Happenings

photo credit: tedkerwin

Where exactly did I go wrong in training my dog? Why does my German Shepherd Timber believe that he is king of the Hulburt household? I’m not really sure where this holier-than-thou attitude originated from, or whether I even perpetuated it or not…however Timbers seems to truly believe that he reigns superior over his castle. This mind set was never more evident than one cold winter night when Mr. Hulburt had arrived home late from work.

Earlier that evening the kids and I had snuggled into bed together to keep warm. Unable to resist the temptation of snuggling up against our toasty warm bodies, Timber lept stealthily up onto the bed to lay down with us. However, Timber is not the typical dog who would be content to curl up at our feet. No, no, no…that simply would not do! Timber felt that he deserved a pillow and blankie too. So, he sauntered up to the head of the bed where he promptly pawed the covers until he had the perfect place to lay down. Upon plopping down onto his side, he gently laid his head down on the pillow with a hefty sigh. (I suppose I didn’t help the situation much when I reached over and covered him up with the blanket).

So there we lay-snoring and snoozing-Timber and I sleeping soundly on the edges of the bed with the kids nestled safely between us. When Mr. Hulburt arrived home late that night he was tired and wanted nothing more than to climb into bed. So he quietly began to shake Timber in an effort to wake him and make him move. No luck! So he shook a little harder and angrily whispered “Timber! Let’s Go! Get down!” A gesture that was met with a deep growl from Timber, who raised his head and glared deeply into my husband’s eyes as if to say, “Do you mind? I’m trying to sleep here!” The deep throated rumbling growl was enought to shock Mr. Hulburt who quickly turned and stomped out of the room to sleep on the couch.

And Timber? Well, he calmly lowered his head back onto the pillow and drifted back into doggy dreamland for the rest of the night. At that moment, he must have surely believed himself to be King of the Castle. But isn’t that how a dog is supposed to feel?

This week’s post is written on a sad note for me. I was told tonight that my parents will be taking their 14 year old German Shepherd, Shadow, to the vet in the morning. It is time to say goodbye. Her old body has given way and no medicine can take away her pain any longer. It is time to say goodbye…

Shadow came to live with them when she was about 4 months old in November of 1994. True to her name, she was always following my mom around…her little Shadow. Over the years Shadow played an integral part in all of our lives. She was my mom’s baby (and a spoiled baby she was!), she was Timber’s “sister” (teaching him right from wrong…and yes-even getting him in trouble some when they were young), she was Sophie’s teacher (let’s just say that Sophie needed SOMEONE to teach her that she wasn’t top dog in every household) and she was our third dog (even though she only lived with us when my parents went on vacation-our home was her 2nd home…and she knew it too). When she came to stay with us, she became my shadow. She slept at the foot our my bed each night, and followed me everywhere I went even if I was only stepping out of the room for a minute. She had a favorite spot where she liked to lay-right between the dining room table and front window. From this position she had the perfect view of the street…and the kitchen to see anybody who came into the house. I suppose on some level she was also remembering all of those Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners where many tasty morsels fell from the table to the floor (compliments of Carrie & Christopher) which she promptly scarfed up and was hoping that there would be more if she waited there long enough. She was such a sweet dog, sweeter than you could ever imagine. Her giant chocolate brown eyes were windows to the love that she held in her heart for each and every one of us. She especially loved the kids. They too spoiled her and took great care of their Grandmommy & Grandaddy’s dog. They even went so far as to spoon feed her when she refused to eat (okay…as an old dog she had a few little personality quirks that we had to find some creative solutions too)

It feels strange to be typing the word “was”…I know she is still here in body…at least for now…but I also know that she is not the Shadow I know and love right now. Right now she is hurting, not happy and playful. Right now she is in pain and it is time to say goodbye. I know that this decision, as heart wrenching as it is for my parents is the right one. I know that Shadow will now be free from the body that has failed her and given her grief. She will be waiting for us in Dog Heaven, and will be greated by our other canine friends. Shogun, Shaira, Sama, Shiloh, Tigger, Blue, and Lobo…please take care of my Shadow.

Goodbye Shadow. We will see you in our dreams and hearts…forever.