The Journey
When you bring a puppy into your life, you begin a journey. A journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.
Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures -- jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears.
If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information.
Your pace may be slower, except when heading home to the food dish, but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details; the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.
Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop, we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. and we learn what any dog knows that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own, each day a gift from God.
Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you.
You will find yourself watching: summer insects collecting on a screen; how bizarre they are; how many kinds there are or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this, the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.
You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your puppy must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chew toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie with a puppy in hot pursuit, all in the name of love.
Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your puppy loves the crinkly sound.
You will learn the true measure of love. The steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together."
Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race and you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be. The one they were proud to call beloved friend.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go.
A pet's time on earth is far too short, especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.
The dog that only yesterday was a puppy is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy now wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle gone to gray.
Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead, young and whole once more. "God speed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again. Bless their souls for sharing their lives with us by adding so much to our very existence.
Author Unknown...
"What a wonderful journey Dexter shared with his best friend Deb.
My hope is that all who were fortunate enough to meet or see Deb and Dex or see them play, share the same bond and friendhip with their canine companion."
If you care to leave a comment, I am sure Deb will read them PK
12 comments:
What a sad day:^((
What to say about Dexter.... well, he was the perfect gentleman. I have so many fond memories of him, and I am proud and honoured to have known him, and also him and Deb as a team. I remember meeting Deb and Dex at RKOC, many moons ago, and attending demos, and learning how to play flyball. Dex insisted he should show everyone his beautiful flowing coat with a "spin" before he went over the start line in flyball. He was the perfect demo dog, and very patient with everyone, from kids to the elderly. I have a perfect picture of him in my mind with his bow tie on at Christmas, he was so swank! It always seemed that when we as a group were learning things, from flyball to obedience to agility, or anything, Dex could just "do it", he made it all seem easy. I also remember him being a huge part of the July 1st promotions, going to the press conferences, and everyone knowing him, and people would ask about him at the demos.
Many many special memories, for a very special boy. Rest well buddy,
Christina
Even though there is a time for all creatures, big and small, to leave this place, it's hard to believe that Dexter is gone. He was always there...at demos, trials, fun matches, competitions, practices, and occasionally traipsing after Bayley's rear end. He was always there and I figured he always would be. He had such many endearing and eccentric traits including his signature move in flyball, a full three-sixty spin before launching his pint-sized body forward. It was just as amusing to watch his faithful friend, Deb, get out of the way with her own patented move, arms and legs flailing in every which direction like a Christmas shopper in a big rush. This past Tuesday was an emotional moment at the building when I got a chance to say a last goodbye to Dexter. Debbie then placed him in his crate and as if to say, "I've still got it", Dexter did a full spin, albeit a tad slower than his younger years. The words, thoughts and images of the journey on this site, capture so beautifully the relationship between Deb and Dexter. No wonder he was a happy, friendly, energetic, talented being. He came from such a loving home!
Bill S.
Yes, a very sad day. I didn't know Dexter very well, but he always was quite the charmer. I'll never forget the first demo I ever did with KAOS. It was for a Scouts group and Deb gave me the honor of being introduced with Dexter. Thanks for easing me in to the chaos that is KAOS with such a wonderful little dog. He will be missed.
With a tear in my eye,
Jamey
My heart goes out to you, Deb and family. Dexter was truly a one-of-a-kind, gentle soul - a sheltie gentleman. He had a wonderful life with you! He will be missed by so many people.
Susan Zivec
I can't really speak at length on demos or competitions or "fun matches". I don't know much about them. And all those letters beside his name? To be honest, I don't really know what all of them mean. But I do know that all of it has to do with him showing hundreds of other dogs how to be amazing family pets, and showing hundreds of other people what the perfect family dog looks like. And, more so than either of those things, he showed my mom how to follow her bliss. That's MY dog's legacy. Like so many he met, trained and/or entertained, I love dogs because of Dexter.
- Fraser
I am so sorry to hear about Dexter. My heart aches for you as I know how you love all animals and this must be hard. Dexter had a wonderful life with you as his best friend. I wish for you the fondest memories with your "path finding" companion.
Norma
There is no real way to explain the way a " heart " dog impact on our lives. I can only say how very sad I am to hear of this. In time you will see all the wonderful things that your beloved Dexter was. There likely will never be such a dog in your life again as they are so special. In time the heaviness in your heart will lift but you will be remembering the wonderful times you shared in making so many memories together as a team.
My deepest sympathy to you. My gang from Myshawns Wheatens will be there to play with Dexter and welcome him.
Margaret Stewardson
Myshawns Wheatens
Deb,
I know how much this little soul meant to you, and I share this loss with you. You two - what a team!
Enjoy your fond memories and have comfort in the knowledge you both had the greatest partner that either could wish for.
Maureen
Hi Deb
I was sorry to hear about Dexter. I know that every trip you have taken and every course that you ran with him recently, that you ran it with as much love and caring as anyone could have. He was a marvelous dog, this kindred spirit of yours. Such a great ambassador for the sheltie world, and one that I have admired for a long time in a whole variety of sports.
Take care,
Bev Benson
Deb
I'm so sorry to hear about Dexter. I know how much you loved him and how proud you were of him. Being just a little partial to shelties, I always loved coming out to demos and watching how he could just fly around a course, with that sheltie smile on his face.
Enjoy your fond memories of Dexter. He will be missed by many.
Debbie Len
Our thoughts are with you and Pat.
Dexter was a wonderful dog and will be sadly missed by all.
I have also recently helped our dog over the rainbow bridge, a very difficult thing to do. I at times find myself calling her name when its time to feed the other dogs. Poor Brock looks at me with those sad brown eyes. He seems to be having the hardest time of it compared to the other dogs.
I just read about this today Deb. I'm very sorry to hear of Dexter's passing. He was always a very neat dog and I always admired what you and Dex had together.
Darcey and crew
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