Prince Haakon, ” Haak”

 

I am a French Spaniel born in the Minnesota French Spaniel kennel, Dodge Center, MN April 18, 2020. My dog parents are Captain and Claire. My litter mates were a hungry bunch. Every food morsel was a fight to get. Eat fast and eat as much as you can. 

The Old Man and Mom picked me up June 6, 2020, early Saturday morning. Mom complains that all I think about is food. The first pic she took of me was next to a Burger King bag. Fitting since the Old Man named me Prince Haakon after the baby saved by the Birkebieners (birch leggers) in Norway 1206. They skied the Norwegian baby Prince Haakon to safety. This story is what the modern Birkie Ski Race is named after. Not like I really care. They call me “Haak!” “Haak this, Haak that, no Haak, sit Haak, stay Haak, heal Haak, where is the bird Haak, eat Haak (my favorite)!” Lots of other Haak terms that make little sense to me. 

I was brought to my new home and introduced to Buck. An old deaf, no fun at all Springer Spaniel. I liked him but he didn’t like me. I was too much energy for him. He was the master of the house, until I showed up. He was slow, walked slow, ran slow, and ate slow. Drove me crazy. But he did like walks in the woods and looking for birds. We really enjoyed that together. Except he always wanted to be first. But he was too slow. 

Notice the heart on my shoulder. Mom and the Old Man were circling the lake on the pontoon when the kennel left several messages, pictures and videos of me. The Old Man was not expecting a puppy until late summer. But someone else decided they were not ready for me. Mom saw the heart on my shoulder and couldn’t wait to get me. Surprise! The heart was just a cover. Mom was not ready for the energy, curiosity and hunger of a full bred bird dog. I believe she notices the heart when she is about to get real mad at me. Mom and I did a lot of daily bonding. The Old Man worked nights during my puppy year. I slept he worked, he slept I played with Mom, Buck and the kids at the lake. His days off he worked on training me with Buck. It was a confusing time in my world. Buck and I would go everywhere with the Old Man on his days off. The cabin trips were great. That is where I met Gus. The biggest, furriest, Malamute I know. The only one I know. Gus and I hit it off, for a while, until I got bigger and faster. Gus no longer likes to play hard. He still visits but as soon as I start playing he heads back home. 

The Old Man and Mom learned early that food left in the truck is free for the taking. I was only a few months old when the Old Man and Mom left Buck and I in the truck with a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery. Buck was sleeping. I was faking sleep. The Old Man and Mom were sitting at a table outside a craft brewery having a pint, after a Sunday drive and hike in the Big Woods. I went to the truck floor with that loaf of bread and enjoyed a little snack. “Haak this, Haak that,” “get in the back seat.” I have had a hard time training the Old Man and Mom about leaving food out. I like to eat. Mom left her closet door open and I found chocolate treats stashed away. She went ballistic. She called dad at work. He was now working days at a job without the fancy uniform. She needed him to get home to help take care of me. He didn’t make it. Not sure what she put in that water bottle that made me throw up but the chocolate was no longer in me. She was mad and scared.  She told me chocolate was poisonous for dogs. Tasted fine to me. Same thing happened when I ate a bowl of bread dough the Old Man had set aside for the day. She gave me something from the water bottle that was not water and the dough came back up. She did this outside. Last time the chocolate was a little messy in the house. She didn’t call the Old Man this time. She is learning. After a few years they have gotten better at putting food away. Counter surfacing is great fun and very rewarding. I have treat jar on the counter that I cannot open. Every time I come in from outside I get a treat. 

The Old Man and Mom walk and hike a lot. Sometimes on leash and sometimes free with my “special collar.” More on the “special collar” later. I am lucky to get to walk, run and ride everywhere with the family. Keeps me slim and trim. Recliner time is special. Buck didn’t like being on the furniture. I really don’t understand why that would be. The Old Man has bought me special mattresses, elevated bed, beautiful crates, but all I really want is the recliner. He should buy himself a recliner to sit next to me with. I would like that. Just like the “queen’s” seat in the chariot. Mom gets that seat first. But it is mine when she isn’t riding. I am then sent to the back seat of the truck. Not a bad spot. Lots of room to stretch out and lots of air when things get gassy inside. 

My family is the real treat. I sure do love them. 

Time for a little hike in the woods. The Old Man needs to get moving his coffee is gone and we didn’t get an early morning walk in.