Bailey
Bailey is a real dog. In early 2002, not long after my youngest daughter was born, a couple of co-workers of my husband’s were looking for a family for their Jack Russell Terrier - they just couldn’t take care of him anymore. I was staying home with the kids, and we had a house, so we thought we’d take him for a little while and find him a good home. And who knew? Maybe he’d fit in with us and we’d keep him.
The thing about Jack Russells is that they are almost as demanding as infants. Bailey needed constant attention, as did my baby, and there was only so much of me to go around. Plus, Bailey felt a certain… let’s say… sisterhood with Cecilia, as they were both seventeen pounds at the time, and he tended to like to give her lots of exuberant love and attention, which didn’t go over so well with Cecilia. Then one day, I was talking to my good friend Lynne about Bailey, and we arranged a meetup, and it was love at first sight. To this day, it’s the only successful match I have made, but I firmly believe that the two of them were meant for each other.
In the brief time that I had with Bailey, though, I learned a lot about him, and I still remember him so clearly and so fondly that when the time came to pick a dog to write about, it was a no brainer. When I got to write him talking for the book, I knew exactly how he would think and what he would say. Bailey is a live-in-the-moment kind of guy; he loves unconditionally; he gets very, very excited about pretty much everything; and he is never bored. That kind of character only comes along once in a great while, and I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to write him.
What I loved most about Bailey was pairing him with Daisy. While Lynne and Daisy have very little in common - Lynne is much more of a free spirit than Daisy, trust me - I loved how Lynne and Bailey fell so instantly in love with one another, and I wanted that for the fictional dog-human relationship, too. Of course, at first, Daisy wasn’t quite ready for Bailey, so it took a little while for him to win her over, but it was fun working out that process with Daisy. Daisy had wound herself pretty tight, and Bailey’s sole purpose in life was getting her to loosen up and enjoy life the way that he could. Noah had something to do with Daisy’s eventual unwinding, too, but Bailey was the first man in her life to love her that boundlessly, and I think that had a huge effect on Daisy.
And, as a special treat, I’m also adding a link to this video of Bailey that Lynne shot this Christmas. Isn’t he the cutest?
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OMG, ROTHFMAO!!!Not the Christmas morning vid, but the “Baily Boots”. Oh, that was a hoot, thank you.
It has been my experience that little dogs don’t either notice or care how little they are. (well, except for mine. She plays the “toy dog” card all the time)so when they come upon an enemy that is so much larger than themselves (love the pic of Bailey and the Moose…it says “Yer lucky this fence is here, Bullwinkle, or I’d moyder ‘ya!)size doesn’t matter. When I drive my horse throught the park, big dogs react like “Hey, how ya doin, bro” little dogs all want to attact the horse.
Yes, little dogs have no concept of size ratios. It’s part of what makes them so adorable. And worrisome.
But the nice thing is, the big dogs don’t know, either, so when a little dog yip-yip-yips, they run. It’s a whole alpha thing. 
The “Bailey Boots” is killer funny!! Just the look on his face and at the end when he just extends his rear leg out!!! LOL!! Loved that!
Oh, poor puppy! Who knew that was all it took to chill him out? What if he got a moose WITH the boots on?
He’s adorable.
I’m playing catch up here. Loved all the prior blog topics, and the guys photos, etc. love the Bailey pics.
Love that first pix.
and the link.
Really love the name (as it’s one of mine)
Ok that Bailey IS the cutest!
I have to say that Lani pretty much nailed Bailey — his character, I mean. I feel very fortunate to have him in my life. I joke all the time that someday I’ll retire and Bailey will keep me in the style to which I’ve become accustomed. To date, his likeness has been on the cover of a newspaper, a CD,and in an art show. And now “Dogs and Goddesses.” I think I need to make him a Facebook page. Can’t wait for the book, Lani!
It’s on the way, Lynne! As soon as I find your address… I know you gave it to me!
But YES, Bailey should absolutely have a fan page on Facebook. He’s a pretty famous dog.