The Rule of 3

There is a saying about dogs-three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the patterns, and three months for it to be home. Despite not being a rescue, Indy was one and a half when he joined our family and this saying has held true for him.

Three months ago, with my heart in pieces over the loss of my beloved Chilli, we woke up to an email inviting us to meet Indy. Rob would do anything to ease my pain and as his momma, I believed Jax needed a sibling. Fortunately the boat was still in the water so we headed to Stewiacke to meet Indy, Rob and the rest of the Island knowing that I wouldn't be returning empty handed.

We were greeted by a sure, sturdy little dog. After catching up with the Delaneys, we were ready to pay for our new puppy, except it was too late. Mom had beat us by an hour and bought him for us for Christmas!

We headed north, in hopes of being able to make it back to the island that night with our new addition. Once back on the island, Jax immediately welcomed him home by presenting him with one of his favourite toys.

I say Jax is Leo on steroids, an exaggerated version of my late little devil dog. Meanwhile, for everything Jax and Indy have in common, Indy is his own dog. Thoughtful, independent, playful, and sensitive.

While Jax is the rare beagle that can play fetch, Indy paw work with a ball is second to none. Indy confidently jumps into the truck I struggle to get into, while Jax, the bigger dog, needs much encouragement and coaxing.

I'm still so sad that Chilli missed out on winter on the island. I miss him every day, he was my best little friend.

But now we have Indy. It melts my heart seeing these two boys grow up side by side. Sometimes they act like they're in their own little world, but despite being Irish Twins, they have both formed close bonds with each of us.

I say Indy acts like a toddler, mischievous, but with a true desire not to disappoint us. Jax, meanwhile, is a teenager. Bad to the bone, all the while grinning, "whatcha gonna do about it?" The two together are capable of great mischief.

Jax, whose addition remains recent in our memory, had an overwhelming desire to be a Boudreau-Langille, and immediately acted as if he had been part of our family all along. As he snuggled in with us that first night, the sense of peacefulness that had come over him oozed out of his pours.

Indy, meanwhile, is not the dog we took home in many ways. He has gone from devouring his kibble within seconds to free feeding and sharing his food with his brother. From drawing most of his comfort from Jax, to now looking to us for love and support as well. He is no longer just curious and learning from what we are doing, he is now interested and involved. Just even in the past week we are noticing a difference in him. He is looking to us more, for connection and reassurance.

So today, we celebrate three months with our boy, which also means Indy only yet knows winter on Pictou Island. With little exception, he sees the same people each week. He has never experienced the hustle and bustle of the wharf and ferry time. He doesn't understand that his Nannie is his neighbour for much of the year. He has yet to meet the dogs of summer, the Teddys and Willows and all the dogs in between. He really has no idea what is in store for him yet, but as I dread the end of this wonderful winter, I must remember the Pictou Island I first fell in love with awaits around the corner, and with that, the chance to see it through a new set of eyes as we share it with our newest little man.

In the meantime, next month we celebrate two birthdays two weeks apart as the boys turn two. I try to relish the moments they're running around like maniacs knowing all too soon the playing will become less and less frequent. In a blink of an eye, it will be time to say goodbye again.

I had to lose my best friend so Jax could gain his best friend, but the happiness I see on their faces as they curl up in a bed too small or experience an episode of shared zoomies helps make my heart whole again.