After Che crossed the Rainbow Bridge in April 2018, we decided not to take in a second dog straight away. We needed time to process the loss and wanted to give our full attention to Murphy first.
Our "golden boy" enjoyed the extra attention as an only dog, but since he had been used to having a companion since puppyhood, you could tell that he was missing a canine brother.
In the autumn we signed up for a "walking membership" at the Baden animal shelter. And so it happened that Archie moved in with us two months ago, on Sunday the 25th of November 2018. We had been told he had had an epileptic seizure, but let me just let Archie tell you the story himself:
Woof! Hello! And Hi!
Where do I even begin...?
For such a relatively short life, I've already been through quite a lot. Let's just start from the beginning: I was born on 10 December 2017 in Slovakia. At least, that's what my pet passport says.
My first home was in Vienna. That was pretty okay, as far as I can remember. I love people and other dogs, so they didn't give me any trouble there. My greatest passion is food!! Maybe they didn't like that?!
Other than that, I'm generally in a good mood, very well-behaved on walks, I don't run off and I'm not really into chasing things either. Doesn't get you anywhere. I'm not that fast anyway. I'm more of the laid-back type ;) Maybe that was my mistake?
Why they brought me to Tierheim Baden, I honestly don't know and can't really understand. No idea. I just don't know...
The Shelter
I actually quite liked it there. Everyone was incredibly kind to me, but having your own family is something special and completely different!! I was rehomed fairly quickly. Unfortunately, that's when I had my first "official" epileptic seizure, and so I ended up back at the shelter.
My Babsi-mama told me she had briefly spotted me back in October when she was taking other dogs from the shelter for walks. But I had already been rehomed quickly by then. At the end of November, Mama was tipped off by her yoga teacher that there was a French Bulldog at Tierheim Baden — and wouldn't that be a good companion for Murphy?
Babsi checked the website again and there I was (or there I appeared). Under the name Aras, I could be seen in this photo:
Getting to Know Each Other
After my dog-parents had a chat, Mama called the shelter and arranged a time to come for a walk. So on Saturday morning I got a surprise visit and got to go on my first outing with my big brother Murphy, Babsi and her favourite human. I was very well-behaved, and I think they already fell for me a little that day...
And then — just like that — they came back again the very next Sunday. The shelter carer wanted to see how I got on with Murphy off-lead. Since we're both very well-mannered with each other, she didn't stay long. She didn't even notice that we'd already started playing. But after that, all three of them knew: I WAS COMING WITH THEM!
The shelter released me for a "trial day" — and you've probably already guessed it: "I never went back..."
Trial Day? More Like Moving Day!
The car ride was short, and just like that I was stepping into my new home! What can I say? Murphy immediately showed me around the garden and introduced me to our dog-grandparents. The garden is brilliant, and Grandma & Grandpa are absolutely wonderful. They always get SO happy when they see me, and Grandpa always has a little treat for me. He loves food just as much as I do :) we get on perfectly!
Then we headed up to the flat. Wow, so many dog beds. Three in the living room alone. Even though only one dog lives here? Who apparently just lies on the sofa next to Mama anyway... My new parents are a little odd?? I liked it here straight away though!
Murphy and I had a little play, which made the two-leggers incredibly happy. I also got to christen the sofa right away for a group cuddle and a Sunday afternoon nap. Then we grabbed some fresh air on a short get-to-know-you walk along our usual route through the vineyards, before a delicious dinner.
In the evening, a call was made to the lovely ladies from the animal welfare organisation and the deal with my new parents was sealed. The only thing not yet decided was my name...
Mama was of the opinion that Aras didn't suit me. Papa didn't mind it, but Mama had the final say — and so now my name is Archibald, or more commonly Archie!
The First Week
I'm now what you'd call an office dog. My master is self-employed and has his office below our flat, so it's pretty clear what Murphy's and my job is. When the weather allows, we have to guard the courtyard, and when it's too cold and wet, we pester the boss and his colleague. In between there are tasty chews, or we simply sleep.
At lunchtime, Grandma and Grandpa usually take us for a walk, and then it's not long before Mama comes home. We get up to great things with her too — another walk, or playing together, or something like training. But thankfully we took the first week nice and easy ;)
Mama is absolutely thrilled that I love eating so much. She says it makes it easier to teach me things. That's why I'm already responding so well to my new name.
Archie = treat ⇒ I picked that up pretty quickly :)
At the weekend I got to meet Martina's Galgo gang. I think they're all great, but those boys are seriously slim compared to me. My parents lovingly call me: Chubby, Silver Fox, or NüNü (short for hippopotamus — they explained that one to me). Not everyone can have a sighthound figure or be a sporty Frenchie like my big brother Murphy...
The Epilepsy
On Monday, normal office life resumed and everything was fine. I'd just been having a little nap with Murphy on the office sofa when, that afternoon, I suddenly woke up at the vet with a needle in my leg, feeling completely wiped out. My new parents were there too, looking pretty pale. They seemed quite shaken up.
I apparently had a very severe epileptic seizure, which thankfully I wasn't aware of at all. By Tuesday I was already feeling noticeably better, but apparently the nerves in my brain hadn't quite settled down yet.
During the night the witch came to visit again (that's another way people put it), and then twice more in the morning. That's called a cluster seizure, the vet said. Just how chalk-white my two-leggers looked by then, I probably don't need to explain.
The emergency medication we now keep at home did help during the night, but after the short seizures in the morning I still had to spend the following night at the clinic for monitoring.
Life with the illness
I was a little scared that they might not come to pick me up anymore, or that they'd bring me back to the shelter. But by now I know that I've truly arrived here and they'll never give me up again. Even if I might be a bit of an unusual challenge.
Since the cluster seizure I get my tablets twice a day, very punctually. Wrapped in sausage — yeah, something to eat again — I take them without a second thought. My parents must have thrown themselves very deeply into understanding my diagnosis. They read a lot, researched a lot, and managed quite a few things to be better equipped to deal with the illness. Mama told me she wrote a dedicated post about it.
The seizures themselves weren't too bad for me — I was basically unconscious the whole time. It's just afterwards that I don't feel so great. I usually smell of wee and poo and my face is covered in drool. Most of the time I'm pretty disoriented and need a moment to get my bearings. It takes a little while before I can settle back down again. And the next day I have the most brutal muscle soreness — I'm telling you. Like I'd just climbed the Großglockner…
But ever since I've been on the medication, I've been doing well and the witch hasn't come to visit anymore!! At first my two-leggers were very unsure about what they could put me through and what they couldn't. But I showed them that I'm still a pretty relaxed character and that hardly anything rattles me — New Year's Eve doesn't bother me one bit, for example.
So now they treat me like a completely normal dog, and I can enjoy my new life with my parents and my wonderful big brother to the fullest.
See you soon! Your Archie
PS: Here Frauli tells you more about epilepsy and what you need to know!
