Sunday, June 22, 2014

Fare Thee Well

Loki: February 1, 2001 - June 3, 2014

Loki at Age 3 1/2.

As you can see, this post is over-due by a few weeks, but I am having a hard time writing out all of my thoughts and stories. So I am just going to make a few lists and write about a few anecdotes. The Farmer and I miss Loki terribly; we constantly think that we are hearing him rummage around upstairs, think we have to take him out and feed him, look for him before we return inside.

What's in a name?
Loki is the Norse god of cunning and sneakiness, and this dog certainly lived up to the name. Commands of "Down. Stay." were dutifully followed, but in a few minutes when no one was watching, he would start a Marine crawl to the location that he desired. He also once chewed a perfectly round, but small, hole into a completely sealed moving box and skillfully removed and ate a chocolate bar. We have no idea how this happened. And when we tried to video record how he managed to eat all of the cat food that was placed way higher than he could reach, he simply wandered around the room for the camera, but as soon as the camera was off, the food was gone.
Some of Loki's nicknames:
Loki-da
Lokers
Buddy
Smoke
Beast
Foul Beast
Stinky Dog
Pups
Puppers
Doggers
Pooch

Gourmand, Foodie, Garden Pest
    Loki loved to eat. Breakfast and Dinner were always consumed with great rapidity and relish. And on occasion (when we were gone) he would manage to pry the lid off the dog food container and enjoy some "Snacken-liebe," roughly equivalent to twice the amount he would get for a regular meal. Rottweilers become overweight easily - Loki certainly had an obese phase - so we kept an eye on his diet. Especially when cat food was available in the same room...
    As a vegetarian family, Loki sampled many plant foods, and as you may guess, he enjoyed them. He especially loved to eat baby carrots (by the bag). We often joked that Loki would just as soon eat a plate of greens for dinner as he would his regular food. He would definitely "help" with dinner prep and clean-up, gobbling up any vegetable that landed on the floor.
    Several summers ago I made the error of throwing Loki a cherry tomato after he saw me pick it in the garden. He felt this was his invitation to help himself and proceeded to sneak off every time he was outside to feast. We did not eat a single cherry tomato that late summer. Last summer I almost made the same mistake with the blackberries. Fortunately, both of us are quick learners, and I saved the rotten berries for the chickens.

The Chocolate Cake Incident & A Leather Couch
    There was that snowy President's Day weekend when I decided to make an epic chocolate cake and then went outside for less than 5 minutes to clean the furnace filter. The cake was largely gone when I returned indoors, and my wrath was boundless. I ended up making another cake... for me.
    Most unfortunately, The Farmer came home from a trip one day to find that the arm of a nice leather couch was chewed up and gone. His wrath was boundless too... But we did keep the couch for a few more years. Loki would sleep on it when we weren't home. We only caught him in the act one time when we snuck up to the window. I don't blame him - it was comfy, and apparently also tasty!

Traveling
Loki was always excited to take a trip - but only for a few minutes. Before the first hour of any ride was over, he would stretch out in the bottom half of his crate, groan, sigh, and take a nap which was interjected with many more groans and sighs.

Most Importantly
Loki was a terrific companion, always up for whatever adventure you wanted to include him in, a big lover and lap dog. He learned so quickly that it was scary to think of all the things he might be capable of. He loved people, loved to be petted and brushed, and was mostly content to just chill on the floor in the same room with everyone. He tolerated children - several young nephews got "rides" - and was easily trained to respect the cat and the chickens. We miss you so much. Hugs, kisses, and love to you!