons and memories,Jan.
Thank you, Lynn. ♥
Aww, such a sweetie. This time of year grass is a real delicacy and I’m constantly trying to get the troops to mosey on along our walks. After a few weeks of hot temps, it won’t be so desirable, in the meantime, it’s a real factor in why our walks take so long!
I’m always telling Luke he can just eat the grass when he’s in the yard…but I guess the grass in other places is somehow better. 🙂
This is such a sweet post. This is why we love having overlap between generations of dogs. It’s really sweet to see a behavior from a departed dog in one of our current dogs. It is bittersweet but I’d rather have it than not. I’m so glad that you have sweet Luke now.
I’d rather have it too. ♥
I also understand where you are coming from…little things Rosy does, that remind me of Dory, can bring a tear or a smile.
Neither of the boys do anything like their predecessors other than bark at the neighbors. LOL! I miss my best friends that are waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for me. ♥
I really do think our current animals channel those that came before. I find Wally doing many of the same things that one of my previous cats, Scooter, did. We’re glad that the memories Luke is bringing back helps you smile. ~Island Cat Mom
Thank you, Sue! I’m glad Wally can bring back memories of your Scooter too. ♥
I think we stay similar so our mumsand dads love us even more (and we can angle for more treats!)
You animals are smart that way!! ♥
That is so sweet that Luke will bring back your great memories. I can’t believe you see the fox so much. Darn bugger, it needs to move on.
We all learn from our canine siblings and despite being different breeds, we have similar habits I think.
I think you are right about that, Emma. I think Luke might have learned a lot from Kobi before Kobi had to go.
Very sweet memories of Crickett.
Thank you, Ellen. I still miss her every day.
What a lovely post. I always thing it’s the angel that’s telling the remaining baby what to do so you’ll know that the angel is still with you.
Have a fabulous Thankful Thursday. ♥
Yes, I have looked at it that way as well. I sometimes say “Are you channeling Kobi again?”. 🙂
Katy’s taken on some of the chores Bailey used to take care of for her. I find it interesting because she showed no interest or ability in handling them when he was alive, but now that he’s gone, she’s taken up some of his causes.
Sometimes dogs seem to know just what is needed!
It’s amazing how our dogs will sometimes pick up on and mimic some of the traits of their departed siblings, isn’t it?
Until Callie left us, Shadow almost always got into arguments with Ducky over Nylabones or toys. Usually, it was over one she already had that Ducky tried to take from her. Back then, Callie would try to play peacemaker and break it up. Or, when Ducky would get jealous of the attention Shadow was getting from Callie or one of us and start an argument, Shadow would tell her off and Callie would get in the middle of it and tell them both to chill out, in dogspeak.
When Callie got her angel wings, however, Shadow stopped defending herself. And like Callie had always done with her, Shadow started letting Ducky take the toys from her. And, except for the times when she’s not feeling well, Ducky almost never gets snarky with Shadow these days. While they don’t really play with each other much, at least they’ve learned to live together peacefully for the most part. I like to think Callie told them both to try to get along better for our sakes; but I think part of it might also be just that Ducky is “growing up”.
It also sounds like Shadow took over some of Callie’s roles, and that has helped her and Ducky to find peace with each other. Whatever the reason, I’m just glad for you that Ducky is settling down! ♥
you said it!!!… I often felt the same but I couldn’t find the words for this feeling ;O) it is like you said… Easy lives in Phenny although they are totally different… but I think it is the love what lets us see it this way ;O))
I think you are right about that. ♥
Oh yes, we know exactly what you mean, the same happens here. It’s wonderful when the memories actually make the heart smile. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!