How do you find the right words to truely honor the best dog that you have ever owned?? That was Eddie. My once-in -a lifetime 12 year old Border Collie that on June 13, 2011 I had to make a very painful decision with one last act of love to end his suffering after he very clearly told me he was done :(
My life forever changed when Eddie made the decision for me that he was walking into it. I didnt really know anything about finding a responsible breederwhen I located an add in the newspaper about 3 Border Collies puppies available. When I called, there was only one male puppy left and he was 6 months old. First strike against him, but I decided that I would go meet him anyway. When I arrived at the home, well hog-farm, the breeder walked up to his building to bring the dogs down. When he returned 3 dogs were following, he said "There he is" I questioned the breeder "Which one??" and he told me it was the one in the middle. Well that one in the middle turned out to be my future 6 month old puppy taller then the 2 adults. Strike 2!!! But I would act interested, so I knelt down and Eddie walked up to me, put hios head on my shoulder and that was it :) he was mine. He made that decision clear!!
That decision turned out to be on of the best decisions I have ever made and started an incredible bond and future between the two of us. Eddie was never given a name as a puppy, had never rode in a car nor been in a house and what do I do, all three, yet he handled in all like a pro and within a month was totally loose in my house. I had never felt so safe with him around and knew that he would put himself between me and danger if needed.
We started our flyball training and WOW, that was interesting, Eddie was interested in chasing everything but me. Eventually he figured it all out and turned out to be an amazingly solid dog, running his first tournament clean. Eddie was well-known for running .5sec to the box and 2 sec back spending the rest of the time trying to do a box turn, if I only knew how to train a turn back then. Next came our agility training and that was just as entertaining. This time whenever I would release Eddie for sequencing, he thought you just ran straight ahead like flyball. It didnt take him long to realize that I was part of the picture, that we were a team and he soon excelled!! Even qualifying for USDAA nationals on a team when he was 2 years old!!.
When Eddie was 8 years old, I madethe decision to retire him from both venues. He was showing symptoms of crippling arthritis. I knew that it would quicken if Icontinued playing the sports, so instead he became a happy house dog. Enjoying time in the yard laying under the trees, watching the neighbors and going for swim time at the pond close by.
Every year his legs worsened, yet he was not ready to give up the fight. He moved slower and slower but was still such a happy boy. So our lives continued. Little did I know that he had his own little battle going on inside. On the Sat. before I woke up to diahhrea but didnt really think much of it, after all dogs are allowed to have that, he seemed fine otherwise and ate his food. Then Sunday he wouldnt eat, did I think that there was anything was wrong besides a upset belly?? So I gave him so meds for a upset belly and went to bed, little did I know that waking up the next morning would be the most devastating morning I would face. Eddie seemed to age 5 years overnight. His face was all sunk in, lips pulled back in pain, rapid-shallow breathing and when he came inside he staggered and fell into the cabinet. I immediately said his name and he turned and looked and very clearly told me what I didnt want to face, he was done.
