How Nemo came to us
Nemo was a 14-and-a-half-year-old Bichon Frisé. His dad had died, and his mum had to move into a care home.
He was taken in by the vet at the practice where he had been treated all along. She tried to find him a new home. He had already been returned twice. We saw him and thought: Okay, this feels right. We had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for. 😊
When we visited him and greeted the vet, a rather deep bark came from somewhere. We had expected a little Bichon Frisé, somewhere between six and seven kilos.
Then Nemo came around the corner: about 11.5 kg of dog, with a suitably deep voice. We were allowed to take him for a walk – okay, he took us. He wasn't particularly interested in who was hanging on to the other end of the lead.
It was 1 May 2019. We were told he should have a few more happy months. He needed cortisone and steroids for his back problems.
We took him home. He lay on the back seat as if it were the most natural thing in the world and enjoyed the journey. Nemo never had any trouble with car journeys. Quite the opposite: he would often look out of the window and enjoy the ride in the tin box, as we went on to call the car in his accounts.
A dog with a mind of his own
We adjusted our lives to him, but he didn't really adjust to us. When I wasn't there, he would pee in the flat. At the time, I still had to work in the office. He snapped at Marion, among other things.
With tips from the vet, we got things under control. There was one thing that really got to him. We were advised that when I came home, I should put my arms around Marion without paying any attention to him. So we tried it the next time. I gave Marion a long, affectionate greeting right in front of him and ignored him. He was quite annoyed and disappeared. When he came back, that was the end of it. No more snapping, no more peeing. Instead, he argued with me every day about who was in charge and whether he really had to follow my commands. 😁
Nemo wasn't a cuddler. That made the moments when he did briefly allow a cuddle all the more precious. Usually, it lasted no more than a minute before he'd had enough again. In that respect, he was the complete opposite of Pixel.
We joined lots of Facebook groups, especially ones for his breed, to learn. We met many lovely people who gave us tips, and I began writing short posts about his experiences from his point of view. But every time, I had to post the same thing in several groups, and we always kept the vet practice updated too. Eventually, I decided to create a Facebook page, post there and share the posts in the groups. What I wrote went down quite well, and through Nemo I had rediscovered my old passion: writing.
So, on 24 November 2019, I created the page.
24 November 2019 · His first Facebook post
Allow me to introduce myself: Nemo.
This was his first post:
Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Nemo,
but you can call me whatever you like. I can't hear a thing anyway, I'm 80 years old, and I'm enjoying my retirement with these two strange two-legged creatures. When I'm at home, I sometimes like to bark for joy, but otherwise I prefer things quiet. Except when the big man takes me out, because I love walking and absolutely love reading the dog newspaper. Sometimes the big man doesn't like that. Apparently, he hasn't got enough patience when I want to read every personal ad right to the end. When I'm hungry and nothing turns up straight away, I sometimes remind Mum with a little barking. The Big Guy is forever running his hand through my fur. That's usually quite nice, but sometimes he's so persistent that I'd rather settle down somewhere else. I get specially chosen food here. My allergies have been getting better as a result, and Mum also makes me lovely things like cooked carrots, broccoli and potatoes. But I definitely want meat as well, of course.Sometimes the Big Guy doesn't open the door in time when I need the toilet. Then I run around between his legs or Mum's until they finally get the message.
I just don't understand why the Big Guy keeps walking so far after I've been to the toilet. But well, even at my age, exercise keeps you fit.
When we get back, I'm always really hungry, and the Big Guy takes forever to open the door. Then I rush to my plate and bark at Mum straight away to make sure she puts something decent on it.
The portions could really be bigger. Now and then, the Big Guy slips me a little extra, but honestly: does he think that's enough to fill me up? Strange people, these two.
Best of all, though, are my bed and the lovely white rug. It looks almost like me. It's a great place to rest. At my age, you do want to relax sometimes.
When the Big Guy and Mum put me into that blue tin box they keep busily driving around in, it's really lovely. It vibrates so nicely; I can relax wonderfully in there too.
The Big Guy and Mum also play hairdresser now and then and try to get my magnificent hair into shape. They're no professionals, those two. I suppose I'll have to live with that.
All in all, it's quite okay here.
I just didn't make proper retirement plans. Otherwise, I'd treat myself to something better – especially somewhere with bigger portions.
I'll be back sometime to tell you how things are going here.
Best wishes, your Nemo
How Nemo became the dragon dog
Shortly afterwards, he acquired his nickname: the dragon dog. At the time, we lived in Lautertal in Hesse, in the Bergstraße region. That isn't a street in an address; it's the name of the region.
The Nibelungenlied is also set in this area, with all its drama surrounding Siegfried the dragon slayer, Hagen of Tronje, Kriemhild, Gunther and all the others. I love the story of the Nibelungenlied. We visited many castles, and there are plenty of references to dragons in the area – for example, the lovely little dragon museum in Lindenfels.
In any case, I wrote a few stories featuring him around that theme, and that was how his nickname came about. He had other names and nicknames too: Nemokrates, a blend of Nemo and the Greek philosopher Socrates, because he loved philosophising through me. Another nickname, "Nemo, der Poeter", combined the German words "Poet" and "Köter" – poet and mutt – because he also wrote poems through me. The "Dog Rule of the Day" eventually became something his readers and followers loved: a little four-line verse in rhyming couplets, usually with a cheeky twist.
An example:
When the Big Guy leaves his seat,
he's off to find himself a treat.
He'll eat the fridge bare, through and through.
I chase him: Give me something too!
Nemo loved outings, and we took him out and about a lot – always with his physical condition in mind. He also got the first of our dog strollers, which Pixel later inherited.
Saying goodbye, and what remains
Sadly, on 21 April 2021, the time had come. We had been battling his serious health problems for weeks. His digestive tract and other organs had suffered from his medication and, of course, his age. He collapsed on the way to the kitchen and wet himself.
His lovely vet came straight over after our call. We held him in our arms on his favourite blanket as we let him cross the Rainbow Bridge. His urn now stands in our memorial corner, alongside other keepsakes of him.
We will never forget Nemo, the dragon dog.
When Pixel came to us, I gave Nemo the role of Pixel's companion in dreams and guardian of the Rainbow Bridge. That is how Nemo lives on in Pixel's stories to this day.
Now that Pixel is with him in the land beyond the rainbow too, they are finally together.
Rainer aka “the Big Guy”