Learning about each dogs unique personality has always been, to me, the most important part of "life with a dog." You can train them all you want and get them to obey your requests and requirements but knowing their personality will allow a better bond between the two of you. I have always done this by, not only researching their breed background and habits, but by simply watching their reaction to assorted stimuli.
In the case of my new young Australian Shepherd "Lani", I had the unique advantage of those stunning blue eyes. Most dogs I have had in the past had dark brown eyes --set in brown/black surrounding fur. (these were my 3 Collies and before them, a childhood black Cocker Spaniel and a sandy brown WiredHair terrier/sheep dog mix) The bright blue eyes of Lani "showed" her expressions--happy, nervous, inquisitive, playful--easily and it was a real revelation to watch her response to what was happening around her.
I soon found out that I had a very unusual companion. She did not "do" usual "dog things." From the start, she was never a "garbage" dog. I could leave an open trash can with the usually irresistible treat of chicken bones sitting in it, and she would ignore it. She ONCE tried to reach up and grab a sandwich that I had placed near the edge of the table but a quick "Lani??" from me stopped her. Numerous times, I would mistakenly drop scraps of food on the floor and she would ignore them.
Even "potty" training was a one time deal. She "peed" on some paper set on the dining room tile floor-----I took it and her outside, set it down--- she looked at it,looked at me---walked away--squatted and peed again, and that was that.
I am also not a "treat" trainer. I figure it is just a bribe system to get a dog to do what you want. I praise my dogs as if it was the biggest event in the world and make sure that they know how much happier life can be if they continue to do the same thing---and that usually does it.
Another strange thing about her was that she was VERY selective in who she liked or disliked---both people and fellow dogs. She would whimper and squeal if she saw someone she liked and almost drive another dog crazy with her affections, but would literally ignore people or dogs she did not like. And I mean she would treat them as if they were not there.
She was never interested in crawling up on furniture or my bed. I could haul her up onto the bed with me and she would allow me to pet and rub her but would soon get down as if it was MY thing---not hers.
Her lack of tail---or even adequate "nub"---made her wiggle her butt quickly to compensate. I would say to her "You don't have a tail, you just have a butt" and she would proceed to wiggle as proof of my statement.
I also soon learned that her new found game of frisbee was more than just a little game, it was an obsession. In one of our earlier sessions at the park, I continued to throw it out in front of her as we walked back through a field to the car. The "line" to chase down the frisbee "led" her straight at a softball sized rock on the ground and instead of going around it, she ran right over it and "whacked" her shin. That did not slow her down in the least but did result in a "I hurt my paw" look and three legged stance at the end.
After a few times of determined early morning frisbee catching in the huge field of "Kamaole Park III", I noticed that she was using her front legs to kind of help catch the large plastic frisbee as it came down AND she was cutting up her mouth on the hard plastic. Not my idea of a good game if it beats up her legs and cuts her mouth open. I did some research and found that there were a number of "soft disc" frisbees on the market. After trying 2 or 3, we finally settled on the bright pink/green/black "floppy disc" canvas model. It had a surgical tubing insert in the rim to allow her to grab it and could also float. NOW we REALLY had this new game dialled in!!
Lani proved that her energy level lived up to the "word" on Australian Shepherd dogs. Give them plenty to do and they MUST have a task. I did a lot of gardening and work in my yard and Lani was always happy to wander around and "test" the soil temperature with her belly whenever I dug up a new area for garden. She also became completely obsessed with our morning walks down to Kalama Park in Kihei----where the frisbee playing was beginning to become something other than a "game.". We had tried going to local dog parks at the invitation of "dog" friends but found those to be too chaotic AND, at time, dangerous. The last time we went found little Lani being chased around and around by 2 HUGE Rottweilers and though their owner seemed to think it was very amusing, I caught a glimpse of the frightened look in Lani's blue eyes as she ran by me and I quickly put an end to THAT little game. She wasn't running to play, she was running to save her LIFE!!
Her lack of interest in other dogs was really taken to another level when there was frisbee involved. A few times at the park, when I had thrown the frisbee for her, other dogs had attempted to "share" in our game. Lani had literally run them over----as if they were simply not there. If another dog approached her after she had caught the frisbee, she would just drop it and stand over it----waiting for me to come and get it and throw it one more time. I soon learned that this focus could turn dangerous. A few times, while running full out after the frisbee, she had been chased down and even completely blindsided and knocked over by other dogs running to play with her. A white Boxer had run her down and come away with a mouthful of white fur trying to get her to stop and--play? The owner quickly (a little TOO quickly) said "Oh, your dog must be shedding! Come on Tyson, let's go." Great. "Tyson" the Boxer. How inventive..... After a few questions to other owners, I found out that this was "Tysons" MO---run down other dogs and "tussle" with them. Another dog "T-boned" Lani at a full run one day without her even noticing the other dog was coming. Lani was rolled over and came up shaking her head and stumbling. The owner laughed about "Oh, that was quite a tumble" and I ----"lost it!" In my loudest voice I berated her for her lack of control over her dog and that it simply was not "funny" how her dog easily could have broken my dogs legs. MY DOG was interested in one thing only and that was the frisbee---not some uninvited attack from another.
So. I had learned a lesson, too. We had to go to the park early to avoid the assorted other walkers if Lani wanted to enjoy her new game to the fullest. The combination of her lack of interest in other dogs AND her obsession and focus on the frisbee was something I understood---but not something I wanted to continually explain to other owners.
To help with the obvious need for energy "disbursement", I also got into the habit of taking her for a long "just before sunrise" walk up an uphill street "Kilohana." This was down near Wailea and went straight up hill for about a mile and side streets could be taken to eventually walk in a circle back around to the car. At the top of this hill was a street that I used to take Becky walking at sunset. It had no buildings or development but had a sidewalk and green way and rolled over a few hills to the next subdivision. It was a very quiet little area and I rarely was disturbed by other walkers or dogs. I could not throw the frisbee there though as the green way next to the sidewalk was to thin and close to the street, so Lani got into the habit of chasing a fleece ball---only if I "led" her with it by throwing it out in front of her while she ran.
One night, just after the sun had set and in the section of the street where I had enjoyed my final walk with Becky years before, I had thrown the "ball" out in front of Lani and she was chasing it down the sidewalk in front of us as the street started to "dip" down into a gully. Off to our right was an open field area with scrub brush and "Kiawe" trees. ("Kiawe" is the Hawaiian word for the thorned hardwood small trees I knew from past years as Ironwood) As Lani ran down ahead of me, I saw something moving out of the trees across the street. It was just getting dark enough that I could not get a good view of what it was and then realized that it was much closer than I expected and was a large tan/white Hawaiian Owl flying straight out of the trees heading directly at me with wings outstretched---not making a sound! As it came closer, I realized that because of the "dip" in the road, what had begun as a flight 10 to 12ft or so off of the ground was now heading straight at ME! It was very clearly watching my little white dog and it's white fleece ball and had not even seen me until it was about 10ft directly in front of me. I threw up my hands to frighten it away and it took a sharp turn to my right at the last second and flew off. It was so close, that as I ducked, I felt and heard the "whoosh" of it's wings as it flew away. Lani had seen none of this.
The next day, I called my friend Charles Ka'upu----noted Hawaiian chanter, kumuhula and teacher---for some advise on what had happened. Charles knew of my Tahitian connections and I had introduced him to my friend Pa----a powerful native medicine doctor from the Cook Islands. Charles had told me he felt I had some deep connection to the "mana" of the islands---rare in a "Popo'a." (Tahitian for white man) I knew that these Owls were very rare---and a sighting equally rare---and that this event had some interpretation that Charles could help me with. He explained that they lived in those Kiawe tree down there and it was certainly not a huge surprise that I had seen one--checking out my little white dog and toy in the darkening evening. But when I explained the last visit with my previous dog Becky there, and my deep loss at her passing while I was gone, he became very interested. He asked if the Pueo (Hawaiian Owl) had flown off in the distance or crossed our path. When I told him that it had done neither and actually almost flew right into me as if it did not notice me, he let out a "whew!" "Think about that Tom," he said. "It was connecting with your dog NOT you. You just said it almost did not see you. YOU think it was maybe stalking your dog----maybe the reverse is true. Maybe it's spirit was LOOKING for your dog"
Believe what you may about the powers of the Hawaiian Aumakua (or "life spirits") but this encounter was certainly filled with meaning. It's interpretation is left open for consideration. I felt then, as I do now all these years later, that there was no doubt in my mind----I had a very special dog in my life. All of our dogs are certainly special to us, each in their own way. My previous dogs each had their unique personality to enjoy. But this little "Lani" ---with her loving, playful, fun spirit was a joy to have as my companion. Every single day.
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