THE DOG OF MY HEART - An English Springer Spaniel

JUST MY DOG

She's just my dog.
She is my other eyes that can see above the clouds;
My other ears that hear above the winds.
She is the part of me that can reach out into the sea.

She has told me a thousand times over that I am her reason for being.
By the way she rests against my leg.
By the way she wags her tail at my smallest smile.
By the way she shows her hurt when I leave without taking her. ( I think it makes her sick with worry when she is not along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, she is delighted to forgive me.
When I am angry, she clowns to make me smile.
When I am happy, she is joy unbounded.
When I am a fool, she ignores it.
When I succeed, she brags.

Without her, I am only another woman.
With her, I am all-powerful.....and complete.
She has taught me the meaning of love and devotion.
She is loyalty itself.

With her, I know a secret comfort and a private peace.
She has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.
Her head on my knee can heal my human hurts.
Her presesence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things.

She has promised to wait for me......Whenever......Wherever.
In case I need her.
And I expect I will - as I always have.
She is my dog.

Author Unknown

Well girl....what do I think of first when I think of you?
I say this with a huge smile, but probably your absolute devotion to food stands out in my mind the most. I often joked you were a typical English Springer Spaniel.....a stomach covered in hair.....just another eating machine. Once we discovered that you would do anything for a treat life with you became a snap. Well almost!

When you came to us from a home that just was not working for you there was a lot you had to learn and at 11 months old that can be a daunting task. And the fact that you were very strong willed and super intelligent made the task almost unbelievable. At first I was very worried if I could win your love, and win you over. Thank God, He made you a chow hound. So at first you learned to behave for a biscuit, or bone....later you did it to please us. But you never lost your desire for food, no matter how much you loved us or how well you behaved for just a "good girl", you always were over joyed to be rewarded with a snack.

Next I remember your special greetings. You reserved them for anyone returning home. My God....the first time you turned yourself inside out after we returned I thought you had gone crazy in our absense. I learned quickly to open the door and rush outside with you so you could circle the yard barking at break neck speed announcing to the world that we had "THANK GOD" finally returned! And extra special was your greeting for Jess and Joellen (our daughters).....your special friends. Yipping and crying you were never happy until they got down on the floor with you so you could crawl in their laps and flop over for a belly rub. That greeting was reserved for them and them only.....even when you hadn't seen them in a year.

And then I remember our walks. I used to wonder who was walking who though. Sometimes I would hide on you hoping to teach you a lesson about paying attention. Fortunately you had a terrific nose so I rarely stayed hidden for long....but that little trick never really worked with you. It didn't teach you to pay better attention or stay closer (there were so many interesting things out there!), in fact I think you wanted to turn it into a game instead of a lesson. So we took to carrying a stick or ball and tossing it along the way. Sometimes I'd come home with an aching arm, but we had fun, didn't we? I'll miss those walks probably the most. The maple trees changing color along our path will be lonely blazes of color without you this Fall.

And I bet the geese down in the pond will become totally unruly without you to keep them away. And Oh My God.....who is going to keep the squirrels away from the bird feeders or the turkeys from coming up the hill and attacking the house? I am counting on you to keep watch, Morgan. And I know you will.

I am missing you my fine furred friend.....your soft fur and your gently pokes when you knew I needed a break from working. I am missing you............. so much. But I have these pictures of you..... carrying your favorite toy, the frizbee......coming to me down our worn path. You are up on the edge of the garden now, keeping watch and I visit you everyday so you won't feel lonely. I hear you at night beside me on the bed.....just a gentle sigh. I loved you so much girl and I know Dad does too and misses you just as much as I do. You taught him about love and devotion and loyalty......you taught us all. Thank you.

This stunning gentleman is "Colours"....Morgan's Daddy. He is so named for his fantastic TRI coloring....in this case, liver-tan and white, which Morgan inherited from him. His AKC registered name is Hillcrest Namtn Kocr Colours and he holds AKC championship and achievement titles in Bench, Field, Obedience and Agility. He is truely an outstanding dog and an excellent example of the breed. Gentle, intelligent, birdy, and loving and bred by a wonderful lady, Henriette Schmidt - Hillcrest English Springer Spaniels - Brookfield, Wisconsin. I am showing you Colours as just one fine example of the dogs that Henriette has raised and bred. There are so many other fine examples.

Henriette is THE champion for the English Springer Spaniel breed. She has worked all her life for improvement of the breed here in the United States. She believes that Springers should be physically close to the American Kennel Club standard with sound hips, eyes and elbows. She is an advocate for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and all her breeding stock is certified. She has shipped breeding stock direct from England to help improve our American bred Springers....in fact Morgan was 25% English Show Champion stock in her background. Henriette believes that the true Springer is a versatile dog that can and should be equally good in the field and in the obedience ring. Hundreds of her puppies around the United States are testaments to the success of her breeding program. Jim and I are honored to know her and to have given homes to several of her dogs......but Morgan was extra special. This lens is as much a "Thank You" to this fine lady for her work to preserve the true character of the English Springer Spaniel as it is to Morgan's memory. The heritage of the English Springer Spaniel is much better for the likes of Breeders of Henriette's ilk. We honor you Henriette for your devotion and love of the breed.

Thank you all who have read this far. I would love to hear stories about your dogs too so please be sure to sign my guest book and consider giving your furbaby a lens on Squidoo too. It has helped me a lot to share Morgan's memories with you. And I wish everyone a friend like she was to me. It's been a rough couple days for my husband and myself and we need some time to grieve. But I know Morgan is waiting for us somewhere across the bridge. I hope you enjoy these last pictures of her. They are my favorites. Be sure to hug your dog tonight and give him or her an extra treat in honor of Morgan. And remember " All Dogs Go To Heaven" so make sure you get there too. :-)

Last but not least: What Morgan wants me to remember today.......

Mogan I am sure is happy to know that there is another Springer sharing our home with us now. It is so fitting that this new little lady is a close relative of Morgan's and comes to us because her owner loved her so much that she had to part with her. I don't consider it parting however......but instead sharing, because she will always be loved by this wonderful lady and we will see to it that they stay in touch and have time together.


Her name is Subtle and she is actually a half sister to Morgan from the same lovely gentleman, Colours, pictured above. She was Henriette Schmidt's personal dog, and when her Dad, Colours, left for the Bridge she decided she was now in charge of all the dogs, but apparently hadn't mastered his benign leadership skills, and ruffled the feathers of the other girls. So out of love for her, Henriette needed to find Subtle a house with no challengers, and it was just about that time that we decided to begin our search for another dog. So in December, just before Christmas, Subtle came to live with us.

In a couple of weeks it will be one year since Morgan left us for the bridge. Our hearts will always be sad, but Subtle has done much to help ease the pain of Morgan's loss. Subtle is seven years old and is wise, intelligent, kind and oh so loving. You can see it in her pictures.

And she is teaching us much about hunting, agility, and obedience.......we have to catch up with her in these areas as she is the holder of several AKC titles like her Daddy, including CD (Companion Dog), RA (Rally Advanced), AX (Agility Excellent), AXJ (Agility Excellent Jumper, and JH (Junior Hunter). We are currently, with the much needed help of Henrientte, working on her SH (Senior Hunter) title. Henriette will be handling her while we observe and learn, which I believe is good for all of us. And though Subtle knows she lives with us now, it gives the two of them important, quality, fun time together again.

Subtle loves to hunt with all her heart and she is all ready to go for that title. All we have to do is rise to her level, which believe me is a challenge! But more important, we are so blessed to have another wonderful Springer to share our home with......and it is not so lonely here anymore.

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