Meet Kodiak ~ My Husky Companion

I never imagined, when my beloved Echo crossed the "Rainbow Bridge" on October 16, 2007 that I would ever have another dog.

She was truly my soul mate and a constant companion for 15 years.

My heart broke and a terrible void began to swell and consume me, not having my beautiful girl to spend each day with and to care for.

I vowed to never have another dog. I couldn't betray her in that way. We have two cats who are affectionate in their own way and enjoy a nap on a lap or curling up in our arms, but it soon became obvious that it's just not the same as having a dog.

I was terribly lonely and had become an 'inside human', only going outside to get groceries or mail. I was merely existing inside my home, not experiencing life, the fresh air, enjoying the mobility my new power chair afforded me.

The discussion began between my husband and I that I might benefit from having another dog. This was a hard thing to admit, after such an incredible and long-lived bond between Echo and I. We began searching for a Husky puppy.

No one locally had any available. There were none (even mixes) at the local SPCA, where we had gotten Echo. We went online and found a new litter of Husky puppies in Pennsylvania, about a two hour drive one way from where we live.

After making contact with the 'breeder's representative' via email, we sent a down payment on a sweet little male puppy. We were told we could pick him up when he was 7 weeks old.

"Kodiak" is the name we picked out, with the help of some friends. He was born on December 16, 2007, the second born of a seven puppy litter. His father was black and white, his mother looked like Echo.

We received pictures every week so we could see him growing, until that day, Feb. 5, when we drove 2 hours after a snow storm to pick him up.

What a fast learner he would prove to be. He was potty trained in less than 2 months, quicker really, as he went two weeks at one point without an accident and then had one in the house.

He took to his collar and leash instantly and soon understood when we said "potty" that meant he was going outside and when we said it outside that meant he had to do his business.

He didn't like 'crate' training at all. He cried terribly at night when he was put in and the door was closed. We even tried feeding him inside the crate, to make it seem like a good place to be, but that didn't work. We ended up laying on the floor next to the crate until he was asleep, then getting back in bed.

He was sleeping in the crate, having to go potty every couple of hours for a while, but soon was able to hold his bladder until morning when my husband woke to go to work.

After he was housetrained my husband decided he wanted him to sleep in bed with us, not certain about leaving him to roam the house at night, terrorizing the cats. (He loves to chase them around.)

Kodiak, "Kodi" for short, and I spent every moment together with the exception of an hour every week when he had to stay in his crate while we went for groceries. As soon as he was old enough and big enough to wear a harness I began taking him for walks with my power chair. He showed no fear of the chair and was very responsive to me, so we began twice daily walks.

He pulled so hard he hurt my shoulder. He was so strong, even at 5 months old, he was able to assist my power chair up inclines. Huskies pull against harnesses, as they are bred to pull, so we soon determined this wasn't going to work for Kodi. Our vet recommended a "Halti" head harness, so after his neutering and the removal of his rear dew claws, we began training with the Halti.

What an incredible difference that made on our walks. He seemed to understand that when he had to wear the Halti, it was time to focus.

Our walks increased in time from a half hour to forty-five minutes to an hour and in some cases when it's cool and nice out, an hour and a half.

We walk through our local park, along the bike path, across the dike and in our neighborhood.

He stays with me all the time, he follows me from room to room, he has to know where I am and what I'm doing at all times. If my husband takes him outside, when he comes back in he first has to find me and make sure I'm here, before he will even accept a treat for a successful potty trip.

My disability causes a lot of pain and discomfort. I was laying on the recliner crying one day and he jumped up, layed down over my body on his side, rested his head on my shoulder and began to lick my tears. He stayed with me until I had stopped crying.

This blog will chronicle our daily life together, the things we learn, the way we help each other to grow and the adventures we face, me and "Kodiak", My Husky Companion.