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You are here: Home / Dogs / My Real Life Chew Toy!

My Real Life Chew Toy!

March 30, 2015

Tanner and Taco playing 1

It has been so heartwarming to see the deep?friendship that’s developed between our three-legged boy, Tanner, and?our new arrival, blind Taco. They are almost inseparable these days. Their biggest joy is just?wrestling with each other, despite the difference in size and disability. Tanner, who is several times Taco’s size, is incredibly gentle with his little friend — never mind?what the photo above suggests!

Tanner is a big fan of soft?chew toys, and he was consequently thrilled to discover a real life “chew toy” in the form of Taco. Yay!

After nibbling on Taco’s?back leg, Tanner?moved to a front leg:

Tanner and Taco playing 2

Notice Taco’s back foot is now on the side of Tanner’s head, which is?about to get a nice cranial push-off.

As this next photo shows, Taco can give as good as he gets in these rounds:

Tanner and Taco playing 3

Another day, another gladiator session begins:

Tanner and Taco playing 6

I love Taco’s expressions in these next two photos:

Tanner and Taco playing 4

As if that wasn’t demonstrative enough, then came this:

Tanner and Taco playing 5

What’s interesting is that there’s no barking or growling during these sessions — it’s surprisingly?quiet, and mostly what we hear is the soft sounds of them scuffling around. Occasionally there will be some grunts and snorts, and the sounds of dog bodies rolling around, but otherwise these two could be carrying on like this in a library and nobody would mind. They’re that quiet.

The most endearing thing is that Tanner loves to clean Taco’s ears. In fact, this is how their play sessions often?end, with Tanner giving Taco’s ears a thorough cleaning. That’s what is going on in this final photo from a recent evening:

Tanner cleaning Taco's ear

Taco has walked up to me after one of these,?with both ears wet and glistening from his most recent ear-bath. He looks at me as if to say,?”I know he likes to clean my ears, but every night?!?”

Comments

  1. Barb Ribinski says

    March 30, 2015 at 9:57 am

    It’s nice to see that Taco has made himself comfortable in his new home. And Tanner seems very happy that he’s there. It will be nice, once the whether gets warm, to see them go outside and play.

  2. Laura, Levi & Timmy says

    March 30, 2015 at 10:21 am

    How sweet!!! So glad they have found each other and having the times of their lifes!! Welcome home Taco!!

  3. Shirley and James says

    March 30, 2015 at 11:35 am

    LOVE BUTTON!!!

  4. Shirley and James says

    March 30, 2015 at 11:36 am

    LOVE BUTTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. KarenTX says

    March 30, 2015 at 11:54 am

    I never get tired of seeing how well these dogs do, no matter what their medical issue is! Love the buddies, may they wrestle for a long time!

  6. Linda says

    March 30, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    What heartwarming pictures! They have the very best lives – thank you!!

  7. Andrea Drummond says

    March 30, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    So inspiring to see the two of them.

  8. Colleen & kitty, Andre says

    March 30, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    I love when pups become best friends, it’s so endearing. This is a cute duo!! Glad they are both enjoying the fun with each other.

  9. FELICIA says

    March 30, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    WONDERFUL PIC’S STEVE. THEY BOTH LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE OF THERE FREINDSHIP.

  10. Peggy S., Scooter and TC says

    March 30, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    Wow! What wonderful buddies. We should all be so lucky to have a great friendship like those two have developed. We could learn so much from animals of all species……..

  11. Carol Preisler says

    March 30, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    L O L….my little 9 lb Mike cleans 12 lb Nell’s eyes every day!

  12. Jane Tunnicliff says

    March 30, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    Pure joy to see Taco’s new life and the relationship between him and Tanner.
    After the pathetic life that his previous owner provided, he has hit the doggy happy place. Thanks to all who participated in getting him to RDF. I hope he has many joyful years ahead of him.

  13. Carol says

    March 30, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    I feel like I’ve experienced some really good pet therapy today from just looking at these photos! What joy! What spirit! Thank you for sharing the story of these BFFs.

  14. Bob says

    March 30, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    It’s great that Taco has fit in so quickly and already found a best friend.

  15. Tonya Allen says

    March 30, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    That’s great to see. Such happiness! Thanks for sharing, this gave me a big smile.

  16. Margaret says

    March 30, 2015 at 10:19 pm

    We should all have such wonderful best buds! So happy for Tanner and Taco!

  17. Marene says

    March 30, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    Seems like I reme your saying Tanner was a keeper. I guess Taco will be staying too? Who could break up that duo.

  18. Catherine says

    March 31, 2015 at 8:24 am

    Oh, those two are so adorable. Please say you are now keeping Taco!

  19. Diane Borden says

    March 31, 2015 at 11:01 am

    What joy! Joy for them, a safe and loving place to just be DOGS. And this is the joyful reward for the hard work you do, the evening floor show!! Who needs cable or Netflix if you have this to watch, right? Of course, I guess you can pretty much predict how it’s gonna end!

  20. Mae says

    March 31, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    So sweet! Thank you for sharing your ancedotes with us. It makes me happy to see and I look forward to them.

  21. betsy says

    March 31, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    Oh my goodness, these photos are the best. I love how Taco and Tanner have become such good friends. How funny that Taco gets his ears cleaned by Tanner. I think Taco is one happy dog knowing he found this great home

  22. Leila says

    April 1, 2015 at 2:01 am

    Love it! What a couple of characters! Don’t know how you hold a straight face (and camera) when you see these two. Thanks for sharing.

  23. Lisa says

    April 5, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    So incredibly heartwarming. Thanks for sharing!

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