In 1998, at a party I met a poodle named Joe. He came right up to me, but as soon as he met me he left to check out other fun things. One of his humans, they were his, he took care of them, was unstable on her feet. As the party progessed, I was struck by Joe's attentiveness. As she walked, and especially as she went up and down stairs, he, HAD TO, accompany her, with her hand on his head. He never missed. I thought, I want to be loved like that. I have to have a dog that would be mine,that would be attentive to other people, assertive without aggression. I was already impressed, but I had to leave and I momentarily forgot about Joe. The next year I went to another party at the same house. When I came in the front door, Joe was there to inspect who was coming into "HIS" house. When he saw me he was so happy to see me. I was so touched, it was better than any of the humans who greeted me, and they had known me for 20 plus years. Later one fellow at the party, was being to rough with Joe, and you could tell it wasn't going over very well. Joe would stay out of his way, but his facial expression embodied annoyment, without any agression. I came between the silly man and the regal dog several times just with conversation. Joe was so grateful. Later the couple remarked that I was the only person they had ever seen Joe engage with so closely. I was so thunderstruck. Right then and there I resolved to find a dog like that. I found a breeder that had a litter of puppies soon to be born that Joe was basically the grand uncle to. I shelled out the $1000.00 and met the love of my life. I named him Knikkie after my favorite appaloosa stallion, (deceased) From 8 weeks old on, he is the smartest dog, I have ever had. (15 previous amazing dogs, 5 shelties, 2 dobermans,1 chow, 2 border collies, 2 longhaired collies,1 teacup poodle, hardly like the standards I have since met, intelligent and quick, but very aggressive, and 2 boxers, sisters that couldn't bear being separated, so their owners gave them to me cause they loved my shelties. Knikkie had a sheltie, a doberman, and a chow to grow up with. The sheltie was timid, the dobie and the chow were aggressive, but Knikkie as a puppy protected the sheltie, and stood up to the old girls without any aggression, and never any fights. I have never been so blessed. He knows what I'm going to do before I know what I'm doing. He's 10 years old now and I'm already afraid of the hole that will be left in my life when he leaves. he has silly humor, regal composure, calmness, tasmanian devil spinning ability, pogo stick bouncing ability, and the most fun you can have with clippers. My living topiary. I wish I was so photogenic. Someday I'll have a picture with him that shows me in almost as good of light as the poodle that has made my life so much better. Thanks, Linda Kearns.
Apr 24, 2010 Rating
Super Dog! by: camge
Wow! what a wonderful story. God Bless you for caring about this great little guy!
