writer, warrior, whack-a-doodle

Happy Loki-versary!

Happy Loki-versary!

May 27, 2014
Posted in: Dogs | Reading Time: 3 minutes

IMG_7853-1

This past weekend we celebrated Loki's sixth year with us and his seventh birthday.  I could live three lifetimes with Loki and it wouldn't be long enough to truly understand the complexity of his emotional and behavioral make-up.

IMG_7854-1

Nobody will argue that Loki is an intense dog. You can see strength and passion in his eyes.

On a recent walk at the beach, a large, muscular man standing at the base of a stair path gave Loki and me an exaggerated berth so we could pass. As we passed, the man told me that Loki intimidated him so he made plenty of room for him. I had to laugh. I knew Loki probably gave him his usual “I will f*ck you up” look. But I also knew that if I told him to, Loki would greet the stranger warmly.

IMG_7856-1

You see, Loki lives by a black and white view of the world. There are no gray areas. Which is why I have a difficult time convincing him that he’s not allowed on the bed whenever he wants even though he’s been allowed for Sunday morning snuggle times.  Things are either right or they are wrong. He’s constantly compartmentalizing everything around him into allowed and not allowed.   While he looks to me to help him understand the world, unfamiliar objects, strange sounds or unusual events, it’s quite clear that he is capable of adjusting to gray areas. 

IMG_8726-1

Loki's, a-hem, largest asset is also his best mojo! All the ladies dig a guy with large ears.

He’s an amazingly complex creature, gifted with a sensitivity so acute, it can be either his greatest asset or his biggest weakness. Wired directly into his adrenal glands, it’s his sensitivity that can often lead him to bark first, ask questions later.  At the same time, Loki's also capable of great love and great remorse. He first alerts to familiar visitors with daunting barks, then quickly bows his head in apology leaning into that person when he realizes he is friend rather than foe. Because his sensitivity meter is so high, he requires daily management, especially in new settings. He’s learned to take his cues from me and now can adjust more quickly to new environments.

IMG_8141-1

Does this look like a face that intimidates?

Like the 8 year old boy who pulls the pigtails of the girl he likes most, Loki is incredibly shy about his emotions and has a great deal of difficulty expressing them appropriately.  Nobody would call him liberal with his kisses. Instead, he prefers to bury his pointy nose between your thighs and groan when he’s been missing you.  He’ll lean into your legs, bow his head and never look you in the face. If he’s really bursting with sentiment, he’ll find his favorite toy for a rousing game of tug with you. But kiss you 30 times and allow you to gaze into his beautiful eyes? Never.

IMG_7468 -2

None of that matters to us. It is clear as the ears on his head that he loves us and would do anything to keep us safe.

IMG_7927-1

Happy Sixth Anniversary Big Boy! We're so appreciative to you for your vigilance and your big heart. We're lucky to have you in our lives.

Leave a Reply

10 comments on “Happy Loki-versary!”

  1. Happy Lokiversary, handsome boy! What beautiful photos...what beautiful eyes. Enjoy your special day and here's to many, many, many more Lokiversaries!

  2. Happy Lokiversary. Love the sunset picture of your ears. I've a feeling we shall have many of those to come with Rita, you are her hero 🙂

  3. Happy Lokiversary and birthday!!! I LOVE his expression. I don't think it's intimidating at all, but it may be because I know so much about him from the blog. 🙂 Love him!

  4. Awww, this is so sweet! I can see where people would find him intimidating.... but we Sibettes know what a push-over he really is.... and we love our big lugs! We know they secretly adore having us take the lead & be the boss - right, Juno?
    Loki, woo do have beawootiful eyes & awesome ears - congrats on your Loki-versary and landing in such a GREAT home! (of course, any homw twith a Sibe is a great home, ha-roo roo roo!)

    ~Miss Moo

    Congrats, dude! ~Jack

  5. Happy Lokiversary! And I agree with him - why not be allowed up on the bed all the time, if you are allowed up some of the time? 😉

  6. I've been reading your blog on and off since I adopted my own Formosan Mountain Dog and have finally decided to leave a comment. Happy adopt-a-versary to Loki! We've had our own FMD for nearly 2 years now. Ours definitely has similar traits as Loki - specifically, she also gives super intense "F you up" looks to strangers, although she just wants to be loved by them. She's also super into defining everything as black or white, and does not like it when she can't predict exactly how things might be. I love these dogs! Thanks for sharing your stories about yours.

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram