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You are here: Home / Dogs / The Big and Not-So-Big

The Big and Not-So-Big

October 6, 2014

Aaron and Wilbur

Sorry for the grainy photo … I took this with my iPhone quickly late last week before losing the side-by-side moment. That’s our big Maremma?Aaron, half-way through his 8-week long recovery from knee surgery, and Wilbur’the Chihuahua. The little tyke is quite the explorer, and every morning he makes his way down the hall from the “people wing” to see what’s going on in the dog wing. He is, shall we say, always underfoot, and despite his diminutive size, is quite fearless and never worries about getting walked?on.

Just before taking the photo, I had let Aaron in the back door to the dog wing, and Wilbur, true to form, was right there in the middle of the doorway, blocking the path. Aaron saw Wilbur standing there and carefully moved his 120 lb body around him to avoid stepping on him. It was kind of a sideways two-step then a step-over, and he was clear of the Chihuahua. Wilbur?followed Aaron into the room, which is when they both turned around and I took the photo.

Aaron, who has spent his entire life living with the other guardian dogs and goats in the barn, had never been around our disabled?dogs. But from the day we moved him into the house to recover from surgery, he has accepted them as his own pack. He knew they “belonged” here, and as long as he was here, they kind of belonged to him, too. He has been so gentle?with them, letting the blind dogs blunder into him and just standing and staring at them as they adjust their course. (They were probably wondering, “where did the white fluffy wall come from?”)

One afternoon last week deaf Esther, who doesn’t like being crowded, snapped at Aaron as he came through the doorway that she was blocking (a bit o’ Wilbur there). Looming over her, he simply turned his head away and walked on past, ignoring the snapping old lady. I was there when it happened and was horrified that she would do that to him; I scolded her but marveled at his generous nature in tolerating that behavior.

Aaron is one of the sweetest, gentlest dogs we’ve ever known. Indeed, he has casually walked right through a flock of our squawking chickens, sending them fluttering into different directions, and never pursued them. (Some guardian dogs are being trained to protect chicken flocks from predators.) Yet this benevolent, kind character becomes altogether different if someone or something “unauthorized” approaches his goat herd. Then he becomes fierce and protective and a dog you wouldn’t want to mess with. But he would never’think of ever stepping on a little Chihuahua.

Comments

  1. Anita Maloney says

    October 6, 2014 at 10:48 am

    I went through this down time with my lab when his knee blew out but it was so worth it, Bud never had anymore issues. Aaron is so beautiful.

  2. Barb Ribinski says

    October 6, 2014 at 11:38 am

    What a terrific photo! This is one that really shows Aarons’ size. Because my last dog was a Wilbur size Chihuahua, this one really lets me know just what a BIG boy Aaron is. And isn’t it amazing how gentle he is? I’m sure he realizes that there is something different with his inside pals and he adjusts his actions accordingly. This photo is a keeper!!

  3. Pat Frame says

    October 6, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    Thank you for my Monday morning smile!

  4. FELICIA says

    October 6, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    THANKS FOR THIS POST STEVE, WHAT WONDERFUL DOGS YOU HAVE.

  5. Lori says

    October 6, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    Ummmm……blind dogs wondering where the “white” fluffy wall came from 🙂

  6. Tonya Allen says

    October 6, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    Great photo. Aaron is amazingly big. And what a gentleman. He must be using some of his livestock skills, ignoring silly behavior and making sure not to step on anyone. He looks very huggable, too.

  7. Janet in Cambridge MA says

    October 6, 2014 at 6:51 pm

    I wish I knew more people like Aaron. Life would probably be a little easier for us all. Kisses, Aaron, and you little underfoot, Wilbur.

  8. Julie G Brown says

    October 6, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    What a wonderful dog Aaron is!

  9. Mariah Moorhead says

    October 6, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    Aaron is certainly a guardian angel! How wonderful to have him with your challenged animals, too. Thank you for opening your hearts to these precious gifts. Warm hugs to all, Mariah xoxo

  10. Nancy Yarmac says

    October 6, 2014 at 11:43 pm

    I really love to read every update and appreciate the time you spend doing them.
    Thanks so much.
    Nancy

  11. Carla Polastro-Nigro says

    October 7, 2014 at 3:48 am

    Humankind has a lot to learn from Aaron …

  12. Ann says

    October 8, 2014 at 2:28 am

    Glad to see Aaron up on his feet, looks like he’s healing quite nicely and it’s wonderful that he’s accepted everyone and they’ve accepted him. Makes life so much nicer 🙂

  13. Colleen says

    October 8, 2014 at 3:12 pm

    Love this story. Such a gentle soul. I’m glad Aaron is recovering nicely.

  14. Shelli Omura-Smith says

    October 8, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    What a kind creature that Aaron is. That picture is a gem!

  15. Leila says

    October 8, 2014 at 11:08 pm

    Love them both…………little Wilbur is the cutest little thing ever, and big gentle Aaron, so sweet!

  16. Shirley and James says

    October 9, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    GREAT post—Love it!

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