Ben
While writing this in our home office, the squeaks of a squeaky toy coming from our den tell me that Bennington (“Ben”), a six-month old vizsla rescue, has awakened from his morning nap on a couch beside Maggie, our seven-year-old v. When Pam and I gave Stephanie Fischer our rescue application, the possibility of a puppy becoming available for adoption never crossed our minds. What a delightful surprise.
Ben joined our family at five-months old this past December 6th. Ben hails from Massachusetts, and a husband-wife team in the New England Rescue Association met us with him outside of Hartford, Connecticut. Our immediate first impression: he’s a handsome boy. And judging by his paws and structure, he’s going to be a big fellow as an adult. Since adopting him, his weight has increased by a third to 43 pounds, and he has a lot more growing ahead.
On the drive home from Connecticut with Ben, Pam and I wondered anxiously how Maggie would react to meeting her new foster brother. Happily, they’ve gotten along swell since first meeting. They engage daily in games of tug-of-war or catch-me-if-you-can. They also like to roughhouse – but only up to point for Maggie because Ben is already so big and strong. Essentially, they are good company for each other and as our new family member, Ben fills in a void left by our dear departed Gunner.
What’s it like to have a puppy in the house again? Wonderful. Ben’s antics awaken so many memories of Maggie and Gunner as tykes. Ben will eat your lunch. He disappeared half a sandwich off a plate so fast you’d have to think you’d eaten it yourself. He’ll snatch paper napkins off the table or even off your lap lickety-split. (Why do vizslas have such a fixation on paper products?) He’ll grab something we don’t want him to have like a leather glove or magazine and delight in foiling our efforts to catch him just as Gunner used to do. Then there was the night Ben cleared the dinner table by yanking off the tablecloth. Never a dull moment.
Ben quickly adapted to his new home and family. He’s with us for daily morning walks with Maggie followed by supervised romps in our backyard. He’s had obedience trainings and sits and lies down on command, a good start for rally/obedience competition. He is enrolled in a beginner agility class for dogs too young to handle the stress of jumps on joints. He’ll be going with us to Camp Gone ToThe Dogs at Marlboro College, Vermont, this summer for participation in a wide variety of activities, i.e. k9 nose work, Frisbee, tracking, agility, lure coursing and more. And, we’re also going to take Ben and Maggie to Canine Camp Getaway, Lake George, New York for more of the same.
Finally, Ben is a real love and has staked out his claim to Pam and me as family. Whenever either one of us sits on the couch alone, Ben insists on getting one side. And, of course, Maggie gets the other side. Come the end of the day, it’s always real cozy here on the couch with our two vs. Thanks so much Stephanie for your role in bringing Ben into our family.
Pam and Bert Rowley