Yesterday we said “farewell” to Sneakers. She didn’t quite make fifteen years old, but she gave it a good shot and had a blast along the way.
She was a queen from day one. Her early life and show career were spectacular, and she let it go right to her head. When she pranced into a show ring, the world revolved around her and she knew it, and everything was as it should be. With a gesture from a handler, she would go into a show stack and that was all it took to bring home a ribbon or trophy. Her litter of puppies produced several other top show winners, continuing her winning streak.
After she retired from her career, she set about changing life around the house. She ruled, period. The fact that she battled Liz many times showed where she thought she belonged in the pecking order.
Her other side was somewhat unexpected, rather unlike a queen. She loved to roll in the dirt and grass; she would come in covered in dust, mud, and green stripes. More than once, she would go to each single fence board and push against it to see if it would give; not that she wanted out, just to know which one to push, just in case. She shredded papers and tissues and left them in the other dog’s bed so he’d get the blame. She’d jump up to rip pears off the pear tree. And her passion for tomatoes still gets Liz worked up (tomatoes were always tastier if stolen off the counter).
I don’t think I will ever be able to open a bottle of beer without looking around to see her waiting at her bowl for her “taste”. But, I think we’ll miss our “little girl” most when watching a movie, when she’d curl up on my lap, covered with her quilt, and put her head on my shoulder and nap, breathing quietly in my ear.
So long Sneakers; we’ll see you someday…give Ditto our love.
She was a queen from day one. Her early life and show career were spectacular, and she let it go right to her head. When she pranced into a show ring, the world revolved around her and she knew it, and everything was as it should be. With a gesture from a handler, she would go into a show stack and that was all it took to bring home a ribbon or trophy. Her litter of puppies produced several other top show winners, continuing her winning streak.
After she retired from her career, she set about changing life around the house. She ruled, period. The fact that she battled Liz many times showed where she thought she belonged in the pecking order.
Her other side was somewhat unexpected, rather unlike a queen. She loved to roll in the dirt and grass; she would come in covered in dust, mud, and green stripes. More than once, she would go to each single fence board and push against it to see if it would give; not that she wanted out, just to know which one to push, just in case. She shredded papers and tissues and left them in the other dog’s bed so he’d get the blame. She’d jump up to rip pears off the pear tree. And her passion for tomatoes still gets Liz worked up (tomatoes were always tastier if stolen off the counter).
I don’t think I will ever be able to open a bottle of beer without looking around to see her waiting at her bowl for her “taste”. But, I think we’ll miss our “little girl” most when watching a movie, when she’d curl up on my lap, covered with her quilt, and put her head on my shoulder and nap, breathing quietly in my ear.
So long Sneakers; we’ll see you someday…give Ditto our love.
* Note: this post was written by Stephen
