Angus

We nearly didn’t meet Angus! We had previously visited Calgary Humane Society and decided to adopt a Chow/Shepherd mix who was going to be called Booch. Prior to Booch being neutered, x-rays revealed some extremely serious hip issues that made him unadoptable at that time! As paperwork had been completed and money had changed hands it was exceptionally agreed that we could see if any other pooch may fit the bill. We were also asked if we had seen Angus. As it happens, on our previous visits he had been out for a walk, and he wasn’t on the website, so that was a “no”. We met outside in a dog run and he made such an impression that we were surprised he hadn’t already been adopted. It didn’t take long for us to decide that he was the kind of pooch we could share some space with. Whilst we were completing the adoption paperwork a couple came into the room… they had come to adopt Angus ! So, we reckon that it was ordained that Angus was meant to be with us. We called him Angus Booch as a kind of tribute and because his name suited him…. he was a total Angus. He turned out to be a lovely pooch, a perfect fit and the bestest boy we could ever have wished for.

Angus was a Shepherd/Wire-haired Fox Terrier X, originating from the Morley Reservation. When he came to live with us he was a year or so old. He was already good around the house, so he must have lived indoors with someone before. His main issue seemed to be that Angus wasn’t overly sure about how to be a dog. He had obviously been socialised a bit but didn’t seem to recognise other dog’s body cues… happiness, sadness, anger, attraction… he seemed oblivious to the subtleties of these basic areas of communication. Early on this led to Angus getting humped by all and sundry, and a lot of looking at us for help or “asking” what he should do. He soon managed to communicate properly with other pooches and to make it obvious that he wasn’t “that kind of chap!”. He was a pretty quick learner.

Angus liked being with us. He wasn’t one for overt shows of affection and made this kind of contact on his own terms. As he got older, he expressed his feelings more freely, enjoying fussage and giving a nudge if he thought he was being ignored or another pooch was getting too much attention! He was always very gentle and respectful. He would get whisker close when smelling somebody but never, ever tried to lick skin as he did so. Angus paticularly loved children. His non-licking even extended to youngsters who had runny noses or who had spread most of their food over their face and hands… sniffing but no licking!

On the subject of manners, when Angus came to live with us he showed no inclination whatsoever to get up on the furniture or onto our bed. Indeed, I remember one occasion when he was placed onto the bed just before I entered the room. I found him staring at me with a ” It wasn’t me…honest guv ” Iook on his face!

It took some years and a number of Pooch House visitors to convince Angus that he was missing out and that furniture was his friend. The day he was first allowed on the couch was a flagship day, with no turning back. It was the establishment of a whole new “your bed is my bed ” era. It also produced a different, more cuddly pooch… a welcome side-effect.

Being part-terrier Angus was an athlete, a digger, and a chaser. He always seemed ready to run… after something or away from something. He loved to chase … rabbits, squirrels, mice, moles,voles, some birds, deer, and especially the bane of his existence… magpies. The magpies were never forgiven for teasing and tormenting him, whilst conspiring to steal chew toys and treats from under his nose every time he was in the garden. This was a lifelong ” love to hate ” relationship, and Angus was always a very willing participant !

One time, given Angus’ chasing habits, I was more than surprised to see that when we came across a bush-sized porcupine having a stroll at Nose Hill he looked at it, looked at me and then sat down and watched it walk away. I’m unsure if it was intelligence or experience… either way, it was an unexpectedly sensible non-move!

Whilst Angus was a chaser… he was also a chasee ! Sudden movements, loud noises, dodgy shadows, kites, hot air balloons … all elicited the same response… him taking off like an Olympic sprinter. A case in point happened at Nose Hill. We were just getting to the top of a steep slope when I narrowly missed colliding with a kite glider who had launched himself off of the edge. As he rose, he was framed by the Sun and looked like a large, predatory bird. Angus must have thought the same as when I turned to see him he was already sprinting down the hill, looking like the proverbial Roadrunner and leaving a plume of dust in his wake ! He didn’t stop and was soon out of sight.

We had parked over 30 minutes away. Within 10 minutes, I received a phone call from someone at the car park who had found a panting Angus circling the Pooch Mobile. This was typical Angus… get frightened by something, run off like an Olympian, cover a large distance in no time and then finding his way back to “safety”. Typical Angus !

Angus was central to the creation of the Pooch Walk, and subsequently the Pooch House… no Angus, no business. Prior to my arrival in Canada I was a University Professor, and fully intended to continue in a similar vein here. Indeed, I was still teaching online for the Open University when we made the move. My intentions changed following my ” Welcome to Canada ” medical when I was advised that I had Prostate Cancer. Surgery was going to keep me out of circulation for a while and put the brakes on any job applications. This type of life-event tends to make you think about things differently and to reconsider what you want to do. I enjoyed being outside, dogs had been part of the family for most of my adult life and Angus required exercising. If I was exercising Angus, why not offer the same for other people’s pooches?

First, Boris walked with us in the mornings. Wyatt walked every afternoon. Soon after, Sophie joined on regular mornings. Voila, a new business was born.

Upon reflection, it’s amazing just how many dogs have been on the Pooch Walk (and stayed in the Pooch House). Angus walked with and welcomed them all… sharing the Pooch Mobile and his home without issue. Whilst largely he got on with all pooch guests, he definitely had some favourites. Boris, Mya, George, Luther, Kira, Barley, Tucker, Bogart, Coco, Georgia and Bella were all encouraged to chase, be chased and wrestle vigorously… all sure signs that they were Angus’ BFF’s. Angus had a particularly soft spot for his big friend Luther… DBMann.

Over a number of years, he lived with 2 puggles, first Dexter and recently Daisy. Both enjoyed sharing space with Angus, and both introduced and then reinforced the fact that ” sentry ” and ” just in case” barking were fun and just had to be done. Whilst they both successfully modelled this behaviour, neither was able to get Angus to bark at the back door when he wanted to come in! Accordingly, we always had to check on Angus when he was out in the garden (his favourite place) as he would regularly get covered in rain, snow or other precipitation whilst patiently sitting on the deck looking at the door and hoping to be let in !

Angus was always a healthy chap. Over more than 12 years his only ailments were an infected neuter site, a wart on the lip and a broken tooth. As he got older his character didn’t really change (other than some occasional, older-aged grumpiness with younger pooches). Whilst his coat steadily greyed, he remained pretty active. He did lose some of his all-around athleticism but could still move pretty quickly in the company of a squirrel, magpie, or especially when romping with his BFF’S.

When Angus passed, it was very unexpected, very sudden, and very quick. Comfort is found from being with him at the end, from the fact that he didn’t suffer for long and in the knowledge that we had always grabbed every opportunity to fuss him, to tell him that we loved him and to let him know that he was very much appreciated.

In no particular order, Angus was responsible for a number of events and firsts. He;

was the first male dog in the family,
was the reason why my wife became a dog lover,
was the inspiration for my Mother-in-Law putting up a prolonged battle against serious, long-term, terminal illness,
made a major contribution towards my recovery from cancer,
made me ” think outside the box ” when looking at future work possibilities,
was the catalyst for the Pooch Walk/ Hotel/House business,
sold the benefits of regular exercise, for pooches and people,
was the best advert for the business we could have,
was an advocate for adopting from rescues as opposed to sourcing from breeders
inspired me to keep going, regardless of rain, sleet, snow, ice, storms, freezing cold, oppressive heat, or lack of motivation
was the bestest company and the bestest boy our family could ever have!