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I'm not a writer. I wish I were so that all who read this could really experience the joy, humor and richness that Holmes has brought into our lives.Holmes will have been living with us one year on November 10th, 1996. But his story really started in January, 1995 when he was brought into rescue by Adriana Pavlinovic. I suppose it all really started thirteen years ago with my beloved Irish Setter, Clancy, when a judge told me he looked half bloodhound. It was then that I started my research into bloodhounds. Nine years later when Clancy died, Dick and I got our first bloodhound, Beau. We still had a ten year old Irish setter at the time who was none too kind and at best ignored little Beau. Unfortunately Beau was the victim in almost every encounter he had with another dog, whether the dog was on a leash in a park or a store, or just a stray going by. These experiences caused Dick and I to avoid 'other dog' encounters. We think our nervousness might have encouraged Beau's aggressiveness toward other dogs. But we adored Beau and life became simpler when Brandy died at age eleven and a half. It was about that time that I saw the first posting for Holmes in the January, 1995 issue of the ABC monthly newsletter.
I read his story and knew that somehow we had to have this dog. I called Adriana, who generously spent much time with me over many phone conversations. We agreed that based on my description of Beau, Holmes wouldn't be the dog for our household. I was disappointed, but I knew she was right. Nevertheless I wanted to help support Holmes in any way possible and so sent money and begged for pictures and stories of him. Meanwhile we went on with our one bloodhound life. Despite a three-quarter acre, fenced yard, it was an exhausting life because a year-and-a-half old bloodhound wants to be chased, wrestled with and generally entertained most of his waking hours. And as a confessionally honest bloodhound owner, I pretty much gave Beau everything he wanted.
As it happened, we had to leave our house for a week in order to have hardwood floors installed. So Dick, Beau, and I located a very small cabin on a lake and settled in for what we thought would be a one week jail sentence. Boy, were we wrong!
The neighboring cabin had a Labrador and a Husky which were allowed to run freely. After a few very nervous (on our part) introductions, Beau was off leash and having the time of his life. The Lab wanted to retrieve balls and Beau wanted to tackle the Lab. By the end of the week, Beau slept so soundly through a very rainy Friday that he didn't even wake to beg for the last piece of cheesecake.
When we arrived home, friends of mine were in need of a temporary home for their eighty pound Lab/Retriever mix. Given our recent success, I thought we might be able to help out. After a few neutral- ground introductions, Cowboy came to live with us. It went surprisingly well . In part because in a bloodhound's knowing way, Beau realized Cowboy was just a visitor and not about to capture our hearts.
As it became obvious that Beau could withstand and even enjoy another dog, I decided that now was the time to approach Dick about getting another bloodhound. He was agreeable, but not another puppy. He wanted a rescue.
I called Adriana and told her we wanted a rescue dog. Could she help us? By then Adriana had adopted the very special Holmes, so I knew he was out of the question. But Adriana and I had talked so often that I felt she knew me and Beau and what kind of home we could provide. After a few days Adriana called and offered us Holmes.
Of course we said yes. Holmes arrived just fine with a shirt from Mom Adriana, his toy (a stuffed Seattle Supersonics basketball), a little picture album with snapshots of Holmes, his mother and siblings, and of his friends Oreck, Cassie and Leroy. Also included was a long letter telling us how to care for and introduce Holmes to his new life and two weeks of carefully packed daily meals.
I don't know whether I cried more for the joy of having Holmes, who I had felt connected with for almost a year, or for Adriana, who sacrificed so much to give us this wonderful creature. I was so unsure of myself. I wanted so much to give Holmes at least as wonderful a home as he had in Seattle. It's just that Dick and I were so inexperienced with hounds and totally igonrant of how to deal with a dog we hadn't raised from a puppy. Adriana seemed so perfect in dealing with the hounds but she was also aware of our potential shortcomings. However, her decision was based in good measure on the fact that Holmes would have two humans to love him and only one other slightly difficult bloodhound with which to share the attention. She knew he would be loved and spoiled (which he is), he would have a rough first week (which he did), and that he would ultimately take advantage of us (which he does). But she trusted this wouldn't be a formula for disaster and that everything would work out. She had to love Holmes very much in order to give him to us. For that we will be eternally grateful and forever in her debt.
I believe we accepted Adriana's offer of Holmes on a Monday or a Tuesday and we picked him up from Air Cargo on Friday. I was terrified at the prospect of flying Holmes , but winter had arrived making a long drive very difficult. As it was, the airline won't transport dogs when the air temperature is too cold or too hot, and it was borderline the day he arrived here in Minnesota.
I had called the airline repeatedly to see if his flight was on time and begged Air Cargo to have a truck at the airport immediately, so Holmes wouldn't have to wait any longer than necessary. Believe me, the people at Air Cargo and I were on a first name basis and they knew all about Holmes before he arrived. As we walked through the door at Air Cargo, they were getting off the phone trying to inform us that he was there. Still, we had to wait an excruciating ten minutes until his crate was brought to a cargo door.
Holmes emerged to greetings of 'Hi Holmes!' and 'What a pretty boy!' and 'Let's go pee!' which he happily, albeit a little shakily, did. We decided to bring just Cowboy with us to meet Holmes. Cowboy was great with other dogs and we hoped his presence would be reassuring to Holmes. Cowboy sniffed and wagged when he met Holmes, but Holmes was a bit groggy, a little overwhelmed and other than a brief wag, ignored him. After Holmes relieved himself, Cowboy, the giant crate and I were pressed into the back of the Passport, while Holmes crawled into the front seat, lay across Dick's lap and sighed contentedly as we headed for home.
Beau, of course, acted in a completely predictable fashion. A big, happy 'Hi!' to us and Cowboy and an immediate assault on poor Holmes. Holmes tried his best hat-in-hand I-just-want-to-play approach, but Beau would have nothing to do with it. As far as Beau was concerned there were just four rules:
1. I'm top dog and I'm always right.
2. You are allowed to occupy only two square feet of my kingdom, or else.
3. Your designated two feet can change any time at my discretion.
4. Any questions, see rule #1.Fortunately, Cowboy loved Holmes and actually tried to intercede and protect Holmes. Still, the first day we would all have killed for some potent tranquilizers and a few stiff drinks. The question as to whether these should go to the dogs or the people was up for grabs. Adriana had cautioned us that things would be difficult at first, but would improve rapidly. She knew what she was talking about.
By the time three days had elapsed things were going quite well. Holmes had his pick of couches to sleep on, his meals were carefully prepared and he ate in his own private dining room with a waiter (Dick) or waitress (me) to see to his every need (dropped kibble). Dick took two weeks off from work primarily to ease the transition for Beau, Holmes and me, but also because the exterior of our house was being painted. In a surprising way this helped the adjustment. There was so much going on that Beau shifted his attention to the painters and and the theft of brushes rather than persecuting Holmes. Also I think some of the best bonding took place when we took the three of them for long walks in the woods and across prairies. The shared excitement of a car ride and walk went a long way toward establishing a friendship.
Still Beau preferred to play with Cowboy and so did Holmes. So if Holmes tried to join in, Beau would invariably chase him off or interfere if Holmes and Cowboy had started the game. Fortunately Cowboy rejoined his family shortly after Christmas and Beau and Holmes really started to bond. Unfortunately the weather wasn't doing much to encourage the exploring and playing that we were hoping for. We had a winter that would make the arctic look like the tropics. The cold was extreme but manageable. The problem was two separate mid-winter rain storms. Everything was coated in two inches of slippery ice. So Beau and Holmes slip-slided their way around the yard, across the deck and even through the screens on the porch. (Thankfully the bugs haven't been bad this summer.) So playing took the form of very fast figure eights through the main level of the house which resulted in most of my flowering plants on the floor and my brand new (sob) oriental rugs becoming a darker shade of tan.
Soon enough Beau and Holmes were mouth dueling and wrestling on the floor. They were sleeping butt to butt or head to head. Holmes was learning that the worst that could happen to him was a soft, 'No, no, Holmes' or an 'Oh no, Holmes!' both of which would soon be followed by a 'That's okay and we still love you'. He certainly was never devastated. He always managed to look amazed or proud rather than guilty.
Despite Beau's initial misgivings, Beau and Holmes have become the best of friends. Holmes joins our nightly bonding sessions when we all howl at the arrival of the last human home. For the most part, Holmes mimics Beau, but Beau has learned something from Holmes's sweet, generous nature. He learned that all other dogs are not his enemies. Beau will approach most dogs in a friendly manner because this is Holmes's style. I think the major concession on Beau's part is that Holmes can be handed a treat without an argument. I would have bet the house that we would never have arrived at this place.
For many of you, seeing bloodhounds play is probably commonplace. But for me, it is something I never tire of and will forever delight in. The expression on their faces when they are playing chase or tug-of-war or sumo wrestling is truly the essence of unabated joy. How could anyone not be affected by the sheer purity of their happiness. We can have this experience because Adriana entrusted us with Holmes. He is an exceptional boy who has changed so much in all of our lives.
As a footnote, although Holmes is my constant companion and 'brick wall' throughout the day, he truly is more attached to Dick. Each night after dinner, we shut our evening down on the deck where Holmes happily drapes himself across Dick's lap and just slowly and continually wags his tail absorbing all the love we can offer.
Peggy Eichenlaub
deichen@ix.netcom.com