Mandy update

Mandy, our wonder dog, as you know, came to live with us with the hope of her helping and protecting Drake, our almost totally blind German Shepherd Dog. That was the original thought anyway, before being taken in my her natural charm, deceptively innocent-looking, big, dark eyes, and clown-like behavior that makes us laugh so many times a day.

 Today, she proved her value to us and reminded us why we decided to try a Kuvasz in the first place. I sent a picture of her on her perch at the turn of the staircase. That is a favorite spot for her as she can keep a good watch on her wards (us) while dozing some. It makes me think of a guard dog on the hill watching and protecting her sheep. You may have noticed in those pictures that there is no railing on the side of those steps, just a big log that hits adults at thigh height but which makes it extremely dangerous for children and blind dogs. So though Mandy gets to go up there and watch her domain from her perch, Drake does not get to go up there unless an adult is with him to guide him and make sure that he does not tumble down. It is especially dangerous for him due to the fact that the stairs turn at the point where there is no railing.

We have put up barriers to keep him off the steps, but the tenacious and curious GSD that he is waits to find a time when one of us has forgotten to make sure the barrier is complete. Then he takes off upstairs to go check things out there. We obviously have another wonder dog who refuses to let being blind stop him from being who he is and enjoying life. He has taught us many lessons about taking what life hands you and making the best of it and finding joy in life even when it is not perfect.

Today, while I was in the kitchen cooking Thanksgiving dinner, I thought both dogs were safely in the living room. I heard some growls coming from Mandy and finally went to see what was going on figuring she was mad at Drake for having a toy that she wanted or some such. When I walked in the living room, there were no dogs to be found. Mandy growled again and I looked up to find a scene that made my heart stop. Mandy was sitting on the perch she likes so well. It is ten steps up the stairs. And Drake was standing on the same turning step headed straight out towards the empty void. But Mandy was solidly sitting so that she was partially in his way and growling at him to stop what he was doing. Thank God, Drake was listening. I ran up the stairs and got hold of his collar to lead him down while telling Mandy what a good girl she was.

I am still in awe about it. Did she have any idea what she was doing? Has she taken Drake as part of her pack to protect? Is her breeding so strong that she can do this without training from an older Kuvasz? Or was she just upset with Drake for wanting to get past her when she did not want to move? I am believing the first three have affirmative answers but it is still hard to wrap my head around it. It just seems so miraculous that dogs have this in them. That a dog’s centuries of breeding is so strong that they react to situations in a matter that shows that they are able to think such things through on their own ... even without training. But even if I am wrong I am thankful for her actions because they probably saved Drake several broken bones and quite possibly his life.

We have had another instance of her protective nature as well as her thinking things through and making decisions on her own as to what is right and what is not. A few nights ago Andrew had gone out the living room door to put something out on the deck. He shut the door behind him when he came in - he thought. That door can be a real pain to shut and stay latched or locked. A bit later he kept hearing Mandy barking from the living room which is not her usual behavior. When he went to check, he found that that door was standing open about 6-8 inches. Rather than use the opportunity to take a walk- about on her own outside, Mandy alerted Andrew that something was awry in the living room. She was satisfied when he came and shut the door properly.

Aside from the guardian that we have, we also have a helper who will tell me when the kitchen oven timer is beeping if I am not close enough to hear it myself. She gives me a chance to get there but if I do not make it in a reasonable time, she barks to tell me that I need to get to the stove. Just an extra added bonus in our little (well, little compared to Drake) bundle of energy and joy!

Note: Not long after the stair incident, I heard some unhappy dogs in the living room... seems that Drake had a toy that Mandy wanted. Usually Mandy waits and watches for her chance to get a toy that Drake has, then darts in to grab it before he can react. But this time she must have been more aggressive about getting it and he was pissed with her about trying to take it. Growls were made, teeth were bared, and they went at it over that silly toy. Mandy, of course, walked away with it to Drake’s hurt confusion. Though he does not mind showing his masculine, “I am the leader of this pack” chest beating, Mandy has abilities he does not have such as being able to see exactly where something is and dart in and get it before Drake can understand just where she is moving. He knows she will but the blindness keeps him at a disadvantage. Mandy knows this and sometimes uses it against him. In this instance it was almost as if she were saying, “I saved your life, Stupid! Now, give me that damn stuffed pumpkin!”