It really started with one dog. And that took a long time to decide. Like years. And it took owning our own home and having that home situated deep in rurality (no, that's not really a word). It just so happens that country life is actually aided by dog ownership. Our main concern has always been protection. Protection for our feathered flock from small predators. Protection for our kids from larger predators. And even protection for our plants from: deer. So we got a dog. And we loved her. But then we lost her. It's not dramatic. She's still alive and well and we even see her quite often. She and my dad fell in love once when she was staying at his house for a little while so we could do some construction at our house. When we were ready for her to come back, we didn't have the heart to take her. So we went a few years without a dog. In that time, we fought off and killed some predators ourselves, but wished for a dog to do the job.
This time we adopted a puppy. Mainly because we didn't find any shelter dogs suited to our situation, but also because we hoped raising a puppy would lead us away from the baggage we ran into with an older dog. We adopted a little dog. A Border Collie, which isn't just a dog. It's a dog that always comes with a warning. A pretty accurate warning. Something about energy and intelligence and destruction. Basically, your Border Collie needs to feel successful in life; he isn't content laying in the sun at your feet like most dogs. Laying is not something a Border Collie is much interested in at all. If you don't give him a reason not to lay, he will destroy stuff. Like your couch. Or he might finagle his teeth around the flat surface of your wall and tear pieces out of it. So yeah, a warning. A Border Collie comes with a warning. And we embraced it.
We got this cute little terror and named him Patch. We loved him. He grew and we taught him. He's a good farm dog and my kids get along with him in a dreamy way. Now that he's almost two, he's not such a terror (aside from his buggy chasing habit), but I've noticed that he is incredibly eager to frolic with other dogs and other dogs, conversely, don't even want to lay near him. Mostly because laying is not his favorite activity (see: Border Collie). I came up with the explanation that he just had too much energy for the other dogs. It's true. He runs literal circles around them.
Then I came up with the solution that he needed another Border Collie.
That idea was said out loud and even slightly agreed upon, but promptly put on the back burner. Because: two dogs?! That's an idea that needs some back-burning.
It took a few circumstances aligning for the discussion to reopen. First, we decided that we really truly want to be farmers. Full-time farmers. You know, with a hundred acres and just as many cows and stuff. That's an ideal situation for two Border Collies.
Second, I was told in October that it was improbable that I would be able to have any more children. There was nothing a doc could do for me, they said, even IVF would probably be unsuccessful, but "keep trying" they said. Ha ha.
Third, in December, my parents qualified for in-home aides to help with my dad's care. That relieved me quite a bit and I suddenly found myself with more time at home and with my kids. So... with more time and no hope for more babies, we started looking for a puppy.
It took some intense internet searching and two drives to Philadelphia on consecutive weekends, but we found her and named her Luna. After two months, Patch still thanks us and I still shake my head.
