Whatever it is, maybe all the Lassie and RinTinTin shows I took in as a kid (herding breeds, not hunting, but big dogs nonetheless), I have been a dog lover my whole remembered life. We never had dogs in the home I grew up in, but there was a dog on the farm where I spent time during my 4th year while my own mom was out of circulation in a hospital. My uncle always had a farm dog, and it was always named Spotty. My mother often talked about her dog Deuce. Deuce of course stayed with her parents when she married, and Deuce (named for the two spots on his eye and ear, respectively) crossed the rainbow bridge that same year.
When I married, we acquired a fluffy white cockapoo mix, who already with a name, Lilly. She was our "first child". While we were both crazy about her, she wasn't really my kind of dog. My kind of dog came along a few years after Lilly left us for soft breezes across the rainbow bridge.
The dog of my dreams was a purebred German Shorthair puppy, and my son named her Diamond Dot, for the shape of the coloring on the top of her head, a diamond shaped white patch with a liver "dot" in the middle of it. We immediately shortened it to Diamond.
Diamond was nominally my son's dog, but she bonded with me, egged on by my husband's spinning her up to greet me when I came home from work. At the time she joined the family, I was a traveling worker, flying out on Mondays, and coming home on Fridays. Diamond had to greet me outside when she was a puppy because she was so excited that she leaked.
I loved watching her run across the fields, and she loved running through long grass. She loved everyone, but she glued herself to me. When she crossed over, 13 years ago, it was with me holding her head as they gave her the final shot that took away the pain she was trying so hard to flee from. She was 14 or 15 years old, the memory fades and I keep doing my grandmother's "associate this with that" date math.
Ember is a Labrador Retriever, of the Charcoal variety. She, too, has that noble look of a hunter, and that somehow tugs at my heart. So much that I sometimes lapse and call her Diamond in conversation.
Saturday afternoon, in the blustery, cloudy air, Ember sniffed the breeze, and my heart swelled as it used to do when I watched Diamond run.
Life is Good. Spark on!
Awww, those are such great memories that you shared. I love German Shepherds mostly because of my neighbour's dog but never had a dog always cats and now I don't think I have the patience to manage a dog anymore. I do in a way through your posts.
ReplyDeleteThen my posts have served an extra purpose in giving you some virtual dog-love without the labor! LOL!
DeleteWatched Lassie, and Rin Tin Tin, too. I grew up w/poodles and poodle mixes.
ReplyDeleteOHhhhhhhhh . . . your first dog was Lilly! My Miss Lilly approves. And she was ‘pre-named’ too, just like her 4 siblings.
Awwww, and Diamond sounds like a wonderful pup. No matter what breed, our fur babies are our babies forever!
Hugs and blessings
Barb
1crazydog
Every dog is the best dog ever, hopefully to some human! Whether it turns out to be the dog of your heart, a treasured family pet, or the dog that wags its tail as its human walks it past your house.
DeleteA nice memory. My childhood dog was a black and white border collie. She was a gentle soul.
ReplyDeleteThere's something about the bond between a child and a dog... that sticks with us long after that "first dog" is gone.
DeletePHOENIX1949
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blue sky!
Nice memories of your dog history.
Our family had 2 rural outdoor dogs consecutively that I pretty much ignored. Brownie's remains were found on our property when he was about 2 or 3 -- suspected snake bite. Tippy, a terrier-mix, brownish with a white tip on his tail as if it had been dipped in paint -- old age got him when he was 18. Parakeets and cats were my animal buddies.
Spouse raised with American Eskimo Spitz dogs so we had a string of 3 that came to us as puppies one after the other:
Trixie, passed at age 1, didn't wakeup following spaying surgery
Prissy, passed at age 18 due to multiple old age issues
Misty, aka MISS-T, alpha-female deluxe, passed at age 16
We decided that was the end of our dogs as we were not up to the training and heartbreak of saying goodbye. That lasted a few years, then:
KC, age 3, Maltipoo, moved in. First dog to really steal my heart, he is now 11, slowing down as are his humans.
Bailey, age 8 (turns out she was really 11) joined us as a companion to KC and they tolerated one another, sort of. Bailey was a covert alpha-female that tormented KC when she thought they were along. She passed from cancer last November at age 15.
Grateful for these 7 four-legged blessings.
We got some rain out of those clouds, too... badly needed... moved us from severe drought to moderate drought conditions. For this I am grateful.
DeleteLove your shared memories of fur-friends in the past and present. Hope KC and you enjoy every minute of the time you have left together!
What a beautiful tribute to your canine companions! It's clear that dogs have brought you so much joy and love throughout your life. The bond between a human and their dog is truly special, and it sounds like you've experienced that connection deeply.
ReplyDeleteIt's heartwarming to hear about your memories of Spotty, Deuce, Lilly, and especially Diamond. The way you describe your relationship with Diamond is particularly touching. It's evident that she was more than just a pet; she was a beloved member of your family.
And now, with Ember, you've found another loyal and loving companion. It's understandable how her noble appearance and playful spirit remind you of Diamond. Those moments of shared joy and affection are precious.
Cherish the time you have with Ember, and remember the wonderful memories you've made with all your furry friends. They've left an indelible mark on your heart, and their love will continue to inspire you.
Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your day! (((BIG HUGS)))
I know you are a fellow human touched by the love of dogs! So your words are particularly meaningful... you've felt it, too! Hugs to you, and scritches for Scooter!
DeleteHa, Rin-Tin-Tin! I "met" the dog when I was about 5. We went to some kind of festival near Chardon, Ohio. I remember the smell of maple syrup being boiled into sugar, the sight of many white tents set up to resemble military camp and a fancy German Shepherd my parents pointed out as the dog-actor. Was it really the same dog? I my eyes it was!
ReplyDeleteAh, to have those eyes again!
DeleteYikes, that was 65 years ago!
ReplyDeleteYikes! So many things were "long ago" and "far away", weren't they?
DeleteMy childhood dog was Princess, a medium terrier mix puppy (aka mutt) that my folks took in to save from the pound. My younger brother and sister had a doxie named Burgermeister as their childhood dog. (I was thirteen years older, and Princess was gone a little over a year when Burgermeister came.)
ReplyDeleteI've pretty much had rescued pound puppies as an adult, and my daughter has followed that pattern.
I've had dogs and cats over the years; love them both.
Love the collections of animals that have graced our lives over the years... and hearing about everyone's. A doxie named Burgermeister... I am grinning so broadly at that! Thank you for having the big heart to rescue the pound puppies! My sister's Benji was a pound puppy. I tried adopting one with tragic results (escape artist, car speeding through village...) My son's last dog before Carl was a pound pup, too. It takes some extra loving, some consistency in training, but they can be every bit as great a pet as any that come from the breeder.
DeleteI say this as someone who has had two purebreds that I adored/adore. The bond and love is no different!