People choose dogs based on their personalities. Those who choose small dogs love adventure and are confident. Kalev is small and very confident, but how do dogs choose people? When I met Kalev, she was about 6 months old. She bounded across a rural highway, laid down at my feet, and said, “Take me home.”
I picked her up, carried her back across the highway to the yard watched a lady quickly retreat back into the house, and shut the door. I knocked on the door, dog in my arms, and when she answered said, “You’d better keep your baby inside.”
“That’s not my dog.” Slam.
Ok then… So puppy and I were off to look for her owner. I knocked at every house on the block and then proceeded on my 3-mile walk, stopping periodically to ask if anyone recognized my new tag-along. Meanwhile, Puppy chased every car that slowed down.
I am addicted to my cell phone, and while I walked, I talked. My friend Elane finally asked me who I kept talking to as we chatted. I told her about my uninvited guest, and Elane asked, “What’s her name?”
“I don’t know, Elane, she’s not my dog.”
“Her name is Kalev.” I spell it like I heard it. I asked her to repeat it a few times. “It means dog in Hebrew.”
Ok then. The puppy had a name, but no home. I walk almost daily, and that December day was no different in spite of the fact that as soon as I returned our family was headed south because my husband’s father had just passed away, and there were several services we would be attending that weekend. When I arrived home with Kalev, my husband was not pleased. I was already in love with Kalev, but he clearly was not.
I made him a deal. I would fix up a place for her to get out of the cold, and get her some food when we returned, if she was still there I would keep her. He didn’t really agree, but I was already adopted. I got in the car and headed for the store. Behind me ran Kalev as fast as her puppy legs would carry her. I stopped the car. She jumped in, and we rode to the store together with her in her rightful place on my lap. She seemed to know that the store had food, so she didn’t fuss when I got out. Once we got back home, I set up a dog kennel with blankets, put out her food and some water, and we were ready to leave.
My husband made a fatal mistake. “You’d better have Ron hold on to her as we take off or she will chase the car.” I quickly took her to the neighbor and asked if he could hold the dog for a few minutes, and explained that we were on our way to the funeral and would be back on Sunday night. I might have told him the story about how Kalev found me.
“Sure, I’ll watch your dog while you’re gone,” he winked. When we got home Sunday, Ron called and I went to pick up my new puppy. Even though my husband did not allow animals in the house this was Kalev about a half hour after she arrived back home.
The first night I kept her in the kennel in the spare room. She slept quietly, and so did we. The next day my husband thought we should get her a little bed to keep in our bedroom so she wouldn’t be lonely. If you have ever had a dog, has that worked very well for you?
You can see that the red doggie bed is at the foot of the bed. Clearly, Kalev and Manny preferred the head of the bed. How does a dog tell the difference between the head and foot of the bed?
One night Vince was in bed, and wanted to talk to Puppy Girl – she had a nickname already. She was not excited about sliding to the head of the bed, but she dealt with it. That night he made another rule. The new rule was that she could get out of bed, but she had to stay at the foot of the bed. But her bed had been drug to the head of the bed. What was a puppy to do?
She figured it out. Then the rule was that she couldn’t get under the covers.
Who do you think stuck to that rule?
Kalev may be about 3 now. Guess whose dog she is.
Ok, I still love her, too.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
16 responses to “Kalev”
[…] wondered if she was brighter in color or black and white. What do you think? Here is a link to her puppy tale and how she came to live with […]
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And now I love Kalev too! Such a cutie-pie! The way she cocks her head in the second photo speaks volumes. In my mind, she’s saying, “What’s your story? I promise to listen closely to every word!” ❤️
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She is a sweetie. She’s nearly 12 now, and is aging a little, but still has a spry step and is very skinny. She can still jump at least 3 feet high. One of our cats loves to cuddle with her. Sometimes she lets him even though her nose is a little out of joint about it. 🙂
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Dogs have a way of finding people who need them the most; what a beautiful rescue story & how lovely to meet a fellow animal lover here on wordpress
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We do seem to gravitate to similar people. That’s what I love about WordPress! 😀
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ha ha She does look like Pixie!
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I know!
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This was TOO cute and too funny!!! I LOVE the photo at the end.
“Even though my husband did not allow animals in the house this was Kalev about a half hour after she arrived back home.” Could not stop chortling at this. That photo was too perfect.
She really is the sweetest wee hound I have ever seen. I can see why Vince and she became such close alliances! Reminds me of the little cat we found one day that Sir was going to “take to the shelter.” He kept putting it off. I would surreptitiously lurk and would discovering him petting the wee cat and cooing to her on the doorstep. Sure enough, she was soon found inside with a nonchalant Sir pretending that he had no idea how she got there. She worships Sir. His BIGGEST fan.
Beautiful account of your adoption! Kalev chose wisely!
Cheers!
Autumn Jade
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Her fifth year anniversary is coming up in Dec. 🙂
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Wonderful!!! Our Katie Blue’s anniversary is in January. This Jan it will be her 17th. To celebrate, she’ll be pelted in cat-nip and a brand new box to tear up shall be bestowed upon her.
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Darn cute she is, I wouldn’t have been able to resist either. Thank goodness you came along when you did. We’ve made the same rules and yes, they didn’t last long. I’ve resigned to washing the bedding every 3 to 4 days…black cat hair everywhere..urggg But we love them to bits.
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How true. We are lucky that Kalev doesn’t shed too much. She’s part poodle. She also doesn’t have much hair!!!! 🙂
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What a great story and such a cute dog.
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Thanks, she’s totally spoiled, and still is a sweetie. I don’t know how we ever lived without her!!! Thanks again for visiting and commenting. I’ll be following your blog as well. 🙂
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That is so cute ; – )
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Thanks, she is a special find. 🙂
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