Bringing Home Bentley – er- Baron.

The Airedale railroad finishes in Cicero where Sky picks up the Airedale formerly known as Bentley

Diva’s not quite sure what to make of the new addition to our family

Sidra and Baron smile for the camera

In the last few months we’ve been in line to help rescue an Airedale in need of a home.  Both times the dogs got placed elsewhere, but it got us thinking that maybe we really want to have a second permanent dog – and specifically the most superior of all breeds…an Airedale.  Two Airedales wagging their tales, smiling at us from the top of the stairs, prancing around the block…what bliss!  So, we registered with Airedale Terrier Rescue and after a lull we suddenly heard from them with news that a 4 year old male in the Kansas City area was in need of a home and would we be interested?  The rescue group named him Bentley.

Several lovely and wonderful volunteers in the Airedale Rescue chain got Bentley up to us via a roadtrip relay. I picked him up near Midway airport yesterday morning.  When we arrived at home we took Bentley and Diva on a walk together which seemed to ease the introduction a bit.  Diva still rolled him a couple times once they got in the backyard together, but Bentley held his own.  He’s shorter than Diva, but longer and once he puts on some weight he’ll be much wider too.  We tell Diva she’s a KangarOtterZellUnk (part Kangaroo:the long back feet, Otter:mischievous behavior, Gazelle: prancing strides, Skunk: self explanatory).  Bentley moves more like a jaguar and has the neck of a giraffe…so we’ll have to come up with his scientific name later.

Anyway he LOVES Sidra and really wants to play with Zalen.  He’s very protective of the kids and me – puts himself between us and Diva (which speaks to lasting first impression and her lack of natural charm upon first meeting a new dog) – I actually feel like we have a dog that would protect us against an intruder.  No offense to Diva, but she’d honestly invite any person in and show them where we keep her treats before she’d offer a growl of protection.   He’s not too groovy with Tony yet, although I think it has something to do with the fact Tony’s been wearing a big red Bulls sweatshirt all weekend. 

So, today we decided to change his name (he didn’t respond to Bentley anyway) to Baron Vaughn Bentley of Hawk House…Baron for short.  He’s not had one accident in the house or marked anything.  He did amputate the arm off a Batman toy in Zalen’s room, but that’s not too bad…so far.  I’ll keep a diary of our days with Baron.  It’ll be a tough transition for all of us, but I hope a rewarding one in the end for all too.