my mature-ish dogs

by Sharon Santoni

golden retriever and fox terrier on stone stepGibson and Ghetto hit the grand old age of three and a bit this month, and as they ‘mature’ (ahem! ) their individual characters become more noticeable.

Gibson  a true Golden Retriever is über gregarious; never happier than when the house is full to bursting and there is an inexhaustible supply of hands to be stroked by;  to throw balls for him and quite possibly to let the occasional sausage drop from a barbecue …. hmmmm…

DSCF4005

Young Ghetto is another matter.  He likes his routine above all else, and is perfectly happy to bark at passers by from under our gate, to growl over the wall at our neighbour’s chickens and to act his role as my personal body guard.  He is loving and affectionate with us, but well, let’s say he doesn’t really see the point of having too many people around.

ghetto, the wire haired fox terrier standing watch on a wheelbarrow

When new guests arrive in our cottage, the dogs both tumble out of the house and down the drive to investigate.  They bark and jump and sniff and generally make themselves as attractive as they know how.  Gibson will immediately go and fetch a ball or a stick, just in case, while Ghetto rushes around counting how many people descend from the car.

As the car is unpacked, there is every chance that Ghetto will jump into the trunk just to check it out.  Once he has completed his full inspection he throws me a look as if to say, ‘nothing very interesting here, I’m off to do something else’, and he’ll invariably head indoors or down the garden where there is a very intriguing hole that requires regular surveillance.

But things came to a height a couple of weeks ago when my youngest son had a birthday celebration here.  About fifteen friends; music; barbecue, some dancing, a lovely evening.

I didn’t see Gibson all night, he was in seventh heaven, entertaining the troops and probably eating all the wrong things.  By around 9.30 pm Ghetto however had had enough.

I was upstairs at my desk in the landing and I heard him stomp into the house talking to himself about ‘too much noise, too many people’, which went something like ” grrreuuhhchr, chrcrgreeuhhchr”  … you get the picture.

He threw me a dark glance “I can’t believe you let this happen”, walked past my desk, pushed my bedroom door open, and established camp on the foot of my bed.  Within a few seconds he was sleeping, but every time there was a yell from the garden, which of course happens quite often when you get a bunch of over-excited teenagers together, or whenever someone let themselves into the house to use the powder room, I could here a growl and a grumble  come from the bed.

cute dog called ghetto laying on antique quilt

Once or twice a group of lively young girls popped indoors, and straight away  he grumbled, sighed, dropped off the bed and stomped to the top of the stairs  where he barked a bit, as if to say “can’t you keep it down, some people are trying to sleep here!”  then stomped as hard as he could, (which isn’t easy when you only weigh 6 kilos) back to my bed.

The next morning Gibson was hung over and lay on his cushion for a while, mumbling something about “I shouldn’t have eaten that last sausage”, while Ghetto was up early, chasing around the party scene in case any scraps had been left for him.

golden retriever and fox terrier on sofa

By lunchtime all the guests had disappeared and our routine settled back down … until the next interruption that is ….  country life is definitely what you make it!

63 comments

Sarah August 4, 2014 - 3:38 pm

What a sweet post! Such a treat to read – especially for those of us who are, at the moment, dog-less.

Thank you for opening your the door to us, I am so inspired by your beautiful writings and full life.

~Blessings

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 5:12 pm

Thank you Sarah, it is my pleasure to share our little tales 🙂

xx

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kerry August 7, 2014 - 12:01 pm

Love everything you post Sharon. Keep it coming. South of France is so beautiful.. just had 5 weeks there. Our 4th trip from Australia

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Jeannine August 4, 2014 - 3:43 pm

I love your dogs!! Such great personalities!! Their anecdotes always make me smile!

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 5:12 pm

Me too Jeannine, that is most of the time!

xx

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barbara August 4, 2014 - 3:50 pm

Really enjoyed my visit with Ghetto and Gibson.
Barbara

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 5:13 pm

Hi Barbara

I’m so glad they have so many admirers 🙂

xx

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Leslie in Little Rock August 4, 2014 - 4:04 pm

Perfect start to my week! My dogs are at the “beauty shop”, will return a little put out, but smelling -oh so much better. What would we do without them?

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 5:14 pm

Ah Leslie, do not mention ‘beauty shop’ in this house … they both HATE going! Such a waste of all those good smells that they have been cultivating over the weeks

xx

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Colleen Taylor August 4, 2014 - 4:06 pm

What a delightful fun way to start the week Sharon. Love those 2 dogs & am still planning on painting them sometime! X

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 5:14 pm

Well Colleen, they certainly love to pose, so they’d be honoured

xx

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Karena August 4, 2014 - 4:12 pm

So good to get to know Ghetto and Gibson, Sharon, isn’t it interesting to see our pets personalities!It is true, sometimes you can read their minds!

xoxo
Karena
Featuring Artist John Matthew Moore
The Arts by Karena

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 5:15 pm

It certainly feels that way Karena, their expressions can be quite uncanny

xx

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Deborah August 4, 2014 - 4:27 pm

Thank you so much for this. I love dogs so much.
I’m sure they are lovable & are so much fun.

Thank you,
Deborah

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 8:46 pm

Thank you Deborah, they certainly keep us smiling

xx

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Donna Baker August 4, 2014 - 4:28 pm

What fine dogs they are. I believe dogs are the true angels.

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 8:47 pm

hmmmm….. I’ll try to remember that next time they run away !

xx

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Rié Moratto Portobello Design August 4, 2014 - 4:40 pm

My son and I read your post together! Charming! If dogs could have their own blog, Gibson and Ghetto’s antics would be one to not miss. I think people would pay an extra fee while staying at your beautiful guest house if they could rent them for a day. All the best, Rié

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 8:48 pm

that is a great compliment, thank you Rié … and actually Gibson quite often walks with the guests in our cottage 🙂

xx

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Peggy Braswell August 4, 2014 - 5:06 pm

Barkley is our dog + reminds me of Ghetto. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 8:49 pm

would that be because he’s a bit scruffy round the edges? ….

thank you Peggy

xx

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Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon August 4, 2014 - 5:20 pm

Well, you made me laugh today. I know my personality would fit better with Gibson, but I love that rascal Ghetto. 🙂

Madonna
MakeMineLemon

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Sharon Santoni August 5, 2014 - 8:49 pm

He has a winning way, that’s for sure,… hope you’re keeping well

xx

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Linda August 4, 2014 - 7:46 pm

Great story and pictures of your two wonderful pets. When I was growing up I was not allowed to have a dog, but many years ago I got a wonderful Border Collie and then a Dalmatian and now a mix breed (Lab and Shar-pei); each had their own personality. I can’t imagine living with a dog as they bring so much love and joy to your life!

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Linda August 4, 2014 - 7:49 pm

I meant to say “I can’t imagine living WITHOUT a dog”…sorry for oversight!

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:46 am

We went a while without a dog because we were so sad after we lost a very special Lola, but the house simply wasn’t the same
Xx

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Patty August 4, 2014 - 7:50 pm

I LOVE hearing about people’s pets. We have two pit bulls and two cats – all rescues and they are the loves of our life. Thank you for sharing your beautiful dogs with us.

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:47 am

Thank you Patty

Xx

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Jeanne McKay Hartmann August 4, 2014 - 9:05 pm

Love the adventures of Gibson and Ghetto! Dogs are such fun friends to have around and how lovely that yours have such distinctly different personalities (all the better to keep you on your toes). Wire hair fox terriers are such funny ones – all three of ours have been distinctly different, but they all shave hared willful and independent spirits. And a sense of humor (as long as the joke wasn’t on them). I love hearing about what your furry friends are up to, Sharon. They must keep you very entertained! XO

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:48 am

Aha! I didn’t know you had fox terriers Jeanne. They certainly keep you on your toes
Xx

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Maria Luiza August 4, 2014 - 9:23 pm

Again, these two boys made my day!
Excellent “translation” of doggies thoughts and barks, by the way. I think ( and hope) they will answer us one of these days.
Thank you for one more charming post!
Love from distant Brazil.

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:49 am

Thank you Maria. The translation part is not too hard they express themselves so clearly
Xx

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Diana August 4, 2014 - 9:44 pm

Love this post and I love reading about the shenanigans of your dogs. I have three and they are endlessly entertaining. Thanks for sharing.

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:49 am
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Julia August 4, 2014 - 9:57 pm

Fantastic, absolutely love reading about the antics of Gibson and Ghetto – they are such characters…and I can totally relate to the insiders knowledge of the doggie mind…Thank you for sharing another charming and wonderful post…x

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:50 am

Thank you Julia

Xx

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Mary in Oregon August 4, 2014 - 10:08 pm

You obviously got both Gibson and Ghetto to “sign off” on your translations before you entered them in this blogpost! When I had a dog, those are exactly the types of phrases that translated for my dogs’s mutterings!!! So much fun to read, today, now that I am dogless just like your first poster. I do, however, now have my cat, Matisse, who also likes to let me know just how he feels about different things happening around here. It is such fun, n’est-ce pas?

Mary in Oregon

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:51 am

Their agent is very strict about their author rights Mary so I have to be careful

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La Contessa August 4, 2014 - 10:08 pm

Loved this bit on the two furry creatures!Good to know!!!

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:52 am

Don’t worry Elizabeth they’ll both love meeting you
Xx

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Leslie in Portland, Oregon August 4, 2014 - 10:40 pm

I so much enjoy your ongoing commentary on, and photographs of, Gibson and Ghetto. My family has two dogs, Henry (a Golden Retriever) and Bob (a Long-Haired Dachshund), with whom we love to do everything. Henry is 11.5, and Bob 8.5, years old. They are delightful characters much like Gibson and Ghetto. Although Bob is not a terrier, and he is always up for a pet, he loves to explore and will usually wander off to do that after a few moments with new people. Both of them love to play in and on the water, as do we. My office is at home, so I also get to share daily life during the workweek with them. They love to see photographs of Gibson and Ghetto almost as much as I do. Enjoy every minute with those wonderful boys, with whom I hope you have many, many more lovely years.

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Sharon Santoni August 6, 2014 - 6:54 am

I think that most dog owners can relate to this shared enjoyment Leslie
Xx

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Amanda Rush August 4, 2014 - 11:24 pm

Those who truly enjoy country life share a common joy the world over. Lovely to read about all the family in Normandy Sharon! Best wishes, Amanda

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2014 - 8:13 am

thank you Amanda

xx

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Delaine August 4, 2014 - 11:27 pm

Hi Sharon, I always love to hear about these adorable pups of yours! Any day that I get to hear a Gibson and Ghetto story is a great day! Merci for sharing your pups with your fans!! Take care!

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2014 - 8:13 am

You are very kind Delaine, thank you

xx

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Laura Wilson August 5, 2014 - 12:40 am

I love this post! it really brightened my day!

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2014 - 8:14 am

🙂

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Willene Deason August 5, 2014 - 1:25 am

Love reading about Gibson & Ghetto, but this one was best.

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2014 - 8:37 am

I’ll pass that one Willene, thank you 🙂

xx

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Emm August 5, 2014 - 1:28 am

Love the transliteration of Ghetto-speak. Good job! How dare those bumptious humans disturb his slumbers.

I’ve always wondered about the origins of their names.

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2014 - 8:39 am

In France Emm, there is a letter of the alphabet for each year of birth for animals. 2011 was the year G for dogs, and they are born a month apart. Gibson and Ghetto just seemed like good names ….

xx

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Marsha @ Splenderosa August 5, 2014 - 6:10 am

Only another dog lover could possibly understand our passion for these guys. I’m like Gibson, boundless energy, want to be everywhere at once…and, alas, I pay for it the next day. Ghetto is fabulous, and I love the way you describe him. xx’s

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2014 - 8:39 am

Thank you Marsha, hope you’re enjoying a good summer

xx

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david terry August 5, 2014 - 7:42 am

“As the car is unpacked, there is every chance that Ghetto will jump into the trunk just to check it out. ”

Dear sharon, Your comment made me recall the Parents’ Weekend (this had to have been twenty years ago) when my dog, Amos, played stowaway. He was a very grave & earnest yorkshire terrier (who eventually lived to be TWENTY, if you can believe it). He LOVED riding in cars,which was frustrating for him, since I rarely drive, and I certainly didn’t do so often while I was teaching at a boarding school. I didn’t evenhave to cook my own meals in those days.

That weekend, hordes of wealthy parents rolled up in their various mercedes and BMW’s….and that entire Sunday was jammed with chattering, jostling at various gatherings/receptions, and all the predictable fuss of the closing day of Parents’ Day weekend. I should emphasize that, since this was a fancy boarding school, parents did tend to show up with that new stereo or that new computer or whatever for their precious child…..and they left doors open as the young faculty members were press-ganged for slave-y, hauling duty up and down dormitory staircases.

I hadn’t even noticed that Amos was missing when I got back to my faculty apartment that night….and had a call from the headmaster. Amos, who KNEW he wasn’t allowed to get in cars, had, indeed, gotten into the luxury-mobile of a visiting set of extremely wealthy (the father was the vice-president of Citicorp and on the board of The National Gallery of Art, among other positions) parents. He’d obviously remained completely silent in the back-seat….and they never noticed him until the car was being parked by the valet at their ultra-luxurious Manhattan building.

Did I mention that school was in rural Pennsylvania?……three or so hours away from Manhattan (and that’s after you got off the island)….and it was 8 at night?

Amos got to spend the night in an apartment that’d previously been featured in “Architectural Digest” (not that any of the faculty had ever set foot in the place), and their driver brought him back to the school on Monday morning.

Amos was completely non-plussed by the entire episode. The parents were, actually, lovely about the whole matter. I would be, too….they got the pleasure of playing with a pretty little dog, without incurring the responsibility of actually owning the thing.

Thanks for bringing up that memory,

David Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com

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Sharon Santoni August 7, 2014 - 8:41 am

David, how nice to see you here! I just love this story, thank you. I’m sure we have come close to this happening on many occasions but I can’t imagine how much of a nuisance it would be if Ghetto hitched a ride to the airport!

xx

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Holly August 5, 2014 - 12:04 pm

I too have fur children and love how you share yours. Thanks for this sweet post of scruffy love.

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Gardengirl August 5, 2014 - 1:23 pm

What a nice way to start my day! I didn’t grow up with dogs but the minute I got married my husband brought one into my life and we haven’t been without one since. As one gets older we acquire a young one, so there are long stretches of time where we have three dogs. Life is very interesting with three, it changes the dynamics greatly. They do indeed have their own personalities and are a true joy. Thanks for your charming post.

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Gardengirl August 5, 2014 - 1:24 pm

p.s. Loved David Terrys story!

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Nancy August 5, 2014 - 3:39 pm

Our retrievers are more like your Gibson….positively making nuisances of themselves…one with a ball or other toy and the other climbing into laps or trying very hard to get at faces for licking…constant “one ups man ship” between them for attention….thus, we put them away during parties….Lucky you can have them out….

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Lucia Donahowet August 6, 2014 - 12:49 am

Hello Sharon,
I love your dogs! Thank you for sharing their antics, thoroughly enjoyed your post! They are so cute!
Lucy in California

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Libby August 7, 2014 - 2:01 am

I always look for updates on Instagram! Could you/would you post every now and then??? Would love to follow some new images of these two wonderful dogs. Thanks! Libby

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kelly August 13, 2014 - 10:52 pm

Loved reading this wonderful post !

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