BEING Buddha

This is my 6th year Blogaversary. Once a month for the past 6 years, I've journaled a blog that was topical to what's going on in my life (that includes world or local events, soapbox issues, flaws, victories, things I've learned or overcame, life with my hubby, family, friends, neighbors, hopes and dreams, fears and faith, pet peeves, and pets). For my 6th Blogaversary, I'm happy to share something wonderful going on in our lives. We have welcomed a new furry-child into our lives: Buddha.

My name is Buddha Brandt. I’m a Tibetan terrier.  
I was born in Florida.  I’ve only been on this earth for 10-weeks. I’ve been living with Kim (mom) and Rich (dad) for 2-1/2 weeks. 

They told me they named me Buddha because my breed comes from Tibet. And while they follow Christ, they also appreciate Buddha’s wisdom of letting go of thoughts that create suffering (like our tendency to ruminate on the past) and instead to live in the present moment. I’m a reminder of that wisdom. And it’s pretty much what I do well. BEING Buddha. 

First thing some people say, “Oh another terrier?” As if that was a bad thing. I’m actually not of the terrier dog breed. Tibetan Terriers (TT’s for short), were given the name by European travelers because we resemble terriers. I personally don’t see it. The Tibetan name for the breed is Tsang Apso, loosely translated, ‘shaggy or bearded dog.  I think we look like miniature sheep dogs. Our breed dates back thousands of years when TT’s were kept as good luck charms, mascots, watchdogs, herding dogs and companions. We were also considered the Holy Dogs of Tibet. TT’s were never to be sold. Instead, they were given as gifts by monks to promote good fortune. So Kim and Rich are lucky to have me.  

I'm small now, but I'll probably grow to weigh up to 30lbs and be about knee high. I'm told I have beautiful eyes. (presently, they are a hazel color). TT's come in many different colors. I'm a white and gold TT. I have panda feet. They are broad, flat feet with hair between my toes. Which are ideal for mountain climbing. I'm not sure how much mountain climbing I'm going to do in Florida? But I can dig to Tibet with my big paws in the sand or high-five people I meet on the beach. 

I'll probably grow my hair long and put it up in a man bun. I think that looks cool. Don't worry about the hair getting in my eyes; it's what I was bred to look like. I have damn good eyesight. Plus, I have long eyelashes to keep the hair actually out of my eyes. I don't shed but rather slough hair off like human hair. Mom is already got me on the grooming area everyday for 2 minutes to get me used to the brushing. Daily grooming is a TT requirement if I'm going to continue to look selfie-ready. 

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I came home on June 12^th. The car ride was 4-hours. Kim sat in the back with me. She put up a soft crate with a cushy bed and a few soft toys to chew in it. She left the flap open so I could go back and forth between her lap and my crate. We had no issues our whole ride home.  I was curious about everything and wanted to look out the windows. I was calm, but I never settled down or slept for more than 10 minutes. 

 Once we got home I was able to check out where I’ll be doing my ‘business’ if you know what I mean? I walked through the house and check things out. They set up two crates: one in the bedroom, and one in the kitchen/family room. The kitchen crate has an attached X-pen (exercise pen). It was filled with toys. It was like Christmas in June. They sat in there with me to keep me company. I had my first dinner at home with Kim and Rich, then passed-out. I was exhausted from all the excitement that day. Kim and Rich officially are my new mom and dad. I could tell they were trying hard to make me happy and comfortable. I was both.

The soft crate was brought into the bedroom right next to mom’s bed. I wasn’t crazy about having the zipper flap closed, but mom was right there all night. She even slept with her hand and arm in there so she could pet me if I woke up. I did wake up, a few times to go outside.

It’s almost been 3-weeks since I’ve come to live here. Mom and dad are more sleep deprived then they imagined. I pass out around 9pm. But I wake up sometime around 3-4am to go potty. And I’m HUNGRY. I have a yelp that could wake up the neighborhood and the dead. They seem a bit grouchy about my barking. Hey, you and the neighbors will thank me if I ever have to wake up the whole neighborhood for any reason, like a zombie apocalypse.

Mom had me alone for the first 12-days. Dad was traveling for work. We did a lot of hammock time. She loved being with me but was shocked at how tired she was by 10:00am. We napped together on and off throughout the day. When dad came home, he took over. He was also surprised how wide-awake I am in the middle of the night, how piercing my bark is, and tired he was by 10:00am too. I think they are going to become morning people whether they like it or not! 

 I’m doing really well with my potty training. Although they watch me like a hawk. Just when I get distracted by a shadow or cardboard paper roll I’ll think, ‘aw, what the heck, I’ll just go here.” They scoop me up and we fly out the door. I’ve only had a few accidents and they swear it’s their fault. Okay, if you say so! 

I have grown 2x my size in just a few weeks. I have a ravenous appetite too. I’m eating 4x a day, plus snacks if I impress them with come, sit, and gentle (gentle is the positive for no biting).  I’m told I’m smart and a real pussy cat except for the one incident where I may have almost took off mom’s hand because she was removing my bowl that had food in it to teach me how to not be dominant about my food. And I may have turned into an ancient werewolf that snapped and growled so fierce that it required mom to back away and ask for professional help from a trainer. So because of that one time I was trying to let her know ‘Back off bitch, I’m not finished’, I no longer get to eat out of a bowl. For the next 2-3 weeks, maybe a month, I have to eat out of her hand like a lowly peasant. She keeps saying that she forgives me for scaring the shit out of her, and that in the end this will be a positive thing. I’m learning to passively receive, passively sit well, eat slowly, by gently licking her hand after each bite of my food she gives me. I don’t get another bit of food until she says, “Gentle’ and I lick her hand. After some time, she will feed me by dropping food into my dish so my brain rewires and knows that she only gives me food and never takes it away. 

 And while I’m on the subject of biting, puppy biting that is. I just have to say, ‘deal with it.’ I’m a puppy. It’s what I do. You took me away from my rough and tumble litter-mates. You are my new playmates. I didn’t mean to rip most of your clothes or rip your flesh. I’ll just be in a bitey mood for a while longer. The cue, ‘sit’ and ‘gentle’ with a treat is helping me ease up. Mom and dad are so desperate they are going to learn how to say Tibetan prayers that I’ll learn soft mouthing and bite inhibition soon. I do well at this age for about 10-15 minutes of free play. Then I usually end up in my X-Pen if I get too much like a crocodile on crack. 

When I’m out of the pen I love to “zoomie” all over the house.  They tell me I’m lighting fast. And with their eyebrows all crinkled and worried, they say it looks like I’ll be able to bound over furniture like an obstacle course real soon. I like the shoes in the hallway (that I’m not suppose to grab). It’s hilarious when they chase after me. I like any kind of cardboard boxes or rolls, plastic water bottles, and ropes to play tug-o-war. I’m pretty good about keeping myself content in my X-Pen for an hour or two while mom and dad are home. If I get bored, I sleep in the corner of the X-pen and the crate. I’m not sure why I do that, but I do. Mom and Dad have started to finally go out and leave me alone for a few hours. I go into my crate without a fuss. It’s nice and roomy. I usually nap the whole time they are gone or chew on something for kicks and giggles. 

I’ve been hearing a lot about their previous dog, Fred. He sounds like a furry dude I would have liked to hang out with. At least once or twice a day they accidently call me Fred. Which they really need to stop doing because I can hardly remember my name is Buddha at this age. I know he was special dog. When they talk about him I can feel their hearts (they don’t know I can feel their hearts, but I can.) They still have an ache for Fred. That actually makes me happy because they loved him so much. Which means, I’ll be loved so much too. That makes me feel peaceful and safe. And long after I’m gone, they will have an ache in their hearts for me too. But for now, I’m going to be their Guardian of BEING. I’ll teach them how to live in the present moment and enjoy life right now. And anyone else that wants to learn how to live in the present moment (which is the only moment we have, you can follow me on Facebook at BEING Buddha. I'm going to share what BEING is all about. I'll make lot of new friends and go on adventures. This life is pretty spectacular. Mom reminds me of that all the time when she's cuddling me. 

 https://www.facebook.com/BEING-Buddha-226244617743889/