A New Lunch Guest

Blind-and-deaf Spinner has been with us for several years, and has always lived in our own house.  She's one of the few dogs who also has 'overnight privileges,' i.e., getting to sleep in the house at night.  (Too many dogs = not enough sleep.)  Even Widget sleeps in one of the cottages at night because, well, she's a party Beagle who loves to woo-woo-woo at our bedroom door at 3 a.m.  (When you sleep all day, 3 a.m. is as good a time as any to start a party.) 

But Spinner has always been a quiet girl with impeccable house-training habits, and she will sleep right through the night in the living room and never stir. 

So even though she is in the house all the time, she had never ... until last week ... been a "table dog" -- the kind who hangs out at the lunch and dinner table, waiting for us to offer a morsel.  (Or, in Widget's case, simply doing her best to steal food off the table.)  Thus we were surprised when she suddenly appeared at the table one lunch-time several days ago, sitting quietly next to me with an expectant look on her face. 

How she figured out what the routine was at the table I don't know.  Being blind and deaf and relying totally on smell to know what's going on, I'm not sure how she realized that some other dogs were getting treats from the table.  But she did figure it out, and now she never misses a mealtime! 

I took that photo above of her at lunch yesterday.  Oddly, what you don't see in the photo are the other dogs milling around the table or underneath the table ... Widget, Callie, Goldie, Bailey and at least a couple more in the mix somewhere.  I think most of them were to the right of Alayne, who was sitting in the chair that the coat is on, while Widget was on my left.

Spinner also doesn't feel the need to be competitive for food ... even when she can tell someone next to her is getting something and she hasn't yet, she patiently waits for her turn.  Unlike the others, she doesn't paw at us or howl at us for our food, let alone try to steal it.  (Widget:  Please note.)  In short, she has wonderful table manners and is the kind of guest you'd like to invite back for another meal.  Except, of course, she invites herself.

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I wrote a post back in August reporting that Spinner had developed seizures.  She had been doing very well in recent months, but last night she had her first seizure in several weeks.  She was on a cot in the living room when we heard her begin clawing at the bed, and we knew exactly what was starting.  We got her on the floor and I sat there and cradled her until it passed. 

Comments

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[mcappy]

oh thanx for the Spinner update. Been thinking about her too. My blind/deaf girl has seizures too. Someone ask me if all blind/deaf dogs do...I said certainly not and Spinner was the only other one I know. wags

[ginger]

She must feel the vibrations in the floor of the others in their mayhem around the table. It seems that those without sight or hearing have heightened senses in other areas. I'm so sorry that she's having seisures again. She such a precious girl, my heart goes out to her.
Big warm hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit

[Shirley * James * Portland, OR]

Spinner you are so special!

[Suzanne Painovich]

She is such a sweet and beautiful soul. I'm sorry to hear about her latest seizure. She must know you love her.

[Carla Polastro-Nigro]

Spinner looks so sweet! I'm very sorry to hear of the new seizure... Will she be needing to be on more (or different) medication? Please keep us posted.

In the meantime, please give Spinner a big hug for me, will you?

[Nina]

How can one not resist giving this precious face a morsel of lunch?!!! What a cutie! Here's hoping these seizures will be a thing of the past.

[Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin]

I just adore Spinner. I'm sorry she had another seizure. I think about her a lot. But, the good thing is she is now a part of the lunch/dinner crowd & of course, with the best manners of all. She must have heard the others conversing about a good meal lately & realized she has been missing out. Sweetness just pours out of her in that picture!

[Billie]

Such a beautiful dog! And very well behaved. I certainly hope that the seizures do not continue.

[Moon Rani]

Beautiful Spinner! I love her old-fashioned propriety and decorum. I am hopeful that this lovely lady will be seizure free. She's a complete darling.

[Kristen D.]

Ha, ha! I was wondering why there weren't any other dogs in the photo! So nice to see a post about Spinner :)

I'm sorry to hear she suffered another seizure, I hope this doesn't become a recurring thing...

[Karen]

Bless her heart!