Iris
We decided to adopt a new puppy last year and we picked up Iris last weekend. Her full name is Iris of Zoey & Adger House of Zekën Woozer from her parents and to imply a dynasty from our former dogs. I’m not sure how the name Iris came about, but it could have something to do with the Iris’ that started blooming in our front yard and the fact that I saw that her sister from another litter is named Daffodil. In mythology, Iris is goddess associated with communication, messages, the rainbow, and new endeavors. She is the personification of a rainbow linking the heavens and earth… but right now our Iris is just chewing up anything she can get a hold of.
The first thing I ever published on this website was a picture of our dogs2. I’ve since published several others3,4 and our last dog Zeke passed at the end of 2021 at 19 years old5. I’ve had dogs most of my life. My mom has a pug and terrier mix named Emmit and my dad has a Collie named Lucy. My grandmother on my father’s side raised and bred Boston Bull Terriers. My grandfather had one that played golf with him everyday named Duke. Growing up, my family had Airedale Terrier, black Cocker Spaniel, white German Shepard, and a black Pug named Macs6. It’s likely the reason that I’ve always liked dogs.
Our first dogs just kinda came to us, and although I regularly checked the local humane society pages, we decided to pick a Golden from a breeder7. Although partly based on the mom and dad, we also wanted a pup that had been raised around a large family. It’s important to have a good temperament because we will be training her so that she can be certified to work with kids with disabilities in the schools. My wife will have a day every so often when she can take a break from adminstration and just take the pup to visit the kids.
We previously had a rescued Golden mix name Woozie that was quite the character. Something about her personality that reminded me of the dad of Iris… a bit more red or a bit more wild perhaps. Dad is a hoss named Adger and Mom is Zoey, who has a big smile. I’ve gone to wearing a fanny pack full of kibble and carrying a clicker with me everywhere. I’ve been doing my due diligence on training, service animals, and researching the effects on students. I’m learning quite a bit so perhaps she’s training me. It should make for an interesting essay somewhere down the line comparing artificial and canine intelligence. At just under ten weeks she’s already getting some of my commands and signals down pat. She’s out and about exploring, meeting other dogs and people, watching tennis, and riding in the car.
Just one week in and I’ve already noticed the postitive impact Iris is having on our lives. Instead of spending our waking hours scrolling through emails and whatnot, we’re spending them outside listening to the birds chirping or watching the sunset while playing with Iris. I’m spending much less time at my desk, so I’m having to make the time here more valuable. Even writing up this post was only made possible because I went out and ran her early this morning. I just want her to be happy. And if she’s happy, she’ll make other people happy too. I think we all know it’s just something about how dogs can make people smile.
- Iris ( mythology ) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(mythology)
- Boozie & Zeke – https://davidawindham.com/boozie/
- Boozie, Zeke, & Munch – https://davidawindham.com/dogs/
- Our Dogs – https://davidawindham.com/dogs-3/
- Zeke – https://davidawindham.com/zeke/
- Anthorpomorphizing Machines – https://davidawindham.com/anthropomorphizing-machines/
- TIL / Notes / Dogs – https://davidawindham.com/til/notes/dogs/
23.05.27 – @ 10 weeks
23.05.31 – @ 11 weeks. She’s gonna be a big girl… we’ve been calling her “little miss big booty”.
23.06.08 – @ 12 weeks. She’s learned to eat books and attack the sprinklers.
23.06.10 – @13 weeks. Took her first running dive into the pond yesterday afternoon.
23.06.18 – @14 weeks. Learning to listen when she wants.
23.07.03 – @15 weeks. Drooling for treats.
23.08.01 – @17 & 18 weeks. Chewing up everything and outruns me.
23.08.05 – @19 weeks. Tall enough to reach whatever she wants off the countertops.
23.08.12 – @20 weeks. Almost calm enough to sit with me at my desk without destroying something.
23.08.20 – @21 weeks. Ready to roam… or chase dragonflies.
23.09.10 – @ 6 months
23.10.08 – @ 7 months
23.10.17 – I’m gonna stop on the photo above for this essay. Iris enjoys a good belly rub. I’ll upload future photos @ photo.davidwindham.com . She’s doing great.. loves people, going for walks, rides, swims chasing squirrels, chewing up everything, playing with the cat, and just hanging out the couch. I’ve set her loose in a classroom. We’ve still got a little bit of training to go before I can get her to stop jumping and service certified, but I’m sure that’ll be in a future post.