Meet Steve

A cowboy and a philosopher.

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Hi there. Thanks for stopping by. Peggy’s introduction went swimmingly. So let’s all take a deep breath and direct our focus on a dog for a moment. Meet Steve (Full Disclosure: Steve is my other best friend).

Steve was rescued with his mom and all his brothers and sisters in Navajo Nation before finding his way to Aztec, New Mexico and then Sheridan, Wyoming where he found us. Steve is a herding dog. He very clearly has cattle dog tendencies, including an inexhaustible energy and a bone-deep sense of vigilance that forces him to keep a close eye on every human and animal in his periphery. As looks go, he’s a cartoon dog. The English Setter in him has split his face like one of those black and white cookies. It gives him an ever so mysterious quality. My mother-in-law says that because of it she can never quite tell what he’s thinking — it changes depending on which angle you catch him. Steve would be great at poker. Here is an arresting puppy photo:

On the day we first met Steve, we rather traumatically separated him from his family. He took it in stride. He found his way to the back seat of our car, nuzzled up to his new, reluctant big sister and proceeded to sleep for the entire seven hour drive back. Once awake, he ate his body weight in kibble and then terrorized Peggy for two hours. The first video I took of him on my phone captures his small puppy body bouncing in the grass behind his sister, before turning to camera, locking its gaze, and then pooping dramatically. This is Steve. Another photo:

Steve is a Western dog. That doesn’t mean much except that he really only seems at home under a big sky with room to roam. He’s also a Western soul. He’s a bit of a rambler. He’s restless, but pensive. A cowboy and a philosopher. He loves the fireplace.

Steve is expressive. Each day, upon the realization that his evening walk is about to commence, he lets out a combination grown/howl/yawn that shakes his small frame. Then he jumps one or two times in place. Then there is much pacing. Once his basic needs of feeding, watering, exercise are fulfilled, he seeks out human companionship. That he is so often in-motion makes his affectionate stillness that much sweeter. He is a consummate nuzzler. He is quick to find a lap or to use extended feet as a headrest.

Steve is best viewed while running. But he is best experienced in the quiet moments, when it is clear that he cares more about you, the human than perhaps you’ve ever cared about anyone or anything in your whole life. Steve’s spotlight feels big and ever changing, but then he focuses on you in the most intimate way and it feels life affirming. Steve is my second dog and a perfect creature.

Dogs, man.

Anyhow, that’s enough with the introductions. Here’s a few more photos to get acquainted and we can get on to the business of daily living.

Your faithful correspondent,

Charlie