FREEPER BARK PARK: No Leashes Required

Self ^ | 12/12/08 | Self

[Joe 6-pack]

As per the request of many, here's a holiday gathering place for FReeper dog lovers...grab some hot cider, have a seat in front of the fire with your faithful companion curled up at your feet and tell your dog stories here, share your pics, and enjoy!

This is a friendly gathering, and is NOT the place to bash pit bulls, argue about whether dogs were created or evolved, etc. Those that can't keep a muzzle on it will end up in the doghouse.

Although this is primarily for members of the FReeper Doggie Ping List, non-members who happen to stray in will be welcome and are also invited to post pics of your iguanas, ferrets, exotic fish or whatever other furred, feathered or finned companions you'd care to share with us.

As some of you know, I've been working back in the northeast for a few months and found some time in my schedule to make a pilgrammage to New Skete Monastery on Saturday morning. I'll look forward to all the pics and pet stories tomorrow evening when I get back!

Enjoy!!

[jacquej]

Thank you so much for posting the pic of your beloved Malinois companion. I have been worrying about how long my two Malinois will be keeping me company.

Shadow is about 11, and Hanna is 10. I hate to see them get gray in the muzzle, for it fills me with thoughts of the inevitable. The hope that I have 4 or 5 more years of their wonderful company fills me with hope.

What do you do to keep your old guy healthy and happy? I love mine so, and almost would prefer to follow them to the grave, for I would miss them so.

[Gator113]

Thanks, I’ll try it again after a bit. I have a couple more of my guy.

[Gator113]

That’s sweet. My “once in a lifetime” best buddy, a doberman, left me a couple years ago... he gave me 14 1/2 years of unquestionable love and dedication.

[PleaseNoMore]

Great thread. These are my babies, and my husband.

[Joe 6-pack]

My New Skete Pilgrimage

If I live to be a very old man, one of the most rewarding things about having been Joe 6-pack will always be my relationship with Timber, my old shepherd who moved on from this world in the summer of 2007. The quality of the bond I had with Timber was attributable in very, very large part to the Monks of New Skete. Many monasteries strive to bring glory to God by seeking perfection in labor. In some monasteries this means the crafting of wines or ales. In others, icons or manuscripts. At New Skete, the monks dedicate themselves to breeding the very best of German Shepherds, and running an all breeds obedience school. Timber was the dog that he was because of the love, dedication and devotion that the New Skete Monks invest in breeding these excellent animals and in their books that espouse a training methodology that deeply involves the master as well as the dog, and introduces a spiritual component to the nexus between the two. I have long yearned to travel to New Skete, if for no other reason than to extend my gratitude to these men whose efforts had so greatly enhanced and blessed my life. My urge to travel there had increased since Timber's passing, and being in the northeast for work, I had the opportunity on Saturday to realize this ambition. New Skete is located in upstate NY, just a few miles from the Vermont border, and the weather in the area had been severe. I thought of calling to see if the monastery was even accessible, but I decided not to. I had to try and get there for Timber...the dog that would have died for me without questioning the feasibility of what he was doing. I owed that much to his memory.

According to the Monastery website, the gift shop is open from 10:00 - 12:00 and 2:00 - 4:00, so I had to time my arrival carefully. My GPS said it would take about four hours to get there from my Piscataway, NJ hotel so I left here around 9:00 a.m. The website also explicitly states that kennel tours cannot be given for liability reasons, so my expectations are limited...get there, do some Christmas shopping, grab some photos and maybe talk to some of the monks.

As I went north there was some frost on the ground, and the temperature steadily dropped. The sky was clear, but the landscape was kind of bleak until I cleared Albany. As I entered Troy, NY, it was like stepping through wardrobe into Narnia, and the landscape instantly became a winter wonderland. Snow covered the ground and the trees were glistening in ice, but the roads were miraculously clear. As the miles rolled by, it seemed as though time rolled back, and the quaint villages and farms

The further north I traveled, the colder it became...

...even the cattle were wearing sweaters!

The miles rolled by quickly and I made the turn onto New Skete Road about 12:45 p.m.

I must be getting closer!

I got to the gift shop and met New Skete Brother Ambrose, and his shepherd, James...Br. Ambrose graciously agreed to take a photo of James and me...

...and although Br. Ambrose was busy taking phone calls, presumably taking Holiday orders from the New Skete Catalog, James kept me entertained while I did some of my own Christmas shopping. In between calls, Br. Ambrose told me how to get around the grounds and welcomed me to the monastery. Due to the weather, there were no other visitors, and the dogs (and monks) were pretty much indoors, but I didn't mind; the scenery was absolutely beautiful!

The deceased members of the community are all interred on site, and I couldn't help but notice there were a number of veterans amongst them...

This is the original temple built when the monastery was first established. Apart from a few overhead powerlines, I felt like I'd just stepped into the 19th Century...and in every direction I turned, a near perfect Christmas card unfolded in the landscape in front of me.

...Frozen cranberries, anyone? I also drove across the valley to the Nuns of New Skete who also play an integral role in the community and are actively involved in the operation of the farm and raising of the dogs. I had planned attending the scheduled vigil at 5:00 p.m. and about 4:00 I found myself sitting alone, meditating in the Church...I was at peace, and it had already been a wonderful day. I was approached by Br. Stavros who introduced himself...He invited me to the cloisters for a cup of tea, and I happily obliged....but first, he needed me to accompany him to get his dog...He took me to the Puppy Kennel...a building normally only accessible to the monks and prospective owners who have spent several years on a waiting list, met the monks' screening criterion and been willing to pay the going rate for these Ferraris of the dog world...now I, Joe 6-pack, was getting exclusive access!!! Br. Stavros gave me tour of the facility then picked up his puppy, Walla...

"Hey Joe 6-pack...would you mind holding my dog for a minute?"

"Not at all!" says I. The last thing one expects at a monastery is a smooch from a cute young female! After tea with Walla and Br. Stavros, it was time for Vigil, and the main church was gorgeous in the dimming light...

After the small, intimate and utterly beautiful service, Br. Stavros asked if I'd like to stay for dinner with the monks!! I told Br. Stavros that was like asking a 9 year old little leaguer if he'd like dinner with the '27 Yankees! I was honored...and I supped with the monks, thick porkchops, sweet potatoes and veggies...and here this neophyte was, amongst some of the very best people at what they do on the face of the earth!! I was simply in awe, but even more unbelievable was their utter humility. Imagine Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig taking an honest interest in a nine year old's hitting techniques...I can think of no more accurate analogy. We talked. We talked about our dogs, past and present. We talked about religion, and spirituality. We talked about the meal. Several brothers were also from Western PA and we talked about home. But mostly we talked about dogs, and I thanked them with all the gratitude in my heart while the dogs of New Skete lay around the outside of the monks' table, in perfect obedience to their masters.

Following the meal, I mingled briefly with the brothers and their dogs, namely Petra, a six-month old who's perfect obedience belied a readily apparent precociousness and ebbulience that will be hers all her life, and Ziko. My God, Ziko. He had Timber's size and suffer-no-fools demeanor. I was drawn immediately to Ziko and crouched next to him. He snuggled his head against me. Everything about him was like Timber. I closed my eyes and ran my fingers around his head. The texture of his hair, the shape of his skull, the ruler-straight nose that projected straight from his face, then dropped in a perfect wedge to the tip of his nose. I was transported immediately to a thousand distant days and places when I'd held that head before, and before I opened my eyes, a tear rolled down my face. I was home.

Br. Stavros, Br. Mark, Joe 6-pack/Ziko, Br. David, Petra

Moonset over New Skete.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Ya got me....I’m speechless.

THANK YOU for sharing this!!!!! ALL of this. You’ve got to still be flying high..

[Joe 6-pack]

Here you go! Great looking Shep!!

[Joe 6-pack]

It was truly a blessed day!! Without any exageration whatsoever, one of the very best days of my life.

[Brad’s Gramma]

That puppy you held!!!....Yes I'm Nutz ... I WANT IT!!!

[Joe 6-pack]

She’s a sweety alright!

[Brad’s Gramma]

How old was she? And....please check your FRmail.

[Joe 6-pack]

Good looking bunch! Merry Christmas to ya’ll!!

[Joe 6-pack]

6 weeks...just a babe.

[Brad’s Gramma]

That’s ALL? I’d have guessed just a *tad* older...not by much, mind you...just a tad...

[papasmurf]

Just a few quickies of my baby girls...

[Gator113]

God bless you and thank you so very much for taking us on your wonderful journey. I doubt that I have ever read a more touching and compelling piece on this forum.

My FRiend, should you ever write a book about your beloved Timber, I will want to own one.

[Joe 6-pack]

Thanks for sharing Papasmurf! They’re a fine looking duo. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[Joe 6-pack]

Merry Christmas Sadie! Merry Christmas, Slugbug!

[papasmurf]

Thanks. I just finished reading your story of visiting the Monastery and Shep. Beautiful, and the Monastery, too. LOL

My girls are rescue dogs. They are twins, born six months apart. Of course, they're fraternal, not identical. They are highly trained to beg for scraps and snacks. They live to obey my words, if I beg and promise more snacks. And, they are wonderful traveling companions, as long as they get the front passenger seat and the center console.

They hate us. I can tell because they are always demanding the best spots in the bed at night, and constantly make me open and close the door for their conveniences. They call me their "doorman-boy". Also, more proof, every night when my wife comes home from work, they growl and bark wildly, then, run out the front door and attack the poor woman, leaving their saliva on her person. Oh, the dogmanity of it all!

Some other time, I will post pics and tell the story of true dog love. His name was "Duke". He was a Great Dane, and I miss him with every fibre of my being. He was my very best friend, ever.

G'night.

[Joe 6-pack]

That’s a gorgeous Mal! There’s lots of wisdom in that silver muzzle. Merry Christmas to both of you!