Spring has Sprung on the Dog Farm

So I will start off by apologizing for such a long block of time in between updates. I have no real excuse except I have been busy with life and all of it's complexities. News on the Dog Farm? Well, Rebel turned 7 years old on February 5, 2011. Seems like only yesterday he was that crazy little bundle of energy that had needle sharp teeth and no end to his puppy terror! When they come in to our lives we never think about the short time they actually have with us. I'm not burying my pup yet just sort of noticing that he doesn't have so much crazy dog go as he once did. The other day I was observing with a smile the birds on the deck eating seeds that had fallen practically on his snout while he lay there dead to the world soaking up the sun. There was a time when the birds didn't come to our feeder for fear of the huge monster that nearly got one every day!  Now they mock him.

     We have been together so long that we no longer need words to communicate, and he often finishes my thoughts! Hell, if he had thumbs he would be the one writing this damn blog entry!

I have been very fortunate in my life to have shared it with so many excellent dog friends. I never forget that.

I can't imagine what it must be like to live a life that never knew what the love and companionship of a good dog felt like. I shudder to think of it.

I must be rich in that I have not just one but 3 1/2 good dogs to have and to hold!

But of all of the dogs, this one is special because he is so much a part of me and who I am. He has been there through it all and never ever did he hesitate to walk beside me even when the outlook was grim, Rebel remained loyal and I know he is committed to our journey with everything he's got.

I reminisce about the stuff we have accomplished like dog school! Boy was that an experience! All the while my smart boy humoring us as we went round and round with all the other dogs, doing dumb dog stuff!

September Morn was our instructor and she called him "Teacher's Pet" because he was so calm so lay ed back.

I think about all the times he would come to me and just be there when my world was upside down, gently distracting me and using his big dog heart to sooth my sadness and my pain. I could never repay him for all the times he made me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry! I was never alone because he was always there.

If I could ask him just one question, it would be, "How did I do?"

I look forward to many more birthdays with Rebel.