A Tribute to a Great Dog - Pete

Pete was such an amazing dog.  

He was smart, protective, calm, playful,feisty, and I can not leave off stubborn :)

He was as close to human as a dog could be.  He understood what we said.  He, also, demanded to be treated with respect of a person.  This is were the stubbornness was seen the most.  If, for some reason, we feed him outside- OH No you didn't (I could hear him say), and He would refuse to eat. Then he would knock his bowl over in protest.  Now this is when he meet our stubbornness!!  Now, he isn't coming in until he eats all the food that he just spilled.  Oh, this could go on a LONG time.  Man that dog was hard headed!  It was an insult to him to have to eat outside.  Bless him.

May 2003

Pete's 1st Birthday!

He LOVED to play football!  and He understood what to do.  The boys would huddle, so would Pete. When they broke out, so did Pete- and he would go out like he knew his position.  When the ball was thrown, he would take off to catch it or chase the one who did.  He loved catching it and running for a touchdown (he also punctured many balls).  It was so fun to watch him play. (wow, this is hard to write, realizing how much I miss this dog and my boys!)

Speaking of the boys, Pete loved his brothers!!! They were his entertainment and bestest friends. He slept with them every night.  And he took up 95% of the bed - and they let him!  They were so good at playing with him, and throwing the frisbee, the ball, what ever he could go retrieve (not sure bulldogs are known for their retrieving but he was good and good at catching the frisbee in the air).  I would go out there to throw the ball, and throw it as hard as I could - and he would look at me like -Really, are you serious, you can't throw better than that! and he would walk out to get it or just snub me and walk away! Dog put me in my place :) I did somewhat better with the frisbee (as long as no one was around watching).

Annual Christmas Morning picture

He loved to ride in the truck.  He would hear the word truck and he would be standing at the tailgate in a flash. We even started spelling it and he picked up on that too.  Along with learning his name and dog- we had to say things like - is the d-o-g going (had to spell dog, because he caught on to the spelling of Pete). Then we had to stop using the word go.  We had to spell out a lot of words and use substitution words too. He was always listening, he didn't miss one thing you said.  Never.  We have a jeep that is parked in the carport, and there were many times we walked outside and he was sitting in the jeep!! Now there is not a lot of room to get a start on making a jump, and the doors were always on, so this was Quite impressive! The dog just wanted to ride.  The only way to make him stand still for a bath was to promise a ride in the truck, and the minute you turned off the water, you better have the tailgate down and ready to roll.

What a pretty dog!!

He, also, loved to swim when he was younger, but the older he got the less he did.  He would swim along way too. (also not a common trait for a bulldog). He really enjoyed chasing the fish and would watch us for direction of which way they were swimming, if we pointed left, he would go left and so on.  He also loved to "feed" the fish.  All we had to say is "Let's go feed the fish" and he was gone - DO NOT get in his way because he will knock you down.  He actually really loved to EAT the fish food, it had nothing to do with the fish, all about him getting to eat. Period.

I can not leave out how much this dog loved Christmas! He would get so excited.  When I was decorating, he was between me and the decorations. He watched me put on every ornament - closely watched, he was very involved.  But come Christmas morning - man oh man, he was happy.  He would just stair at what Santa had brought him, patiently waiting on his brothers to wake up so he could dig into his gifts.  The best Christmas was when he got the BONE! Twice his size - Lordy he was so proud.  I was so glad my family was all here to witness this, it was too good.

The best gift ever!

He loved his daddy! My goodness at the bond they had.  They just hung out together - just chillin.  He was always very calm with Tim and very well behaved.  Tim would give him a treat every morning before going to get the paper- and Pete never let him forget. A favorite story we tell is when Tim and Kendrick were watching a football game, and Pete had gotten a plastic bottle out of the boys room (he loved those bottles). Pete came running downstairs so excited over his find, he laid down in front of the TV and began to chew on it, making all kind of noise.  Tim said to Pete-"Now Pete, we are trying to watch the football game and you are making entirely too much noise, you are going to have to take that to another room".  Pete looked up at him, picked up his bottle and left!  That is just how well he understood us.  Things like that happened on a daily basis, and yes we always talked to him like he was a person. Always.

The early years

Stylin'

Now with me, he did love me, maybe I was 4th on the list, but he was my protector.  NO one was going to get in this house if I was here.  He was a great guard dog.  Everyone who came here knew it too. He could put on a show for sure, he could look meaner than any dog, but really he was just a big ole baby - my baby.  As far as I know he never bit anyone, but scared many many people :) That'a boy!  If I ever said the words "it's ok" - he was on high alert, and to him it was not OK.  He knew that meant someone was coming to the house. Oh, he also knew to start watching for a visitor when I started straightening up the house- some how he always knew the difference in me cleaning and me getting ready for company.  I tried to always stay very much the same so he wouldn't get "on guard duty" but he sensed it every time. When we would be here at night by ourselves, we would spook each other out!  We would both hear a noise, and he would look at me and I would look at him with the same questioned look "did you hear that" then he would try to figure out if  I was scared or not, then he would get protective, but not sure to bark or not.  It was always the same -and funny (after I knew nothing was out there). But we scared each other almost every time.  One of my favorite stories to tell is the time I lost my keys to the car.  I could not find them anywhere.  I was in and out of the house (not saying a word) and Pete was following my every step (as usual).  Finally I was totally baffled at where my keys were and I was standing at the back of my car and looked down at Pete and said "Pete, I can not find my keys anywhere!" and I went inside, walked back out and my keys were laying at the back door - now, nicely chewed up and wet!  Are you KIDDING me!  That dog knew exactly what I was saying! Amazing. 

Loved to lay here-right below TV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(picture to left)
I think he choose this spot to lay because we were always looking that way (at the TV).
We couldn't change channels while he would lay here, so we were always having to tell him to move. He loved it, I just know he did :)





Back to the fact he didn't like to be treated like a dog or being humiliated.  I am adding some of his not so proud moments in life - but it gave me and the boys great joy- OK, it may have been more me on some of these - Tim never was on our side with this humor, always on Pete's.  Oh the memories :)

 A Little Dress up anyone

Merry Christmas! see the joy (are those tears)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tugging with the original Simon - notice the teeth- 

he looks like he has dentures

We could not have asked for a better 9 years with a great dog.  He was one of a kind and forever in our hearts!!  We were blessed to have him as part of our family.  We love and miss you, ole Petey Boy!!

May 2003 - Sept 2012