A Tail of a Father

No, I didn’t spell that wrong.  I did it deliberately.  This is my way of giving a small tribute to my little daddy dog, Cooper.
Cooper knew from the beginning that the lovely little Daisy was to be his and he waited.  Sometimes patiently, sometimes not so much.  But the day came and as my granddaughters like to say, “they got married.”
As solicitous as Cooper had been over Daisy for 2 long years as he waited, he became almost singularly focused on her for those 2 months she carried little lives inside of her.  He worried with me on the day of their arrival and he was carefully vigilant after the birth of Ozzie and Jakey without intruding.  He was watchful from a distance and once  again,  patient.
As good a little mother as Daisy was – Cooper’s skill at being a dad is amazing.  As she retreated more and more into the background of their lives (only presenting when justice needs to be administered),  Cooper stepped to the front and became something quite unexpected – something pretty amazing, actually.
He played with them, rolling and tumbling, bear fighting and taught them their rooster crows.  When Ozzie left, Cooper grieved and then joyously welcomed him back a year later.  There was no animosity in introducing another male dog into the mix – I think he knew that Ozzie was his and where he wanted him to be.
Jakey and Ozzie just turned 3 a few days ago but every night when the house settles and they are quiet and at peace, Cooper spends time with each of them and Daisy.  He cleans their eyes, and their ears and muzzles and readies them for bed.
He also shares his food with Jakey since Jakey never thinks he has enough to eat.   As Cooper is eating, he places bits of his own food on the floor around his dish for Jakey to have.  He will even allow Jakey to come over and just eat out of the bowl with him.
And, he still plays with them and rarely are there moments of strife between them.  Pretty remarkable when you have 3 boys in the house.  Yes, it is true he has also taught them a few of his more unattractive qualities such as the shrieking freakout when we bring Betty the Thunder Dog inside.  But, isn’t that what a good dad does?  Plays, nurtures, provides, protects,  and every now and then gives them a little bit of a devil to make them interesting?
There are a lot of  human dads out there that could take a lesson or two from my little brown Cooper rabbit.  For him, it all about someone else, particularly “the boys” HIS boys. 
I love that little dog that went more than a mile in helping to heal the huge hole in my heart so many years ago.  My Coop Doggie Dog who kissed me hello and has never stopped.