Aragorn, commonly and affectionately known as ‘Arry’, is probably the most dangerous dog I have ever owned both to himself and those around him. Yet despite his three ‘near death’ experiences and putting his mum in hospital as a result of one of them, he has managed to become the core of the Dog Hollow pack. And he has had a lot to live up to.
Anyone who knows me will say, I’m a sucker for a German Shepherd so it comes as no surprise that Arry (then Ace) ended up on our doorstep. A 6 month old pup who had already been through two homes was in urgent need of foster care. It didn’t take much to twist my arm although, I realised soon after, it would have been better if someone did. Ace/Arry (we put names in a hat and I won as usual so he was renamed Aragorn) lacked any form of training or social etiquette. The first time he saw Evee chihuahua he jumped onto a wooden chest and refused to move until she had gone and a walk in the park resulted in a near take-down of a thankfully clueless jogger who closed a gate before the 60 mph whirlwind hit him. Arry reacted to everything around him but I had a secret weapon, Macgyver and the Dog Hollow pack. Macgyver became his tutor and pulled the young hoodlum into check and the pack made sure the pup knew his place.
Tony was the one who put forward the idea of adopting Arry. We had discussed getting another German Shepherd as Macgyver was getting older so in his words; “this one we wouldn’t have to pay for”. How naive we were. Six months later, I suddenly lost Mac to cancer and my world fell apart. My soulmate, the dog who had been by my side for almost 10 years had gone. Tony would joke later that God had decided that I had almost a decade with the perfect dog so he felt I needed a challenge – that I certainly got. Within a year, Arry had managed to survive being strangled (note to all, never have buckle collars on your dogs), heatstroke and getting a ball stuck in his throat. The latter being obviously the most terrifying and did end up with me in hospital having plastic surgery to mend the nerves in my left hand. I also have a permanently wonky big toe as a result of a rock being dropped on it.
Despite having the energy levels of a raving teen on Lucozade, Arry is also the most empathetic dog I have ever known. He has an uncanny ability to not only now how I am feeling but also how his dog family are fairing. When Evee had her seizure, he stayed with her all night and has been a shoulder to lean more times that I can think since Tony died and then Pop. He knows when he is needed most yet can still make you lose your sanity. His lack of spacial awareness is legendary, be it human or furniture, as his obsession with les cailloux, rocks to be precise. I banned balls after the near death experience. He adores any water source; whether it be the sea, a river or just in a watering can. Hoses are a particular favourite. He loves his pack and will let anyone of them eat out of his food bowl. He has the utmost respect for those dogs who stand their ground (especially Schnauzers as he learnt from the best) but still can’t resist the occasional wind-up. It is because of Arry and his missing control panel that I have taken up running, a sport he relishes no matter what the weather has in store. And he loves people, any size or shape although his enthusiastic greetings are not always reciprocated.
Arry is a ‘grab everything that life has to offer’ kinda guy. He will give you his heart, hair and everything in between for a world filled with endless energy. And a certain young lady called Alice. The day I picked up Alice (her story next week) was the day Arry fell completely over the heels in love and thankfully, vice versa, as Forrest Gump would say; “we go together like peas and carrots”. The funny thing is, I bought Alice for Tony as a 25th wedding anniversary present and he was the one who decided Arry was for me…..
Widow plus woofs 