What’s the big deal, he was just a dog right?

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Update 4/9/20: This post was originally written about Boris, our schnauzer of 16 years. This update is about Sophie, his fearless sidekick of 12 years. Sophie was also a schnauzer, but that was pretty much where the similarities ended. Sophie was a warrior! Schnauzers were developed to be ratters, and to Sophie everything that wasn’t a person was a rat. Mice, lizards, toads, birds, and one day in Clarksville TN, we opened the door to see her standing there with a dead rabbit, wanting to bring it in and stash it in her batcave (the space behind the couch where Sophie stashed all the shiny and/or small objects she found). Boris was bouncing excitedly behind her. Our guess was he went over to say hello to the bunny, it took off and Sophie chased it down.

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She would also defend her humans and home against all dogs, it didn’t matter the size, she was a small package with the heart and mind of a Rottweiler. The only thing I’ve ever seen cause her fear was thunder storms. She’d turn into a quivering, drooling mess and would cram herself under the ottoman. Now that I think of it, I think she stopped being afraid of thunderstorms about the same time her butt got too big to get under the ottoman.

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She hated to travel, and hated the snow. She hated to be held in a lap, but she would curl up beside someone on the couch or bed and be perfectly content. Her favorite spot to lay was on top of Boris, and even though she was almost twice as heavy, he let her stay there. He pretty much let her do whatever she wanted and she always wanted whatever toy he was playing with, or food he was eating, she just couldn’t be without him.

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When Boris died, she had a rough time, she became very anxiety ridden. He had always been there with her and she was lost.

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She may have already had health issues, but they didn’t surface until after Boris was gone. She became very anxiety ridden, and also developed Cushings and high blood pressure. Both of those were being treated and under control when one day she had a series of violet seizures. Since it was Saturday night we took her to the ER vet where they got the seizures under control. Monday we took her to our regular vet where they did an ultrasound. She had a previous ultrasound about 6 months ago which showed a small abnormality in her adrenal gland, but that was a condition of Cushings, so it was expected. This u/s showed several large tumors, on kidneys and liver along with a possibly life threatening issue with her gall bladder. The thought was that the tumors in her abdomen had metastasized to her brain and that was the cause of the seizures. Prognosis 2-3 days and if she died during a seizure it would be a painful horrible death. So we made the call to give her a peaceful death in the arms of two people who loved her. Nine months after Boris, we were back in the same room saying goodbye to Sophie.

And with that came the end of an era. Sophie was the last dog who traveled around with us, the last “family pet”. Life without a schnauzer is very weird, I still think I see them out of the corner of my eye, what a joy they both were in their very very different ways. Maybe somewhere she is with Boris, laying on him, annoying him and they’re running around together like when they were young. Rest in peace Sophie, Warrior Princess, you are missed.

Beginning of original post: Won on a bet, picked up in a snowstorm, this feisty little ball of fur was my constant companion for over 16 years.

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Yep, I won a bet with my husband and that’s how Boris came into our lives providing unconditional love among other perks.

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He would go for a walk, but when he was done, he was done and he would sit. If you wanted to keep going, you had to carry him until he decided he wanted to walk again. If one of the kids would touch me and I’d say ow, he’d start growling and barking. He never actually attacked anyone, but I had no doubt if someone was actually hurting me, he’d do his best to protect. He snuggled with myself and my children while my husband was deployed three times. And snuggled with a soldier back from war, providing calm and comfort. He listened to dreams and confessions, absorbed tears and calmed a child’s fear-of-the-dark thoughts. Just putting my hand on his head would calm me. When someone was sick, he was right there by their side. He loved to play with his stuffed sheep and his little nubbin would spin like a windmill when he saw a treat or his people came home (called nubbin lovin). Always up for a ride whether to Petsmart or across the country (he lived in five different states), he would perch on the center armrest or front feet on the dash looking for the next adventure. And he was such a gentleman, before jumping into your lap he would sit at your feet and tap, tap, tap with his paw, waiting for an invite up. Of course if you ignored him, he’d eventually come up anyway. He loved the snow, maybe because he was born in NY the snow invigorated him. He bounced through it, sticking his nose down and chasing snowballs. Even in his later years he would bounce and get all happy and excited when we came home, he always look so young then. When he was having trouble walking he would still get up to follow me from room to room. He was so devoted, I’ve never had a dog like him and expect there will never be another.

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So, to answer your question, no he wasn’t just a dog. He was our confidant, protector, copilot, emotional support and smile…he was our little buddy… our family….our friend.