Belgian Sheepdog Archives - Scooter in the Sticks

Autumn Melancholia

October 20, 2023 by Scooter in the Sticks 16 Comments

Royal Enfield Himalayan on an autumn ride. — The weight of autumn melancholia is bearing down on me as I pause during a ride making another video.

Freud defined melancholia as a state of stuckness, about living with a loss so impoverishing that it paradoxically enriches you. Being melancholic, then, isn’t just about having the blues; it’s also about holding on to a lack that feeds you.

Two dogs racing through a field. — My dog Junior chasing a Border Collie through a field on a rainy day.

Autumn Melancholia Antidote

The photograph of our dog Junior in a game of chase is one that always makes me smile and tears away whatever might be weighing on me. He was our first Belgian Sheepdog and has been gone just a little over a year. When I see the image I’m reminded not only of the good life we offered him, but also the great gifts he gave us as well.

He was a fast friend, ever present companion, and always reminding us to squeeze a little more out of life. Exactly what’s necessary to combat the autumn melancholia that descends on me this time of year.

And even though the loss of Junior was rough, his absence oddly helps me along now.

Two Belgian Sheepdogs. — L-R: Lily and Aiden. Our Belgian Sheepdogs.

Dogs. Always Dogs

Lily is Junior’s niece. And Aiden is his great nephew. I see many qualities of Junior in Aiden.

Lily was to be our last dog but she became despondent with Junior gone. We didn’t want to go through raising another puppy and were concerned at our age that a young dog could outlive us. While talking with the Belgian breeder who we’ve gotten all of our Sheepdogs from she indicated that her current AKC Champion (Aiden) had been injured and could no longer show. She would love to be able to place him with us. Making the decision to take four-year-old Aiden into our family was a fine decision. For Lily. And for us. And as a show dog in a home of show dogs Aiden spent a lot of time confined or crated.

Coming to our home would be the first time he had “run of the house.” The breeder told us he would have a much nicer life as a pet. And I can say that he’s fully embraced being a dog here and taking advantage of every opportunity to be a house dog.

And both Lily and Aiden can, among other magical qualities, chase away the autumn melancholia!

Scooters, Dogs and Motorcycles

August 29, 2023 by Scooter in the Sticks 11 Comments

Vespa ET4 scooter along a wet rural road. — Riding in the lush wetness of summer.

Riding in the Rain

There has been ample opportunity to ride my scooters and motorcycles in the rain this summer. In past years everything would be dry and brown in August from hot weather and too little rain. But rain this summer has kept everything lush and green.

I have to confess that my normal summer doldrums in regard to riding has eased because of the rain. Lower temperatures, less sunshine, and some mild rain has gotten me outside.

Both my Vespa scooters are well suited for jaunts in gentle rain. And the lightly traveled roads add to the gentle and relaxed riding I’ve come to expect from my Vespa scooters.

For the Love of Dogs

June 20, 2022 by Scooter in the Sticks 19 Comments

Belgian Sheepdog laying with a Jolly Ball. — Aiden is the newest dog in our family.

Restoring Balance to the Canine Force

After the passing of our dog Junior at the end of March, my wife and I discussed whether or not to get another dog. As we get older, the thought is that a young dog may outlive us. And the work involved in training a puppy seemed more work than either of us wanted to take on. So reluctantly we decided that our remaining dog Lily would be our last.

But after a few weeks of watching Lily grieve over Junior’s absence and become increasingly anxious about being without a canine companion, we reached out to the breeder from which we got Junior and Lily.

And that conversation led to Aiden joining our family.

My Dog Junior

April 6, 2022 by Scooter in the Sticks 36 Comments

Gone but not forgotten.

Elegy to a Dog

Junior was a great dog. Words can’t really describe how grateful I am to have shared part of my journey with him. Dog owners will understand. Those who have not shared life with a dog or are uncomfortable with them, may not appreciate the connection between a person and an animal.

I’ve struggled with my feelings for Junior and could not carry them around for long. My long practiced solution is to write them down, or in this case, express them more visually.

Life does move on, even if not always with the people and animals we love.