Tom Sawyer and his dog- Cole

Tom Sawyer and his dog - Cole

I was very reluctant to adopt another pet yet I understood my wife’s need for a small dog after the passing of her favorite pet, a small Welch Corgi named Biscuit, so I agreed to take her to a rescue and look at a Miniature Schnauzer puppy. We drove for over an hour into small town America to arrive at a residence that looked quite worn, as many small town dwellings appear. Two guys who ,from their appearance, could have been on parole, led us into the “living room” which was lined with cages from floor to ceiling with puppies that they said they had rescued and for a small fee we could help save a discarded animal. We had come to see a liter of seven miniature Schnauzers that were advertised on line. Our intent was to take home a little female. Certainly we had great apprehension based on the surroundings but once the cage was open and the puppies ran out our decision was affirmed and it was only a matter of which female we would take home. They were all so cute but one ran over to me immediately and reminiscent to how we got our first puppy for Jeremiah when he was only three the one that jumped up in his lap and licked his face which was obviously the one that would be selected. At that time he said “this one is pokie” so the name stuck and we had a wonderful pet. The brother of the, cute but somewhat shy, girls jumped up in my lap and would not stop playing his puppy games with me so he actually chose me and we both willingly took him home to become part of the family.

We surveyed our children and Grandchildren for a name and the mutually agreed upon his name of Cole (Coal) since he was all black with a few small strands of Schnauzer gray starting to emerge. He became part of the family and grew on us as his body grew, and grew, and grew. He just kept on growing. Soon we realized that he could not be a miniature Schnauzer but some type of mixed breed. We bought larger dog cages , three times, as he kept growing. The veterinarian thought that he was part black Labrador retriever. He also resembles a black Labra-doodle. His appearance now reminds many of an Irish Wolfhound and from what I have read and the images that I have seen it does appear to me that this may indeed be his heritage. So I have concluded that he is a great big Schnazadore  wolf hound

 Whatever his lineage, he a big lovable, clumsy, friendly, endearing lump of a dog. He has become my very best friend. He is not a pet but a true companion.  His appearance reminds one of Clifford the Big Red Dog except he is Cole the big black dog. He has those long floppy ears that fly up in the air when he runs down the stairs to go outdoors. His long tail bends skyward when he is happy, which is most of the time,  and it knocks things off shelves as he whirls his long body around in one of his many excitable moments. His tail becomes an inadvertent weapon much like an uncontrollable  Indiana Jones’ bullwhip or the tail of an alligator lashing at things with a mighty force.  Cole’s paws are huge and sometimes when he is sleeping next to me he puts his leg over my head and it feels as if someone just punched me. When he stands on his two legs, which he does when he wishes to see over something or when chasing a bug as he will rise up on his back legs to extend his range and snag that flying insect, he looks like The Biggest Bear and stands over almost 6 feet tall. If he hasn’t seen me in awhile he will stand up on his hind legs, put his front paws on my shoulders and plant a big wet Cole kiss on my face. Cole has a big shaggy beard that serves to collect much water when he drinks that he drips everywhere he lumbers. It also can collect grass, dust, burrs and an assortment of small particles that require some attention. Cole’s face has the appearance of inquisitiveness as if he is in a constant state of “ wondering what is going on”.  He perpetually has that quizzical look on his face. He looks quite happy with his floppy ears, big black sad eyes and always present pink tongue either slightly protruding or side- hanging after a long walk or time of great excitement. Cole gets very excited to the point of frenzy whenever something “big” is going on like the presence of another dog or an outing in the car. Coles bark resembles some distant ancestral warning to large threatening mammals to beware. This deep toned foreboding cry now frightens most every mammal from visitors to big deer or innocent FedEx deliverymen.

 Another endearing trait is his discovering, during his first Christmas season as part of the family, that rather than just whine at the door to go out he could take his huge paws and swipe at the long string of sleigh bells  that hung from the door handle, like a cat swipes at dangling string, and we would hear the loud clanging in any room and immediately take him outside. This started as a positive method for his daily “business” ,so we still have the sleigh bells hanging, but it has evolved into a practice so he can go outside to see what is going on, sniff around or just loiter on the lawn. He goes to the door, vigorously slaps with his large paw the bells, and turns his head to look for us with those big sad eyes which hide his real intent for going outside. His brother, Bart the Beagle, has also learned that when the bells ring he should stay close to Cole so he could also enjoy the outdoors. As intelligent that Bart is, and as adept he is using his paws to manipulate many food items from in the center of the kitchen island to within his Beagle mouth to snatch and devour, he still has not learned how to ring the bell. Since his body began growing, Cole’s awkwardness has taken on many dimensions one of which how he lays down to rest. He does not slowly lower his long legs or curl his front legs under his body but rather he just collapses into one big lump. Usually this is accompanied by what visitors think is something crashing on the floor with a great thud. He then sprawls his entire body out in complete relaxation n mode and instantly falls into a dreamy sleep. Anyone hearing this body collapse is startled and is much surprised upon discovering that it is merely Cole reclining to rest. When he is excited Cole will jump high like a bounding lion leaping after prey or a gazelle jumping onto our bed. He also will run like some cat on the African Plain with his front legs in unison stretching forward then being tucked so as to gain optimal speed. Cole does not curl up like most dogs often but will always use the opportunity to claim my chair or Becky’s couch if vacant. This is one of the rare times that he will tuck his legs underneath his body but as he insists on laying his head on the arm rest which gives the appearance of someone reclining on a sofa.

Cole has become much like my shadow around the house always following me from room to room even if that requires him rising and collapsing frequently. Often he will just come up to me, put his big hairy face in front of mine and begin to give me a big Cole kiss which involves vigorous licking of one’s face and head.  Cole has just become part of my life as I frequently find myself speaking to him and he always listens but maintains his puzzled look as if wishing deeper explanation of what I have just communicated. He is most endearing when he knows that it is time to eat and he patiently sits by his food dish with his large front paws and legs extended and his hind quarters resting on the ground. He sits about 4 feet tall in this position and appears like a good child waiting for candy. Cole loves all children in excess. When they arrive he greets them like a shipwrecked man would greet his rescuers with never-ending doggie hugs and kisses. Cole’s great enthusiasm for their arrival usually creates much havoc since his body just flies everywhere  knocking about kids, people, furniture and anything not anchored . It becomes a momentary “lumbering frenzy” of excitement. If I am gone for more than a few moments he treats me like I he has found a long lost companion and I must admit that I share his feelings of affection after a brief absence.

If reincarnation occurs then I am convinced that Tom Sawyer’s  best fictional childhood friend of adventures, Huck Finn, has returned in my dog Cole.