In December 1995, a coworker named Randy approached me and asked me if I wanted a puppy. I replied that I would be equally enthusiastic about having a hole bored in my head. I had a cat and anyone who watched cartoons knows that dogs and cats don't mix. If I brought home a dog, they would be hitting each other with mallets and anvils or rigging explosives all over the house. The more I thought about it, the more the idea of having a dog started to appeal to me. Let's face it, cats are jerks. They are self centered, crude and barely qualify as domesticated. There were many nights I would wake up and feel the cat's devil eyes watching me while I slept. If you have a cat, you never have their complete loyalty. I liked the idea of having someone to watch my back if the cat ever became self aware. I also enjoyed being outdoors and cats are too independant to make good hiking partners. Over the next couple weeks I carefully weighed the pros and cons of getting a puppy and decided to take the plunge and get a dog.
Randy had an english springer spaniel named Toby, and his nephew had a labrador retriever named Princess. After a brief romantic encounter, they produced a litter of puppies that predominantly bore the markings of a springer. One oddball was mostly black. He was neither the runt nor the alpha of the litter. He was alert and curious. This is the dog I chose. I hadn't put much thought into naming him, Randy had called him Blackie but I figured as I got to know him, a name would present itself. When he was exactly 5 weeks old, I drove out to Randy's house after work and picked up my dog. I set him on the seat of my old pickup and climbed into the cab next to him. When I turned the key and the engine roared to life, my new puppy jumped. I looked down at him and said "Relax Link, it's OK." He looked back up at me and wagged his tail. He had a name.
Anyone who has ever had a Lab will tell you they are great dogs but for the first three years, they can be downright stupid. Springers tend to be very hyper. These two factors made Link's first few years a challenge. I took him with me everywhere and he developed into an obedient, faithful dog. He loved to go for walks, just saying the word would whip him into a frenzy. As time passed, the leash became more of a formality than a necessity. He liked to scout ahead a short distance, nose to the ground and tail in the air but he was always aware of where I was and checked in often. Life was good for us.
In the spring of 1999, I met Tina and she had a two year old son named Jon. Our life was about to change. Neither of us had spent much time around kids. Jon had not spent much time around dogs. Link's temperment proved to be well suited to living with a child. He was gentle and patient. It was around this time that he also made himself the official protector of the household, sounding the alarm at the first hint of a visitor. Sometimes he would bark if the neighbors had company or the crickets got too loud. No threat could penetrate his ever watchful vigilance. When Annie came along. Link became her reluctant playmate. There were times she would get too rough and he would bark and "fire a warning shot over her bow". All the time he got kicked, poked and stepped on, he never left a mark on her. I have seen her climb on him while he ate without as much as a growl.
Link is now approaching the twilight of his life. According to the experts, he's almost 60 in human years. He still loves to go for walks, just seeing one of the backpacks get filled gets him excited. If we take him out and run him around like he used to, he mopes around the house for the rest of the week. His hips bother him when he tries to do too much. Sometimes we have to leave him at home for his own good. He is by no means ready to be put out to pasture and has several good years ahead of him. When you add it all up, there is no other dog I would rather have.
Randy had an english springer spaniel named Toby, and his nephew had a labrador retriever named Princess. After a brief romantic encounter, they produced a litter of puppies that predominantly bore the markings of a springer. One oddball was mostly black. He was neither the runt nor the alpha of the litter. He was alert and curious. This is the dog I chose. I hadn't put much thought into naming him, Randy had called him Blackie but I figured as I got to know him, a name would present itself. When he was exactly 5 weeks old, I drove out to Randy's house after work and picked up my dog. I set him on the seat of my old pickup and climbed into the cab next to him. When I turned the key and the engine roared to life, my new puppy jumped. I looked down at him and said "Relax Link, it's OK." He looked back up at me and wagged his tail. He had a name.
Anyone who has ever had a Lab will tell you they are great dogs but for the first three years, they can be downright stupid. Springers tend to be very hyper. These two factors made Link's first few years a challenge. I took him with me everywhere and he developed into an obedient, faithful dog. He loved to go for walks, just saying the word would whip him into a frenzy. As time passed, the leash became more of a formality than a necessity. He liked to scout ahead a short distance, nose to the ground and tail in the air but he was always aware of where I was and checked in often. Life was good for us.
In the spring of 1999, I met Tina and she had a two year old son named Jon. Our life was about to change. Neither of us had spent much time around kids. Jon had not spent much time around dogs. Link's temperment proved to be well suited to living with a child. He was gentle and patient. It was around this time that he also made himself the official protector of the household, sounding the alarm at the first hint of a visitor. Sometimes he would bark if the neighbors had company or the crickets got too loud. No threat could penetrate his ever watchful vigilance. When Annie came along. Link became her reluctant playmate. There were times she would get too rough and he would bark and "fire a warning shot over her bow". All the time he got kicked, poked and stepped on, he never left a mark on her. I have seen her climb on him while he ate without as much as a growl.
Link is now approaching the twilight of his life. According to the experts, he's almost 60 in human years. He still loves to go for walks, just seeing one of the backpacks get filled gets him excited. If we take him out and run him around like he used to, he mopes around the house for the rest of the week. His hips bother him when he tries to do too much. Sometimes we have to leave him at home for his own good. He is by no means ready to be put out to pasture and has several good years ahead of him. When you add it all up, there is no other dog I would rather have.
2 comments:
I know that picture of Link. Stupid Neka. :) :)
Link is a good dog.
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