Glacier

Glacier is currently 16 years old.

Glacier was found as a puppy with his litter and mom very very young, in northern BC.

The adoption agency had no idea what kind of dogs they were, but mom was blonde, and looked kind of like a generic blonde small-medium dog with shortish hair, like a beagle.

Glacier and his litter got adopted out to the Lower Mainland very quickly, but the snow hit the mountains and we all had to wait 3-5 months (felt like forever) for it to be safe to drive down.

I think the drive got cancelled a couple times because the mountains freeze harder and snow is sometimes arriving after the clearest day in the early spring.

We got constant picture and wellbeing updates about the puppies and mom.

They all got bigger.

And fluffier.

And less generic dog small medium blonde dog.

But absolute sweethearts.

The adoption agency did a great job fostering them.

I wish I knew their name.

But…

When I got Glacier’s saliva DNA test back, it confirmed what everybody who has had a wolf as a dog keeps asking:

“Part wolf or coyote?”

Yes, but he’s really part treat shark who has learned he can find every pet store in any area by smelling and dragging me by the harness.

We learned to talk.

I bring treats on walks because

He “knows”:

When the sun goes down

The treat store is closed

And whatever closed means

He can’t get in

But he WANTS to

And he will use every trick he has learned since he was a puppy

Paw at it

Point with nose

Make excited bounces happy ears face and tail

Make sad ears face and tail

Make stubborn ears face and tail

Stare in the window and refuse to leave

Stare down the reflection of people behind him in case they are

Employees.

He’s also part greyhound part boxer apparently.

He used to play the game

Sprint around the park

Around the dogs

Around the people

Into

People

Haha

Dodge.

But

If you ever have a wolf dog

Teach them useful pieces of language

And confirm that you understand theirs.

When he’s with me:

“Is Glacier being stubborn or needs a break”

Stubborn:

Ears facing me, grumpy shoulders, tail flick, brush against leg, pause, sniff wind, wait, deep sigh, fine we’ll go the human way on the sidewalk and not straight across the road to the park.

Break:

I had to teach him to relax.

Just like people

Release the tension slowly

With light dog stretching

I look dumb

He gets care

Organized and confirmed to be healthy.