Magic

I have been so impressed with our Second Mate, Magic, this entire trip that I have decided to dedicate this writing to him.  His behavior throughout the trip, tolerance of and adaptability to a totally different way of living have been just outstanding.  He has been a joy to have on the boat and a real trooper during every aspect of the trip.  I will begin with a story that I should have told a long time ago back in October when we first began this trip.  I didn't tell it because I thought it might embarrass his papa, but I have since gotten Buck's permission to tell this cute but very true story!

At the start of our trip, we had high hopes that Magic would just figure out what the "fake green grass" on the starboard foredeck of the boat was for without too much instruction from us. There are many times on a long trip like this that it just isn't convenient to take a dog to shore because either there isn't a good place on shore or there just isn't enough time.  So to help us all out, Mindy, our good friend and Magic's breeder, had provided us with this latest technology that all boaters with dogs should have on board.  She had recommended that I introduce Magic to the "fake green grass" at home in our backyard and try to get him to use it.  Then, hopefully, he would transfer this newly learned skill to the boat with a little instruction and reinforcement from me.  That's how it is supposed to work anyway or so I learned in my teacher training!  Well, needless to say, I just couldn't find the time to fit this in with all the preparations at home and on the boat that we were involved in to get ready for our departure.  I guess I just thought he would get it through osmosis or something!  I was assured by our Vet that if Magic had to go to the bathroom bad enough, he would go on the boat and hopefully would learn eventually to use the "fake green grass".  Did I mention that the "fake green grass" came to us already "seasoned" by a liter of English Cocker Spaniel puppies, thanks to Mindy!  So, we leave Matthews Point Marina and our first night's anchorage is in Cedar Creek, N.C.  For those of you not familiar with the area, there really isn't a beach or grassy area to dingy your dog in for a potty break.  So right off, we were going to see what he would, or in this case would not, do.  That's right, Magic being the well-trained companion that he is held it all that day and all that night and into the next day.  By lunch on our 2nd. day out, I was getting very concerned about my little "baby boy".  I thought, you know, we have preached and reinforced with cookies and treats all bathroom events when done outside on land for "8" years and now we are expecting him just in one and 1/2 days to all of a sudden go; "Oh, yea, that's what they want me to do. They want me to use that fake green grass"! Well, it didn't look like it was going to happen.  Buck tried to reassure me that Magic would be O.K.  We just needed to wait him out.  Magic would look at the shoreline as we traveled down the ICW toward Morehead City and look at us and then at the dingy hanging in the davits off the stern of the boat.  It was as if he was saying; "Hey, I've got to go to the bathroom. Ya'll usually take me to shore in the dingy.  Why aren't you doing so now"?  This was so cute but sad at the same time.  The longer he went without going the more worried and anxious I became.  Finally, Buck called Dr. Heagren, our Vet. and had him talk with me.  He again assured me we were not damaging Magic's bladder or kidneys or anything else.  He reiterated that he would go when he just couldn't hold it any longer.  So I sat back and tried to relax and enjoy the waterway.  Finally, after about 18 hours, Magic would sneak to the bow of the boat, squat, and finally use the bathroom.  Man were we relieved!  Even though Buck would not admit it, he was getting a little nervous too.  Although, he didn't go near the "fake grass", we still reinforced and praised him enthusiastically!  Little did we know at the time that this wasn't the end to our problem.  This went on for several weeks while traveling down the waterway.  We would go into a marina or an anchorage that had a good place to take a dog for walking and going to the bathroom and he would be so happy.  But, oh, when we got to the next night and the anchorage didn't provide that, it was like starting all over again.  The one thing we knew was that if we could just stand it and wait him out, he would eventually go on the boat.

By the 3rd. week of the trip, I must admit that Magic's mom and dad were getting a little worried that he just wasn't going to get it.  His papa kept telling him that he was going to be sent home to Durham by bus if he didn't get it by the time we got to Charleston.  I told Magic not to worry that his Aunt Alice would come for him!

One night we were in a beautiful anchorage in South Carolina. We were the only boat there.  It was just very private with no houses around the creek.  I don't remember how long it had been since Magic had used the bathroom, but I'm thinking it was about 20some hours.  I just knew that in a day or two I was going to have to call Aunt Alice and see if she could meet us in Charleston to pick-up my boy. While sitting in the cockpit enjoying the beautiful view, Buck had a brainstorm.  He said, "Magic come with me".  So the two of them walked up to the "fake grass" and Buck proceeded to use the bathroom off the side of the boat with Magic watching him.  The next thing I know Magic looks out at the water and back up to his papa and then hikes his leg and uses the bathroom right there on the grass. This is a true story!  Now some of you may say this was just coincidence, but I tend to believe otherwise.  I was there and saw it with my own two eyes.  I just know that from that point on Magic got it and realized that the "fake grass" was his bathroom area and he was a good boy and got special treats when he used it.  We were so relieved!  He finally got it!  But in the process, we seem to have created a "monster"!  He will now got to the "fake grass" 5 or 6 times a day and then run back to the main salon and demand a treat by barking and looking at the treat jar!  He doesn't stop barking until he gets his treat.  He also seems to enjoy watching Buck wash down that side of the boat each time too!

We have always thought Magic to be quite the communicator.  Even as a puppy, he would bark to go outside, go to where he eats and bark to let us know it is time for the next meal, and bark while looking up at the treat/cookie jar.  However, his communication skills have become even more evident on this trip.  I just described one example in one of the preceding paragraphs when I wrote about his going to the bathroom and immediately running to the main salon and asking for a cookie.  He will also bark to ask permission to go from the main salon up the steps to the cockpit and will do the same when  he wants to come back down the steps.  He will bark, look at either Buck or myself and wait until we say "O.K" before ascending or descending the steps.  It is so cute!

One of the best examples of his communication happened for the first time a couple of weeks ago.  As most of you know, we have been traveling with our good friends on GiGi's Island, GiGi and Vic. They had periodically treated Magic with one of his favorite treats, a "greenie".  Well GiGi had gone home to visit her brand new grandchildren, the Triplets!  Vic was on GiGi's Island doing some computer work.  Buck and I were down below straightening up our boat and realized that Magic wasn't with us nor was he in the cockpit.  He was on the bow of the boat - all the way out on the bowsprit where the anchors hang.  He was looking longingly toward GiGi's Island and whining.  He would not come back to the cockpit nor would he pay any attention to us.  He just kept looking and whining toward the Island.  Buck got on the VHF radio and called Vic.  He told Vic that Magic really wanted to see him and was doing everything he could to get his attention.  As Vic put it, Magic was calling for "room service"!  He wanted a "greenie".  So what did Uncle Vic do?  He got in his dinghy with a "greenie" in his pocket and delivered the treat to Magic.  It was just awesome!  I have never seen Magic so excited.  Since then, Magic has frequently gone to the same spot looking and whining toward the Island in hopes that his Uncle Vic or his Aunt GiGi will respond with a treat for him. 

There were times at the beginning when I wondered if bringing Magic along was the right thing to do.
However, he has been a true joy and a wonderful companion to both of us.

That's all for now!
Fair Winds,
Vicki, Buck, and Magic