While I sometimes write about the challenges that our Lab mix Luke gives us, I don’t ever want to forget to share about the things he makes easy for us. As regular readers know, we’ve been going through a lot of changes around here since I lost my regular job last fall.
Most recently I added a new job to my schedule. It’s just two days per week, and so far, Luke is mostly doing fine being left home alone more. However, as things have kept changing over the last few months, I am constantly trying to find what works for me as far as my schedule goes. I juggle bookkeeping work, the blog, the farm (making products to sell, caring for the birds, and now working in the gardens), and now my new job at the farm stand two mornings/week.
While doing that I’ve tried to keep things as consistent as possible for Luke and Sam. I get up early most mornings and my routine was to feed Sam and then Luke. Then we added the baby chicks a few weeks ago, so I had to work checking on them into my morning schedule; filling their food and water first thing if needed.
Since they are kept in a room closest to where Sam eats, it made sense to check on them after feeding Sam. That meant Luke had to wait a little longer for his breakfast. He would get up with me, go outside, and then wait patiently while I got my coffee and then took care of Sam. When it started to take me longer to finish all that, he didn’t whine, cry, or pace. I’d come out of Sam’s room and find him waiting patiently on our bed.
Even on the occasional day I sleep in a bit, Luke won’t bother me. He’s the first dog that is not an early riser since we got our beagle Kobi almost 17 years ago. He was in that routine for a while, but since we lost Cricket he now stays in bed most of the time until I get up.
Now that we’ve changed his food too, and we have to re-hydrate it for 5 minutes before serving, he has to wait a little longer for his meals to be prepared. He just lies on one of the rugs outside of the kitchen until I tell him it’s ready, and he never complains.
He also hasn’t complained when the Dadz and I have been outside more working on projects like planting the garden and putting up some fencing. He can’t come down in that area of the yard, and sometimes he’ll watch us from his fenced in yard, or he’ll just nap in the house until we come in.
While he doesn’t show it on the surface, I know some of these changes have been hard on him. I had noticed for a couple weeks that he seemed more “out of sorts”, spending more time in his comfort zone (our closet), even when I was just doing normal things. That may have started around the time I started my new job. I was concerned, but just these last few days he has seemed better. I think he’s adjusting to the latest changes now, and we also just got a new product we’re trying and reviewing to see if that helps him relax more as well.
As I wrote the other day, “you get the dog you need” and in this way, Luke’s patience has made our lives so much easier as we deal with different things. I try to return the favor by making sure he gets his daily walks as much as possible, some toy time in the evenings when he’s in the mood and treats throughout the day when he’s such a good boy.
Speaking of treats? That is the answer to yesterday’s question of what was behind door #1. One of my best friends knew that was the laundry room door, but even she didn’t know that’s where I put the treats I bake to cool off. I needed a place out of “someone’s” reach, and since it’s close to the kitchen, that works. Our beagle Cricket used to camp outside that door when the treats were in there, and Luke has now taken over that job!
That wasn’t nearly as exciting as what some of you guessed….gosh, I wish it had been kittens or a puppy behind that door! 🙂
While some situations with him are challenging and might make our lives a bit more difficult; having him be so patient on an everyday basis makes our lives much easier and for that I’m extremely thankful.
Thank you to our friends at Brian’s Home for hosting the Thankful Thursday blog hop! Please visit other blogs through the links below.
Good job being so patient Luke. I are da same way buts Tilda on the other hand not so much 😉 I bet those treats you were waiting fur were well worth it!!
xoxo,
Matt & Matilda
They were worth it! Momz says that Sam is not nearly as patient as I am. It’s a good thing our Moms have us dogs!
Love, Luke
I am so happy that you have at least SOMETHING a couple days a week and with all that you have on your plate, I don’t know how you handle it all. Now that photo is even funnier, since I found it that there isn’t a kitty behind that door! I think treats are waaay more exciting!
Luke would agree with you on that! 🙂
I am learning to take things more “one day at a time”, since I barely know where I’m supposed to be or what I’m supposed to be doing from one day to the next! LOL!
Mommy says us cats should take lessons from the Dogs. Fenris and Tuiren NEVER pester Mommy about meals, they just wait patiently for her to remember to feed them. Geez good thing they have us cats to SCREAM at her or she might never remember about FEEDING US. But we keep her in line.
That is Samantha’s job as well! She lets everyone know when it’s meal time, by mewling quite loudly!
What a good boy Luke is! It’s hard to be patient but it sounds like its a superpower of his! It also sounds as if you’re doing great stuff to help him stay stable through all these changes.
Lucky Luke – fresh baked treats!
I figured it had to be treats or some other food; and homemade treats are the best! Luke is a good, sweet boy, being so patient! And I’m glad to see he’s adjusting so well to the routine changes! It really does help us adjust when we don’t have to worry as much about our furry kids.
I think it’s harder on me than it is on him. 🙂
Yay, Luke! My cats certainly ARE NOT that patient … but they do have a way of surprising me every so often 🙂
I worry about Sam if I have to go looking for her at meal time! She’s usually the one that reminds me if I’m even a few minutes late!
I am constantly in awe of dogs’ ability to display patience I only wish I had. Extra ear scratches for sweet Luke for being such a saint.
Luke definitely has more patience than I do! I’m trying to learn from him. 🙂
Sounds like you did get the dog you needed!! What a patient pup Luke is…especially in front of the “treat cooling roon” ;-)!
I’m so glad that Luke is adjusting to the new schedule. Since my schedule changes every semester–and for three months in the summer, we have no set schedule except agility class–Barley, Rye, and Soth are very good at adapting! Most of the time, I think it’s harder on me than it is on them 😉
Yup, I can relate to that! I’ve definitely had a harder time adjusting than he has. 🙂
It sounds like Luke is working as hard in his own way to make things easier for you as you are to make things easier for him.
The perfect relationship. ♥
You are lucky to have such a patient and loving pup as part of your family, and no I would not have guessed what was behind the door.
Probably especially not if you knew it was the laundry room! 🙂
Luke is a good doggie to have some flexibility in his routine. That’s a great photo of him outside the cookie cooling closet.
Patients is great! Your doing a great job juggling everything and getting things to be normal.
Thank you! It hasn’t been an easy process, but I think we’re getting there. 🙂
I’m sure he will be okay. We all have had to learn patience. We do have a routine, but it is not always the same. It’s good to learn to be patient and go with the flow.
I think dogs are a bit more adaptable than we give them credit for.
Luke is a sweetheart. Hopefully, he will adjust to the new schedule really fast. We are really enjoying all the posts on this Thankful Thursday. Thanks for the share. Have a great day.
Thank you for stopping by to visit us!!
We wouldn’t be that patient when it comes to getting our meals. 🙂
Trust me, I believe that. Sam is not nearly as patient as Luke! 🙂
You are a lucky boy to have homemade treats 🙂
Some might say spoiled. 🙂
Luke really does have the patience of a saint. Do you think he could teach Bentley because the boy will “hound” me to death for his dinner. LOL!
I know what you mean, our beagle Kobi was not patient at all either!! 🙂
I currently need this kind of patience … and there are treats behind that door… wait we come and then we open it together ;O)
There’s plenty for everyone!!
Sweet boy. Some people are adverse to change (raises hand,) so it makes sense some dogs might be as well. It seems like he’s figured out what he needs to help him adjust. That’s a smart boy right there.
Glad you are finding your rhythm.
We’re getting there! I think it’s been easier on Luke than it has on me though. 🙂
Can he come teach my two patience??? What a sweetie he is.
Luke is really doing a great job adjusting to changing schedules, good boy Luke! Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Oh, fresh treats! That explains Luke’s interest in that door! 🙂