Grut

This is the story of Grut the growling dog. Grut came to us from a family in Mexico City, whose humans had died and the daughter did not want to keep him. So a friend of mine recommended that she bring him to me in Puerto Vallarta.

Grut was around 7 or 8 years old and I was told he was castrated but  as it turned out, he had to be. So I asked them to take him to the SAVET and get him castrated and bathed. He smelled very bad. 

When I saw him, I told him I was going to be his new mama. He seemed happy. I don’t think he was paid much attention where he was living before, since his humans were elderly and sick for the last few years. Grut spent his life in their garden. He was not house trained either. The transport kennel he was transported in, was too small for him. Grut is a large dog. And he was quite fat.

The people who brought me Grut, paid for the vet and basically washed their hands from the burden and had no interest in seeing where he was going to live. They actually had come for a vacation at an expensive resort not too close to me. They did not have much info to offer about Grut. They just did not want him. 

Grut had no manners, he growled at any dog that came by him. Some dogs took it as a threat, and some just ignored him. It took a long time to get him to stop doing that, because he caused fights he could not win. I think it was a result of being spoiled or not having experience with new dogs and dogs that could fight back, since they were streetwise. 

The biggest issue was with Wero, who is the Alpha male dog in my pack. Grut would not even look at Wero. He was intimidated and reactive, I thought. Wero on the other hand, could not care less. He knew that Grut could not fight and that it was just bravado. Basically Grut caused that everyone wanted to fight him. And there were some grave fights where he had to get emergency care. Usually not in the face at all. But since he had rolls of fat, that is where they latched on to him. I felt sorry for Grut because he was so naive. 

One of our resident dogs, Darta, had it in for him at every chance he got. And it was hard to get him to let go. Breaking up dog fights is dangerous business. Specially if one dog does not let go no matter what. I will write about Darta in another blog. He deserves a long write up as well. 

The process to incorporate Grut to the pack was not easy but the resulting Grut is nothing short of a miracle. He turned out to be such a sweet and loving and obedient dog after all. Grut became buddies with Wero and Magi and pretty much everyone, humans included. He no longer growls at everything. Only if he wants to get pet. He passed that on to Wero, who now growls at me if I don’t give him love. I am truly a slave to my dogs. 

Grut loves to swim, as most Labradors would, but he will do it even if no one is around to see it. something he taught Wero to do too. To just get into the pool and take a little swim to cool off in the summer heat. Grut loves balls. Tennis balls, any balls. And if you throw one, he will jump into the pool or go fetch it no matter where it landed. He also likes to shred tennis balls once he gets a hold of one. In less than 5 minutes, it’s in little pieces. Which the little dogs wait for patiently, to go in on the tennis ball carcass. 

Grut was featured in cakes, mugs, t shirts and his image used as avatars. He became the favorite dog from AdaDogHaus. His ability to melt everyone’s heart is unlike any other dog. If your day has gone badly, one look at Grut, and everything is alright. He is a very unique senior dog. Now he is likely 12 years old. He is at the end of his life and it shows. He has lost weight and is no longer as active. He just wants to lounge around and sleep most of the time. As with my other elderly dogs, I worry about the day that will surely come, because it’s inevitable. Their life span is so limited and it feels like such a short time to have spent with him. 

Grut was already an old dog when he came to us. He is now approaching his last times on earth. I am glad I can write this while he is alive, because I don’t want to write his obituary. I want to remember him as he was and still is. A good old dog that everyone loves and loves to sing the blues when I play my harmonica or flute.