North Woods River Runner: Twinsies

Kora and Me - October 2022

We’re both 56, Kora and me. I remember like yesterday when we got her. It was the fall of 2014, and after checking various agencies, we settled on an organization out of Mukwonago, Wisconsin; across the Stateline and just a little to the Northeast of us. They apparently rescued dogs from the state of Mississippi and brought them North to a no-kill shelter. Once a month the dogs that they had were brought to the Tractor Supply Co. in Mukwonago where you could look at the dogs available.

We already had a dog at the time. Her name was Kati, which was short for Mukaday; the Ojibwe word for black, as she looked like a black German Shepherd. She was 10 years old when our family of four hopped into our van to go look for a second dog. My aunt and uncle had always said it was good to get a new dog when your present dog was older and could help pass along some of the desired traits and expectations. It made sense and so we decided it was the appropriate time to expand our pack.

The dogs on display came in all shapes, sizes, breeds, and ages. I specifically remember a scrappy little dog that looked like it was 100 years old, cuddling up beside an older couple. The man had a little difficulty bending down to pick the scraggly thing up, and his wife had to steady herself as she was pulling along an oxygen tank that allowed her to breathe freely. It seemed to be a match made in heaven though, as the couple laughed and giggled to themselves, while the ancient little dog licked their hands and wagged its tail. Neither side seemed to believe the good fortune that they had found themselves in.

Our family was looking for a puppy, and the first one that we looked at was as cute as a button. It was a tiny, black lab, but as I got it out and set it in between the kids, it never interacted with us. We knew that was not a good sign, and so we moved on.

The next puppy was also black and tiny, but with a splotch of white on the side of her nose, on her chest, and on the tip of each foot. The interaction was great as she weaved in and out between our legs. She was all wiggles, and very excited with the attention.

On our way home, we came up with the idea of keeping with the theme of our dog’s name being four letters and starting with the letter K.” When I was growing up, my dog was named King. Our current dog was Kati, of course, and now we were adding Kora into the fold; a name that our son Todd, then a senior in high school, came up with. It seemed to fit the pup perfectly.

Kati And Kora - November 2014

Kora & Kati - December 2014

January 2015

Last Adventure With Both Dogs Together
Fall 2016

Our two dogs were together for almost three years before the late spring of 2017. Kati’s passing came simultaneously with our daughter Jodi going on to college, so our “at home” family was down to 3; my wife Cindy, Kora, and me.

I’d love to say that early on I trained Kora perfectly. Unfortunately I can’t say that. My Dad often quotes, “Patience, before you become one!” It of course is a play on words, but it makes sense. When Kora was young, I tried to teach her commands alongside Kati, who knew them well (by my voice, hand signals, and a whistle). I wanted to be able to have both dogs, side by side, and saying their respected name first, have each of them follow their specifically given command. It was a bit more than what any of us could handle. I’m sure I wasn’t patient.

Fortunately my dogs and family were forgiving and despite the rough start, anyone who knows Kora, recognizes her qualities, demeanor, and ability to follow my commands on cue. Soon after she reached adult size, I worried that she would be too small, but she really has become what I would deem as the perfect size, as I can pick her up if it’s necessary to carry her through a raging creek, and yet she can hold her own and swim across just as easily.

And so with an understanding relationship, and the desire to both please and get out into the great outdoors on another adventure, we’ve grown together as only a couple of fraternal twins can. We take our usual neighborhood walks, but we’ve also hit the woods, prairies, backwaters, and rivers of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. We hike, explore, camp, and hang out. It’s nice to have a friend and companion that has similar interests.

Winter 2018

When our kids come home she becomes very excitable. “Glued to the hip” is the best way to describe the way that she follows my wife Cindy around; probably bordering on being “underfoot.” She loves to see my parents and friend Kris. Both have watched her when we go on vacations (although she does throw us a worried glance when she realizes that she’s about to be left behind for a few days). At Kris’, she becomes a farm dog, and at my parents’ house she typically is situated in a place where she can oversee everything going on. My Dad walks her with his headlamp attached to her collar just to keep track of her at night with her dark fur.

Kora With Cindy - February 2015

Jodi & Todd With Kora
At Turtle Creek In Shopiere - 2016

One of the most special traits of Kora is her knowledge and awareness of boundaries. All of my past dogs have had this mannerism, and so it is with Kora. I don’t ever have to worry about her running away, or getting into a situation that she shouldn’t. Observers have often thought that we had underground fencing, but this has never been the case. She simply knows property lines and to stay close to me from the times I spend out in the yard with her. I love nothing more than being able to work out in the yard with my dog laying in the grass; watching whatever life comes her way.

The only thing that tops the feeling of seeing her breath easy, with tongue lolling, while surveying the neighborhood, is having her join me on an adventure. Like twins that tend to share a common bond, I think that we do as well. Whether walking through the farmer’s field and down to the creek, perching on the front of my kayak like a hood ornament, shaking with excitement while sitting in the front of my Jeep, splashing and swimming within local rivers, running in the bottomlands through freshly fallen snow, or wolfing down warm food cooked in my iron skillet over an open, crackling fire, you could say that we share common interests in the great outdoors. It’s hard not to smile knowing that our close knit relationship binds us together as twinsies.

See you along The Way…