Dog Insists on Daily Visits to Favorite Neighbor

“He knows exactly what street they are on… if we pass the house with no intention of going in, he plants himself with full body weight on one spot and stands there until you relent.” Cheddar’s mom told The Dodo.

 

Cheddar was approximately eight years old when one of his parents received a cancer diagnosis. They no longer had the time or resources to care for Cheddar and decided to surrender him to a rescue organization hoping that he would find a new loving home. Although the situation forced the senior dog to leave his home, he was quickly adopted by the best new family.

 

 

Cheddar demonstrated his gratitude for their adoption from the minute he came into the new house by demanding constant attention and a desire to be around them at all times.

 

 

“He is very, very, very needy,” Shelley Vassall, Cheddar’s mom, told The Dodo. Cheddar cannot possibly be alone. His sole desire is to be the focus of attention; if the petting comes to an abrupt halt, he will either nudge your arm with his head or touch his paw to signify that you should continue. If he could, he would have had you remain for hours petting him.

 

Cheddar enjoys everyone he meets, as long as they are willing to pay him attention, and rarely expresses preference – that is, until he meets one of his neighbors and falls in love.

 

Cheddar and his mother went for a walk shortly after being adopted and came upon an old couple sitting on their front doorstep. They came to speak briefly with them, and Cheddar immediately liked the woman, Jean. They stopped for a bit with them before going on their travels, and they’ve returned daily since Cheddar will not have it any other way.

 

“We try and go there every day if we can. They live around the corner and one street over from us. When it’s been more than a few days, and we haven’t seen her, Cheddar is particularly vocal when we visit next,” Vassall said.

 

“He knows exactly what street they are on, and, even if we don’t head there, he insists on it by pulling on the leash and trying to turn in that direction. If we pass the house with no intention of going in, he plants himself with full body weight on one spot and stands there until you relent,” Vassall added.

 

 

While Jean usually brings cookies for Cheddar when he visits, the primary draw is his bond with her, which is unlike any other. Daily visits bring him such joy that all he wants to do is stay by her side as long as possible.

 

“When he sees her, his reaction is one that very few get,” Vassall said.

 

Cheddar is not a barker, although he frequently speaks when thrilled or excited. They spend most of their time indoors during their winter visits, and Cheddar’s only desire is to sit at Jean’s side and be petted. That is ALL he wishes for. 

 

They spend time in their backyard throughout the nicer months of the year — spring, summer, and fall — where Cheddar enjoys rolling in the grass with his leash or a tennis ball and then sitting next to Jean for further attention.

 

 

Cheddar, like Jean, looks forward to his daily visits with his best pal. The endearing golden retriever is now 11 years old and still has lots of energy and love to give, thanks to his wonderful family and favorite Auntie Jean.