Our Fur Babies
Bentley Angus was fifteen in January.
Our daughter has his older brother, Cooper who is sixteen. The breeders named their dogs after cars they new they would never own. Cooper was Mini Cooper. Bentley if you are familiar with cars; you know why the breeder picked this name. We decided to continue with the car theme but Bill’s grandma’s maiden name was Bentley, Angus was Bentley’s father’s name.
Cooper is blind and deaf. Our daughter takes him outside on a leash so he don’t run in to things. She also diapers him. Her devotion is quite admirable. Update: Cooper quit eating and passed away Sunday, April 27, 2025. He was buried under a Lilac bush that he liked to lay under and smell the Lilac blossoms. We considered it a blessing that he now crossed the rainbow bridge to rest in peace. He was a great dog and will be missed.
Bentley has gone deaf as well lately. Bill ordered some whistles and I keep one around my neck and the other whistle hangs by the back door. He responds to the whistle. He doesn’t always know which direction it is coming from. Riley responds to the whistle too but she has keen hearing. You can’t rattle a treat bag and she will be right there in front of you. She also goes and grabs Bentley by his ear or scruff of his neck and wants him to go outside with her!
They are quite the pair. They keep us entertained. Cooper was our grand dog as we don’t have any grand children. I’m always taking photos of the dogs.
Riley’s name was picked out before her litter was born. We knew we wanted another Shih Tzu and had to pick a name that would work for a boy or girl, so we picked Riley Jo. The Jo comes from her father Jasper Joe. I have forgotten her mothers name. Her mother wasn’t taking care of her puppies but luckily another Shih Tzu mother, Rosie excepted Riley and her litter mates and raised them as her own. The Shih Tzu ‘s are such sweet dogs. Bentley has been my Service Dog. He was always beside me on the couch when I had health issues. He’d help pull off my shirt or jacket. He would fetch the remote control off the end table. He also would get toilet paper out of the vanity cabinet for me. He was always a little gentleman. I trained him when he was very young by walking him with a leash and having him sit and lay down. Bentley is registered at the Humane Society as a Service dog.
Riley was difficult for me to train. I couldn’t take her on walks. She likes to ride on my Rollator. That’s her spot! I’ve been working with her lately on “sit”, “stay” and “lay down” and I can’t forget “No”. She definitely has a mind of her own. She gets the remote for me when Bill leaves the room whether I ask her or not. She helps pull my sleeves on my shirt or jacket or coat. She sees me taking it off and she is right there helping. She gets toilet paper from the vanity. She picks up things I’ve dropped but doesn’t always want to give them up unless she is offered a reward and then she drops whatever she has immediately. Ever since Riley has started doing Service dog things Bentley has backed off and let’s Riley do it! I guess he’s retired! He lost a tooth and we don’t know if dry dog food did it or pulling on my shirts and jackets or coats. Riley needs more training before I would call her a service dog.
In the one picture Riley likes to run circles around the couch and circles in to the dining area too. I have counted her circling as many as fifteen times. The evening I took this picture she had sailed over Bentley three or four times with Bentley ever so calmly just laying there. I have to smile every time I look at the picture.