The gift of dog

Kelly Dunbar shares how her dogs have touched her life over the years

Christmas is about many things, and I am sure you will agree, gifts form a big part of our celebrations. Today the brilliant Kelly Dunbar invites us to consider that there are not many gifts that can rival the companionship, love, support and warmth that come from owning a dog. Those memories stay with us forever. Read, enjoy, and maybe even shed a tear of love and a smile of thanks to our canine companions…

Dogs enrich our lives in so many ways. The holidays are a season of reflection and every year I take a little time to review the gifts the various dogs in my life have given me. Sure there’s the requisite cuddles and kisses, but oodles of laughter and life lessons as well. So I’d like to personally thank my dogs of Christmases past and present for sharing their lives, light, and love with me over the years.

To My Sweet Charlie Brown (aka Boo)

From the very first time I saw you as a pup at the dog show I knew we were meant to be together. I may only have been 5 years old, and you a young pup of 9 weeks, but our hearts and souls connected and we both knew right away that this was indeed a special bond. You were my best friend all through my school years and taught me the joys of sharing life with a dog. You were always by my side, through thick, thin, my first loose tooth and all the way to getting my drivers license. I cried into your fur at my first heartbreak and told you all of my childish secrets. You taught me the loyalty of a dog
In the end you even taught me how to selflessly and gracefully say goodbye to an old friend.

To Dear Ivan (aka Bubs)

You were my first dog as an adult and together we learned about dog training. Initially I was told to do nasty things to you in the name of obedience and leadership, and, against my better wishes I complied. I’m terribly sorry about that, and it did affect our relationship, but also, my love for you drove me to continue to search for kinder, gentler methods for communicating with my best friend. In our years together I tried lots of training methods with you and through it all, you maintained your sense of humor and dignity, while allowing me to find mine. In the end you taught me the invaluable lessons of forgiveness and how to train with respect and kindness over compulsion and cruelty.

To Mr. Oliver Twist (aka Little)

You came into my life as a shelter dog and companion for Ivan. The first lesson you taught me was that shelter dogs rock! My only regret was that I did not have the pleasure of knowing you as a pup; you must have been the cutest little guy ever! But you also taught me how to live life to the fullest. You did nothing at half-measure, you were a true pleasure-seeker that charmed all who met you. Your joie de vivre was contagious. In the end you taught me to live life to the fullest, to always express myself clearly, and that we should soak up the sunshine while we can.

To Claude (aka Claudey)

You came into our family as an adult dog with lots of issues. Nobody understood why we adopted you even though all agreed that you were indeed a handsome beast! But nobody could get close enough to touch you because of your handling and biting issues. Living with and training you taught me the power of gentle training methods such as classical and operant conditioning. Training you taught me about the courage it takes to rebound from adversity, but also that one truly can teach an old dog new tricks and give him a new outlook on life — one of love and comfort where even a formerly neglected dog can feel safe.

To Dearest Dune (aka Monk)

My first puppy in years! Wow, we’ve learned a lot together and the ride is not over yet. When I got you I had it in my mind that all of my years of experience would finally allow me to start fresh and create the “perfect” dog. We’d cross-train for many sports and you’d be the best-trained, most social creature on the planet! No pressure, right? Wrongo. Training you has taught me to focus on my dog’s individual strengths and set him up for success. It’s also taught me to enjoy the journey and not worry so much about the destination; to forget my ego and expectation of perfection and just have a blast with my dog.

Bonjour Monsieur Hugo-Louis (aka Lou)

My youngest. My bright star. Never have I met a dog (or human, for that matter) with a personality quite like yours. You are ever the optimist with a can-do attitude. You don’t let anything get you down. You are small and not built for agility or speed, but that has never stopped you from trying any task. You are up for anything. Your work ethic and ability to let adversity roll off of you like water off a duck’s back is truly inspiring. I can only hope that by hugging and kissing you every day that some of your Hugo-Dust will rub off on me because I want to be just like you when I grow up!

About Kelly

Kelly can be found on www.dogstardaily.com Kelly is a co-founder and the executive editor of the Dog Star Daily, a dynamic, web-based, multi-media dog-training learning centre.

She is the President of Open Paw, a non-profit organization devoted to addressing the unwanted animal problem from a different angle, arming communities worldwide with valuable user and animal friendly training and behavior information with the goal of keeping cats and dogs out of shelters by keeping them in their original homes. Kelly lectures internationally on the principles of Open Paw and consults for animal shelters regarding program implementation, layout, and staff-and-animal training protocols and procedures.

She is a director of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior, a multi-faceted business that focuses on teaching people how to train their dogs to be the best canine citizens possible.

Kelly is also a director for the K9 Games Corporation, a venture dedicated to bringing fun and games to the process of dog training in order to make it easy, entertaining, and accessible for all people, including children.

Kelly lives in Berkeley, California with three dogs, Claude, Dune, Hugo-Louis, and two hand-raised, species-confused cats, May & Uggs.

Competition

We would love to hear and share how your dogs have touched your lives here in the comments section. Kelly has offered a wonderful prize of a downloadable DVD from their website to a winner chosen at random. Kelly has also added a prize to the doggy hamper, so get writing your letters to Santa Paws here

This means we can open today’s competition to you all worldwide (delighted about this!) so let’s hear from you below – how has your dog touched your life?

25 Responses to “The gift of dog”

1. I couldn’t resist adding my story.

   Dearest Pepper
   You were my friend for 15 years. We found you when you were 2. I wanted a small dog. I got you. You were the biggest dog in a small body I have ever owned. You taught me all about training a dog when the dog simply can’t see the point. To begin with I was told to force you to see the point. It felt really bad. Later on I learned from a man called Ian Dunbar, that I didn’t have to do that. So you and I both enjoyed life a lot more. You competed in lots of dog sports and in spite of me, you did quite well! I was always told to get a ‘proper’ dog instead of you, but actually, you were my proper dog.
   Thanks Pepper – I still miss you!
   Karen xxx

   Posted by karenwild on the December 23rd, 2009

2. I would like to add my big thank you to my special dog digby who died last october.
   Dear Digby, you was a very special dog to me, After my mum died, My dad and me decided we would buy another pointer, we picked you. A lively pup.
   After a year my dad also died and left me alone with you, you was the biggest comfort to me for the next 5 years,I cuddled you in tears, I hugged you in my bed to help me sleep. I wanted to end my life but you kept me going, asking for those long runs, and your dinner. sadly you passed away early too, only 6 years after my dad, you too died with cancer just like my mum and dad. I was so upset. You were like part of my dad that I had lost also when you died.
   You are buried in my garden and I say hello some days when I pass you.
   RIP my Digby I miss you still. You were a special gift.
   love sherieannb x

   Posted by sherie on the December 23rd, 2009

3. Dear Duke

   Well, in theory you were my Mum’s Xmas/Birthday present in 1975. Born to Sheba on the 11th November, you were too young to bring home from our neighbouring Beardie breeders – a tiny wriggly black and white puppy virtually indistinguishable from your brothers and sisters.

   Nearly all my memories from then until 1982, when we emigrated and had to give you to the RSPCA (I still live in hope that you found a good home, but rehoming methods for independently minded dogs weren’t so good back then), involve you.

   You were my best friend. I cuddled you when I was sad, and we played in the garden for hours at a time. Yes, you couldn’t be trusted around other children or dogs because you’d been left scarred by early experiences, but the only time you ever bit me was because I put my hand in the way to stop you biting a my friends’ sister, who had been teasing you mercilessly. You were easily as distraught as me by the experience.

   Looking back, I know we made mistakes, and the fact that “that’s how we did it back then” doesn’t stop me from wondering how much happier a dog you would be with today’s kinder training methods and understanding of dog psychology.

   I still miss you, dear friend – so much that I am crying while I type this. Thank-you for the memories and for making those 6 years of my childhood such happy ones, and for being there for me when I needed a friend.

   Your two legged sister

   Em xx

   Posted by cyberemma on the December 23rd, 2009

4. My dearest dog Baron,
   Came home with me aged 21 months having no training at all & took it all in his stride until I left him alone for the first time. For the rest of his life he suffered separation anxiety,
   causing us both a lot of problems but there was no way I could part with him. He became my shadow as luckily I took him to work with me & we were devoted to one another. His loss was unbearable & I will never forget that patient,gentle,big,hairy dog. A lady once said to me,just to look at him makes you want to smile.
   RIP my lovely boy xx

   Posted by hilsofhove on the December 23rd, 2009

5. Spike, soft fuzzy white ball of fur that you were, so protective of your momma. How I miss you. I got you as a sweet 8 week old puppy and we had a long dog life together, and it was a good life. You were my very best friend in life and in death. You were the best dog a friend could ever hope for. Sleep well in heaven my sweet boy and someday we will be together again. xxoo

   Posted by Judy on the December 23rd, 2009

6. Beautiful stories – dogs really touch our lives in ways that we can never imagine and probably can never express fully.

   I have never experienced owning an adult dog from unknown background before but something special about a shaggy, fearful pound dog shone through and here we are 5 years later.
   Rufus, the world didn’t offer you all the opportunities you should have had but still you are here, having fought your way through adversity.
   You are the best people-trainer I have ever met being able to turn on the big-brown-eyes in a heart beat or offer novel behaviours if there’s food to be had and can herd humans to the fridge like there’s Border Collie in there somewhere.
   You are our rock, even when afraid you want to be near your people.
   Training you and being trained by you hasn’t really been easy but the challenges are minor compared to the devotion, love and just-being-there that I get in return.
   Here’s to another 5 years,
   Anne xxx

   Posted by Anne on the December 23rd, 2009

7. I grew up loving our family dogs-Nicky, Sweep, Gemma, Cindy, Penny and Honey…..thankyou all for introducing me to the love of an animal.
   And finally I got a dog of my very own….my Sparky, followed 2 years later by my Rio and I have them still. I always wanted a Westie and my choice has never disappointed. Old they may be, deaf they may be and a bit slow and bonkers at times but loved they are……my Merry Minkies……XX

   Posted by Lynda and the Minkies on the December 23rd, 2009

8. I have just blubbered through a whole box of tissues…and in my cappuccino. Beautifully put Kelly, and lovely photos

   I feel I must also honour my beautiful Selkie, who has been in my life for longer than my OH (who is incidentally often heard muttering ‘you love that dog more than you love me’!)…It will be our 10 year anniversary in February and I pray to Dog nothing happens between now and then, as she is now around 12 years old.

   She arrived into my life on a late summer Sunday afternoon in Western Australia. Peering at the Pets Section of the paper uttering the well-known mantra of dog lovers ‘I’m only having a look’ and there it was…’Wolfhound Cross Female’. ‘No no I’m not getting a dog yet. Cue exasperated housemates ‘Oh for God’s sake just ring up, you’ve been talking about getting a bloody dog for ages, and you’ve been looking for a Wolfhound cross’. At this point I should probably mention that Wolfhounds and Wolfhound crosses don’t exactly roam the streets in Western Australia.

   So my housemate and I set off in the car to the other side of town with me still uttering the mantra ‘We’re only just having a look’…Which completely explains why we stopped at one of those giant pet shops to purchase a lead, a collar and a large bag of Eukanuba dog food!

   She came to me a complete physical and emotional wreck, severely underweight, originally covered in ticks (apparently she had to be sheep-dipped), and afraid of her own shadow. Our best guess is that she was bred as a kangaroo dog on a sheep or cattle station or that she came from an aboriginal community. She was found wandering the bush in an area called Mount Magnet and somehow found her way to me. We now live back in beautiful rural England and she is enjoying her dotage in a nice comfortable house and pottering about in her nice English garden.

   And she has been my greatest teacher, setting me off on the road to animal behaviour. Together we have gone through almost every issue in the book…lack of socialisation, lead (leash for our US friends) frustration, fear aggression, noise phobia, fearfulness etc.

   This was no coincidence.

   I recently read that Jeremy Irons (the actor) said that losing a dog could be described as ‘a burning pain’ and oh how I understand those words. A Buddhist monk once said to me ‘they sometimes come back to you’ and I swear to you…this one has been with me before, many times. So if you have lost a special dog in your lifetime…take heart and remember that.

   Posted by @Widgetty on the December 23rd, 2009

9. Dear Trooper,

   You were my first heart dog. It was touch and go as to whether or not you would survive some odd virus you had as a pup, but you were strong and pulled through, indeed a trooper.

   It brings joy and a few tears to my eyes this time of year, because we shared so many happy Christmases, and I remember how we would delight guests with our fun party tricks.

   So here I am thanking you Trooper for being such a loving and entertaining fur friend, you kept me smiling and learning through all those years, and stayed true to your name.

   Angie xxx

   Posted by Angie (fun4fido) on the December 23rd, 2009

10. Well I am an utter wreck now after reading all these lovely heartfelt stories. I won’t lie, I used to think people who loved their dogs were a bit barmy and I hate to say it but I couldn’t understand why anyone would get upset when they died .Please believe me now when I say I TOTALLY get it when someone loses a dog, I am devastated for them.This is all because of a little bundle of naughtiness called Alfie whom I got when he was just 8 weeks old. Now you may ask ,how did you go from no interest in animals to being totally mad on them? The answer would be that I have no idea other than I turned Fifty!!!!! Anyhow along came Alf and bearing in mind I had no experience with dogs whatsoever I think I took to it like a duck to water, well I say that but he is a little bu**er and runs me ragged but when he just sits there in his little,perfect dog pose and looks at me with his big, brown,soulful eyes I swear he makes my heart flutter and my stomach flip, I haven’t felt like that since my first boyfriend. I love him so much and the way he jumps all over me when I come in the house (sorry Karen utter training failure) even if I have only been out to the bin. When he jumps all over my furniture and chews my scarves I think “it’s only stuff”(again sorry Karen, sorted the barking out though). Now if you knew me as a person (control freak) you would see how Alf has changed me for the better,I am calmer and nicer to people and I love the way having a dog draws people to you .He goes hairdressing with me and the people are just daft with him and put out his own bowls of water and they buy in dog treats just for him,one lady buys him M and S rich tea biscuits.I tell you he is delighful,delicious and very ,very smart .I could go on all day with his lovely virtues but I won’t except to say ,Thank you Alf for coming into my life and making me the person I am today .

    Posted by janet Considine on the December 23rd, 2009

11. Reading all the stories has made me very teary eyed…

    If you’d asked me 5 years ago whether I would ever own a dog (I’ve had cats all my adult life), I’d have laughed you out of the room with a “Dogs? Me? Never!”

    Now I can’t imagine my life without dog(s) – yes I’m talking in the plural! This once (and still) Feline Fanatic is now a Canine Convert.

    2004 had been a dreadful year for me and my OH and in early 2005, whilst dropping the cats off at the cattery (pre a w/e trip to Spain) I happened to see a poster for “Female greyhound – good with cats & children, prefers to be an only dog” Oddly enough me and OH had always said if we did get a dog it would be a greyhound and it looked like fate had intervened.

    On our return from Spain we rang the owner & went to see Mina and were instantly smitten. After a visit to our house, to introduce her to the cats, the decision was taken.. We’d be Mina’s new humans. Mina came with a somewhat ‘chequered’ history – she was found as a stray pup on the streets of Newcastle and taken to a rescue shelter. Her 1st owner picked her when she was about 6-8mths old and had her until she was around 2 yrs old. She had another older bitch that had been with her before Mina and suddenly it appeared that Mina had taken a dislike to this other bitch & was constantly fighting.

    That was March 2005… along the way I have learnt so much from Mina, who has been my inspiration to start training/learning about canine behaviour & training (which fingers crossed will start in 2010). Separation anxiety, lack of socialisation,fear-based aggression, serious & recurring health issues are just some of the things I have learnt to deal with.

    After several visits to behaviourists and a lot of reading, I’ve discovered the benefits of positive reinforcement and consistency in training the gentle way. We don’t always get it right, but working together has seen Mina develop into a wonderful dog.

    In 2007 we moved to Lincolnshire & in 2008 I discovered the Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust. Not long after that, in April 2008, Mina was joined by Stevie (who she chose) and in May this year our gaggle of greyhounds was joined by Jasper. Each of them is so different and they make my heart swell with love everytime I see them.

    They live happily with my remaining cat (17 year old Tazzie) and I dread to think of a time without them, I lost my oldest cat, Chivers, in September of this year and was distraught.

    My one thought is that all my animals are loved & cherished and have brought so much happiness to my life that when the time comes, they will live on in my memories & heart forever.

    Posted by @Sukesu on the December 23rd, 2009

12. Oh goodness, lump in the throat time…

    I have to add our story about Chip, who we had to have put to sleep just a few weeks ago at the age of 14.5. We got him as a birthday present for my eldest son, who was himself 14 that year. We wanted to get a dog from Battersea Dogs Home, but after several trips were losing hope, as all the ones James liked had the note: “Not suitable for home with young children” on the door. (We had 3 younger children at that time). Then the Saturday before his birthday, there was Chip…a tiny puppy of 9 weeks and absolutely perfect. He and his siblings had been handed in at a police station-the others had had their tails mutilated, but he was lucky.
    Unfortunately he was attacked by another dog when James was walking him one day; he was not badly hurt, but it left him with a lifelong dislike of strange dogs. This meant we had to be watchful when taking him out. James took him to dog training classes and the pair of them learnt basic obediance together, but the fear of dogs persisted.
    He was a clever dog who had no trouble opening doors by pulling down the doorhandles. He would pinch any food left out, after first checking that each member of the family was busy elsewhere in the house so would not catch him-we observed him doing this!
    If James was a little late taking him out, he would come to me and “ask” me to tell him to hurry up. He would also go and look for James if you told him to and in later years would lie waiting for him to come home from work, watching the door at the usual time.
    We had a scare a few years ago when he collapsed; it turned out to be a tumour on his spleen which had ruptured. We had to decide whether to go ahead with the very costly surgery without knowing whether it would be curative. Thankfully we made the right decision-the tumour was benign and he had another wonderful few years.
    Then this year we discovered he had cancer in his nose and eventually had to make the awful decision to let him go. James and I took him to the vet and stayed until he was asleep. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done and broke our hearts.
    He was a wonderful friend to us all and we miss him terribly.

    Posted by Anne Greensmith on the December 23rd, 2009

13. My beautiful baby Bella,

    My first Dog for the Disabled. You taught me so much – how to live independently, how to make friends, how to have a mutually beneficial partnership with a dog. We went through so much together – graduating from Uni, starting a job, finishing a job due to my own ill health, our first home together, my numerous fractures, depression and radiotherapy, your cancerous masses. True – you weren’t the best Assistance Dog. You were just perfect for me – so gentle. You were such a beautiful little girl, even when you rolled in fox muck! The way you used to smile and ‘talk’ – you were just so cute!
    I hope I did okay by you. I still think every day about the day I had you put to sleep. Did I make the decision too late, and so you suffered unduly? Did I make the decision too early, and could I have done more for you? I’m glad that we were together right ’till the end.
    Even though I have trouble with my memory, I pray that I never forget you.
    I’ve got Frodo now – I’m sure you paid your part in us being matched! He’s great at his job, and a comedian – I’m sure you’d be disgusted at some of his puppy-like antics! I bet Dad’s looking after you in heaven, and I bet your flirting with Kim – our pet Collie cross!
    I love you so much, darling.

    Posted by Lizzie Owen on the December 23rd, 2009

14. To Elsa,
    My first dog, bought for me as a puppy when I was 4 years old. I was an only child and you were to be my best friend in every sense of the word. I still remember brining you home in the car – it’s one of my earliest memories. We didn’t know much about training, so you were never properly trained, but you weren’t a bad dog. A fiery Welsh Terrier, with a typical terrier attitude, I knew I was always safe with you and that you would protect me from the world. Your love for water was unrivalled, and many times we thought we’d lost you as you swam out to sea or got washed up land drains. But my poor little girl, you were often ill: with what we never knew. And when I came home from a school trip to Austria at the age of 13 to find you gone I was devastated. But you are still with my in my dreams old friend. Now, after a 39 year gap, I have 2 new four legged friends. They are certainly proving challenging. But I think you’d approve of them.

    Posted by Julia Livesey on the December 23rd, 2009

15. I am my mums first ever dog, and she was crying at all the sad dog stories! Now I’ve got my work cut out chering her up again!

    Posted by Caesar aka @goldencaesar on the December 23rd, 2009

16. Dear Nick,
    I’ve had (and loved) dogs all my life, but until I had you, I never knew what people meant when they talked about their “heart dogs.” I truly feel like you are my “soulmate” on four legs, and the crazy route you took to get to me (rescued from a high-kill shelter in NC, fostered in PA, finally home to MD) just proves to me that you were meant to be mine.

    Together, we have discovered clicker training, which is such a fun way to spend time together, and I know you love it as much as I do! You amaze me every day with your intelligence and your work ethic.

    I’m so grateful for every day and every moment I get to spend with you!

    Posted by Dawn on the December 23rd, 2009

17. This is hard for me, but here goes. My first dog on my own was a black lab that I named Alis. My boyfriend at the time bought her for me for protection,she couldnt hurt a fly, after my best friend was murdered. She loved me uncontionally even thou she was left home alone at nights when I was out partying the night away. I’d come home sometimes to tattered books and shredded up wicker, but she was there for me through thick & thin. I often let her outside on her own & I could find her romping around the beach greeting people. Boy could that dog bodysurf. She started a lifelong love of dogs for me, particularly Labs. She is sorely missed. I have her ashes with me & I think of her often. Rest in Peace my lovely sweet Alis.

    Posted by kimhalligan1 on the December 23rd, 2009

18. I am spending my first Christmas with my new Mummy and I am her first dog, but I can see my mates Frodo and Caesar have posted here too.

    Us assistance dogs get everywhere ya know!

    Here’s raising a paw to all the canines waiting at Rainbow Bridge.

    Posted by Coco on the December 23rd, 2009

19. Sending Kelly and everyone else a big hug. Hopefully our dogs are all running free at the bridge, together.

    Dear Sasha,

    By 6 months old you’d had a DIY tail dock – with ulcer – , you’d never been outdoors (except on a balcony where you were tossed the odd scrap to fight over with an adult Spaniel) an ulcerated side, so underweight we could count your vertebrae and you were so stressed and sad. It seems obvious to me now that people had also hurt you in other ways. I’m sorry we failed you; I’m sorry we couldn’t “fix” all the damage that had been done to you. I know that sometimes you were the most loving dog and others severley aggressive, but we all understood why you were like that and we loved you all the same.

    I sometimes think, with hindsight, perhaps having you PTS might have been kinder, because so much of your life was so stressful for you. But we loved you so much that we didn’t want to give up on you.

    I’m studying canine behaviour now, in the hope that one day I have the right skills and knowledge to help other dogs like you. Your little legacy, Chico, who you took under your wing and raised with me (so beautifully), is still my wonderful companion. He really took on all the best bits of the character he managed to bring out in you.

    I hope you are running free now, free from all the hurt, pain and memories that scarred you so badly. We all miss you and our other Dobes – Jodie, Otto, Utah & Kaiser. Chico still remembers the words “Aunty Sasha” and I think he always will.

    Sweet dreams beautiful girl.

    Posted by @k9_kirsty on the December 23rd, 2009

20. Dear Woofs,
    I remember an afternoon when I seriously contemplated jumping out of an 8th floor window. Life wasn’t very good, and everything felt meaningless. But instead of taking one plunge, I opted to welcome you into my life. Very quickly things changed. You helped give me courage to live in the moment, to go out on my own, to walk away from a top job and go it alone with you under my desk for company.

    Now, years later as I stroll along life’s path with you at my side, I can’t imagine a life without you. Every step I take, you’re there with me either in person or in spirit.

    I know that no matter where life takes us, one day we’ll all be together, the whole lot of us, wandering through the woods together, all of us laughing as we go, sharing the journey as always.

    I love you, my basset hounds. You and me woofs.

    Posted by Jon Buscall on the December 23rd, 2009

21. My Oreo, my soulmate, my first clicker trained dog. I miss you everyday. Our time together was too short for all the things I wanted to do. But you lead me into dog training and it is now what I do for a living and I love everyday. I know you watch out for me and help me with especially the problem dogs in class. Thanks for being the great dog you are.

    Posted by Lydia on the December 24th, 2009

22. Lovely stories all! It shows just goes to show how much all our doggy friends mean to us.

    To my beloved Baxter whom I just lost December 8, 2009:

    Baxter, there was something about you the day I saw you. It was between you and a female pup. I chose you, because you had a special kind of sparkle and twinkle and were so friendly towards humans. You came into my life at a time when I was a mere depressed, lonely, burnt out college student who yearned for a companion.

    Though I had already decided I wanted to do things “right,” I still made many mistakes along the way. But yet, you still turned into the most handsome, loving, gentle soul I could ever ask for. And we can’t forget the class clown you were too! Aww, we shared so many wonderful moments.

    Even though I may have taught you all the lovely obedience behaviors you knew, you taught me and all the dogs who lived with us more. You were the patriarch of our clan, teaching them everything from appropriate doggy etiquette to fun, silly behaviors. Every one of them had such a special relationship with you and miss your presence immensely.

    For me, you were the “dog,” the dog who got me into dog training and behavior, the dog who got me into natural health, the dog who changed my life. You taught me so much about life–love, laughter, joy, determination, grief, and finally loss. You were there through all the ups and downs of my life and always remained steadfast to my side. It is sad as I embark on a new chapter of my life, you are not here to physically share it with me.

    I know the last few weeks of your life were difficult, but I hope you were never in pain. Please know, I always tried to do the best for you.

    My wounds are still fresh from your loss and my tears not yet dry, but I know time will help.

    I love you always and miss you terribly. You were such a wonderful boy and words will never do justice to how special you were to me.

    I hope you are now at the Rainbow Bridge reconnecting with all your friends and having the time of your life.

    Posted by Dae on the December 24th, 2009

23. BRUCE, you brought the dream of a having a dog to life. You were the center of my life. Finally, my mother relented and I had a dog. My earliest memories are of wanting a dog, and you were real. Babysitting money, $7.00, you were in the pet store in 1961 with your littermates. Daddy I said, he needs to go to the vet, he has worms really badly. You were on the table for us to see, I coughed, you came to me and looked me right in the eyes. I had wanted a purebred Collie like Albert Payson Terhune’s, or a German Shepherd like Rin Tin Tin. You were a Collie-Shepherd. You were gorgeous, calm, fun, we played, you enjoyed being brushed, you learned tricks, we walked, you learned to go to the other side of the yard, sit, jump over the picnic benches. I pretended we were in dog shows. Dog shows did not allow mixed breeds. They didn’t know you. We were a team. Wanting to be anywhere except in my house with the thick cigarette smoke and the unpleasantness, you and I would walk for hours all over town every day, just us. For years, you were my constant companion except when I was in school. Without you I don’t know what would have become of me. College. No dogs in dorms. I was the first of my family to go to college. I didn’t want to go and leave you with my parents in the smoke. I thought I could make a better life for us if I had an education. You got a growth on your nose. Malignant.

    Several dogs later, Jelly Roll’s Jazzemup, named after Jelly Roll Morton, famous jazz musician. Rottweiler, funny, fun, I want to spend all my time with you. Your intensity, sense of humor, sideways backup step gets me laughing every time. Where did that move come from???? You love everything, flyball oh yeah, tricks, you have the best “bunny”, so cute, oh my gosh, musical freestyle, especially the “scoot”, obedience, agility, I don’t really care if you spin between obstacles, but I suppose we should straighten it out, sorry about my bungling job of handling. I am so happy to have returned to training with motivational methods, just like I did with Bruce. The way our eyes meet and hold, the way you suggest things, like when you bring Sammie the Yorkie’s dinner bowl to me, “Just a snack, nothing big” in the evening in case I would like to give you more popcorn or anything, really…….On the occasions I am impatient and speak too loudly or gruffly to you I am always immediately embarassed and you are so kind you (at least appear) to forgive. Please don’t give up on me. I love you.

    Posted by Jackie Earnshaw on the December 24th, 2009

24. Beautiful thoughts on the impact that our furry friends have on our lives. Makes one wonder who is really training whom. Sure we can condition them to learn tricks, but they condition us to learn about life and understand ourselves if we let them. I have had and have great furry friends and life would definitely be the same without them!

    Thanks Kelly!!!!
    Happy holidays and enjoy your critters!!

    Posted by Victor Ros (Equilibre) on the December 24th, 2009

25. I lost a dear friend this week (leukaemia). She was 11 1/2. She has been a part of my life since she was about 3. She was part of my evolution as a trainer to kinder and gentler methods. She was a big blonde (labXmal)… the statuesque blonde in my life. She was gentle, a visiting pet therapy dog who got wonderful compliments on her big brown eyes and her gentle nature. She loved shopping, walks in the woods, sleeping in the sun, crunchy treats. Hated thunder storms, wind storms and the smoke alarm. We will miss her.

    Posted by Heather L on the December 24th, 2009

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