Recently I pulled the CD out and took a look at the pictures again – it brings equal doses of laughter and tears as I think of the times we spent at Rick’s with Tucker, the way he loved to run through the studio to say hi to everyone – the way he’d go up to greet the models, even when they were in a state of undress, and most surprised by a typical Vizsla “cold nose” greeting. When there were children getting shots in the studio, they would play with Tucker and he would always put up with their playing, at least for a little while.

These shots are just a small sample and feature Nancy and Tucker in a more personal setting.

Tucker obviously enjoying the modeling, is putting up with a little hi-fiving, sure that a treat will be offered for him doing his neat little trick.

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After doing his trick, Tucker decides that a treat must be near and pushing his cold wet nose in to find the treat that is obviously being held back, Nancy feeling the heat, keeps the treat hidden and tries to get some more poses out of Tuck.

As Tucker gets more insistent, Nancy decides that keeping the treat out of reach would be the best move, seeing the treat being held high so as to keep it away from him, Tucker starts to re-think his decision to be a model, there seems to be a lot of tricks, with very little chance of treats, and then he hears the human models talking about starving themselves to keep a tight body… hearing how models eat, and what they eat, Tucker is worried…

And then, after hearing that to be a model, he must keep a svelte figure, he must eat very little, he must purge whenever he eats too much, he decides that he must get the treat right away… and finally getting the treat – Tucker quickly finds out that it is a veggie treat, and definitely not to his liking…

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Clearly, Tucker has made a mistake… starving himself, eating veggies all the time, sticking his paw down his throat, he has made a mistake, he was thinking of something else all together… yes, he knows what he really wants to be… a food taster!, that is what he wants to be, a FOOD TASTER must be the best job of all.

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These have turned out to be some of our favorite pictures with the Tuck-Man and he fell into the part of being our little model for the day. Nancy and I both got our pictures separately with our little guy, and then we, of course, go pictures with the three of us – Tucker was a gem, posing for us and generally putting up with the silliness of sitting indoors and having a flash go off in his face for hours.

Rick has invited us to do a posing with the pup named Bodi-O, and we have to just get our butts over to the studio to get the first of our series of memory makers with Rick and Bodi – like kids, they grow so fast and one day you are looking back and wondering where all the time went.

Sterling and Gracie as happy as can be!!!

Here we have Bodi’s friends… Sterling and Gracie! Two awesome Weimaraners!

Sterling and Gracie have the most incredible personalities. They are both beautiful (of course), fun loving, energetic (their mom and dad can vouch for this), loyal, regal, goofy, majestic, sensitive, silly, etc… etc…! Does that sound a lot like our V’s? Yes! And just like the V’s (and in the human race.. as I am told by my husband) the females become a little more challenging… pushing your buttons (hee hee hee), all along the journey of life and the males are big babies, and become even bigger babies as they get older. So true, so true! Sorry… couldn’t resist! Tucker become such a baby… I loved it!

Just look at Sterling and Gracie… both of them have their tongues hanging out… running to their daddy.. as happy as can be. I love this! I love the energy! These guys are so cool and Bodi O is very lucky to have them in his life.

"There's Gold in Them There Mountains... Oh Wait, That's Just Bodi, Leaving a Golden......!"

A little over a month ago… I had the wonderful opportunity to meet up with Sterling and Gracie’s Dad, Brian, out on the trails while I was walking Bodi. It was great! We had a good walk, and talked about Tucker… as Brian knew Tucker and Tuck loved Sterling and Gracie. But it was so nice to see Bodi walking with Sterling and Gracie… to see them exchanging kisses, mainly with Gracie Girl, all along the way. It was good healing for me… as I have been hurting so much, from the loss of Tucker. To see my little Bodi, out with these guys, being so good, so loving… it just touched my heart in so many ways.

On that note… I will sign off and leave you with these great pics. Enjoy!!

Bodi was very lost the first couple of weeks after the loss, he really didn’t know how to act, didn’t pick up any toys, was always waiting for Tucker to be there and do his part so that Bodi could do the “second dog” thing, he still looks for Tucker when he comes in from the back yard. As the time has gone by, Bodi has opened up more and more every day. It is really strange, but I think Bodi must have spent a lot of the time that he had with Tucker just observing his interaction with us and storing it for future use.

Bodi is, and has been, since we were lucky enough to bring him home, an incredible little “V”, he is different then Tucker, not worse in any way, just different, and we have loved every bit of that difference.

Where Tucker was all about us, always paying attention to our every move and our energy, Bodi is a little more independent – always on the hunt, a little more aloof. When we raised our voices, even if by chance we were watching a sporting event on TV, Tuck would get worried, would leave the room and go hide in the bathroom – of course when we called him he would come running, his tail wagging, a toy in his mouth and talking up a storm in the Vizsla “Roo, Roo” kind of way. Bodi, in the same situations, will just open an eye, look at us to make sure all is well, and go right back to sleep, not in an “I don’t care” way, just in an “I’m really not going to worry, or get involved” kind of way.

But the really funny thing is, ever since Tucker passed on to that “Rainbow Bridge”, Bodi has been picking up more and more of Tucker’s traits, nudging our arms when he wants attention, getting in between Nancy and I if we try to get a little romantic, getting down off of the sofa when we are eating dinner to make sure he has the best view of any food that may come his way – all things that Tucker had mastered, and Bodi never was concerned with when Tuck was here.

Friends that knew Tucker for many years are commenting on how much Bodi is starting to act like he always did, in my office they say that if they look away and then back they swear that Tucker is sitting in his chair (yes. my boys have their own chairs in the office, and if I go into the edit bay I bring their blanket in so that they can be comfortable – although my partner thinks it is to save the leather sofa), when it is Bodi. Bodi is acting different when we take him to the park or around other dogs as well, whereas he was a little aggressive in his playing, especially around smaller breeds, he is much more mellow now, playing and running, but not nearly the “I’m a baddass” sound as usual, all things that Tucker always brought to the table… and now Bodi seems to be bringing forth as well.

I’m sure that a lot of it comes from the fact that all of the attention has swung his way, so we are acting different around him as well, different energy, but I also believe that Bodi was not looking to step on Tucker’s toes when they were together, he understood Tucker’s place in the family and choose to view it, not to overstep his place. Now that he has moved into that place in our lives, Bodi has assumed a lot of the characteristics that were obviously so important to us and Tucker throughout his life.

Don’t get this post wrong… Bodi can still be a BUTT-HEAD, but he is an incredibly loving, sweet souled, soft tempered, and smart, strong willed, BUTT-HEAD, that just seems to bring a little more “Tuckerness” to the party every day. May god bless all the “V”‘s of the world (and all the other great dogs as well) and may the loving soul of Tucker run through Bodi every day of his (hopefully very) long life.

Pillow Tuck

I was doing a little bit of research on the web and found this site about vizsla rescue and their “Rainbow Bridge” page. I read a few of the posts (which will bring any dog lover to tears) and decided to post this one.  This one especially hit home as Mr. Tazz-a-Razz was obviously loved like Tucker was loved, and the last paragraph just hit my heart as it is exactly our sentiments about our “little Guy”.

Please, if you get a chance, check out the site and remember how many of these “Little Guys” are out there and need that little extra love that isn’t always in their lives.

We were extremely lucky in our adoption of “The Bodester”, and we couldn’t even think of life without the little guy running around us, he has already given us a gift, as we have given him.

Please Lord, look after them all, they will give you endless hours of enjoyment and amazement, and I guarantee that their companionship will be a blessing a hundred-fold over – and I can personally attest to the fact that Tucker will always be by your side, will always protect you from harm, and will always give you complete and unconditional love – please guide him until we can be with him again…

MR. TAZZ-A-RAZZ
Jan 2000 – Dec 2006

I will miss you my friend. You have been a joy. A blessing. A true friend. No matter what paths this life leads us down you will always be in my heart and mind. I thank you for your time and your love. Thank you for choosing me to be in your life. I have never had a pup that had so much heart and love to give to others. I am sorry for your sickness but know in your heart that I love you and will always love you. My friend, My buddy, MY LITTLE MAN! I promise I will see you again and together we will be in the end. I will never forget my little blue eye pup. I will never let your memory die. You have given me more in the short time you have been with me than I could have ever ask for. You have showed me compassion,love,understanding. But most of all you have taught me the true meaning of “BEST FRIEND”… I love you!

Lord, Please watch over my little man until we can be together again. He will love you, He will protect you. He IS a true friend. Please let him know that I loved him with all my heart and that we will be together again. Amen.

From Utah/Idaho Vizsla Rescue

Nancy and Bodi, bonding

Luckily we live in a slightly less populated area then most in SoCal, and this affords us the unique ability to just leave our door and be in the hills, away from people, and able to stretch our legs a little bit.

Bodi loves getting out and up into the hills, smelling all of the new smells, looking for new friends, or old friendships that need to be renewed.

Bodi is a hunting dog true to his breed, and down to the core, he thinks the most special thing in the world is leading us on little excursions into the brush as he sees a lizard dart off the trail, jumping at the chance to chase a bird, or a birds shadow at times, making sure that all in the immediate vicinity knows that this great hunter has entered their space and they should be fearful.

Bodi Terrorizing a Lizard

We, of course, try to reel him in when he goes off the deep end, we actually baby him to no end, worry that he will get into something he shouldn’t, work diligently to make him pay attention to us, all of the things a “Pack Leader” should do (at least in our minds).

One of our favorite hunting grounds is a water tank trail that is near our home, Bodi loves to get out there, criss-crossing the trail looking for critters, running back and forth, ahead of, and behind us… waiting for us to call him before he breaks off of the hunt. As we get higher on the trail, we get a great view of our little corner of the world and we can watch the sunrise or sunset from our viewpoint. The air is clean and cool in the morning, we can stop and give Bodi a little water and when he isn’t paying attention we can squirt him with the water from our water bottle.

Walking out here never fails to bring joy to all of us, working out, breathing the fresh air, we are all lucky to be here, be safe, and enjoy the good company of friends and friendly puppies that we run into up here.

Bodi, mugging it up for the camera

And Bodi, well he is off chasing something down, standing proudly on the rocks, letting all who pass know that he is the master of his domain, and the hunter extraordinaire…  at least until we call him back to reality and put him back on leash.

Sunlight streams through window pane unto a spot on the floor…

then I remember, it’s where you used to lie, but now you are no more.

Our feet walk down a hall of carpet, and muteed echoes sound….

then I remember, it’s where your paws would joyously abound.

A voice is heard along the road, and up beyond the hill,

then I remember it can’t be yours….

your golden voice is still.

But I’ll take that vacant spot of floor and empty muted hall…

and lay them with the absent voice and unused dish along the wall.

I’ll wrap these treasured memorials in a blanket of my love…

and keep them for my best friend…

until we meet above.

Author Unknown

And just look at Gracie Girl’s expression! She is the cutest!

What do you think Gracie is saying here?! “Use the brush, Sterling… use the brush!” “Don’t lick all of the dishes… mommy & daddy might get mad”!! “Daddy… I told him to use the brush…!”

… “I used the brush mom & dad… honest!… I didn’t lick one dish!”

Oh Sterling… do you think that mom & dad believe that?

You guys are the best!!

This was very hard for us all! Jessica was the sweetest Rottweiler we had ever met! She and Tucker had been friends for 8 years. They shared many walks together out on the trails.

We took Tucker over to see Jessica a couple of weeks ago… and we are so glad that they got to see each other one last time.

My heart goes out to Jessica’s parents, (and our very dear friends), Matt & Patti. They had had a very special relationship with Jessica… as Jim & I have had with Tucker over the years. Jessica was their child.. as Tucker (and now Bodi too) is ours.

I feel their pain… as it hits so close to home. I can honestly say… I cried so much Friday night, after receiving the news from Patti & Matt. And thought about Jess this whole weekend.. and felt an emptiness in my heart.

We loved Jessica and she will always be in our hearts! She touched us all in her own, very special way. She was beautiful, sweet, kind, loving as well as strong and protective of her family and friends. We shall miss you Jess!!

Patti & Matt… we love you guys and we are here for you!

Love,

Jim, Nancy, Tucker & Bodi