To me my heart dogs were dogs that had an uncanny sense of what i am thinking and feeling and i the same of them. As if we were on the same page, the same plane, there is something that is so different from the connection and love that i have for my other dogs. The hardest part is losing a heart dog for it feels as if a big chunk of your soul has been ripped away. I have been so blessed in having 4 dogs like this in my lifetime.
A heart dog, to me, is more that just a dog. It's a dog that walks around carrying your heart and his together. A dog that can look at you, and know you, inside and out, good and bad, and still manage to be the epitome of love. Not to say that they always feel love for you. My heart dog would look at me sometimes, and to borrow a phrase, the look in his eyes was not "love you" but the first word was four letters long.
I only had him for a short time unfortunately. And he was not a perfect dog by any means. We had to put him to sleep for severe child aggression. But when he was with me, he was, my soul, given form and four legs, and floppy ears, with beautiful eyes and the softest coat you can imagine.
I too, can still remember what he smelled like. And how my thumb would fit perfectly in the hollow behind his front paw. And I remember how he would look at me when I was being silly or dumb, and how I would just laugh, and say "You're right, let's do something else."
When I needed him, he was always there. Every time. He never ever let me down. And in the end, it was I who let him down. Even now, I think about the what if's and what might have beens. What if I'd been a better trainer, or worked harder? But that doesn't change the what happeneds. He was with me until my parents tore me out of the car and made me stay at home. I cried for a week straight after he was gone, and I wouldn't speak to anyone. It was really like someone had stolen the brightest part of my life.
Charlie was there for me at a time that I hadn't many friends. It was me and him, and we would have the best reunions after a hard day at school, and I would take a pack, and he would have his pack and we would just walk around for hours together. He never needed a leash, even as a young dog. He didn't have any desire to run off or leave me. He wanted to be where I was. And that was enough.
And every dog I looked at for years, never compared to him. And I didn't know if I'd ever own a dog like him again. It took me a long time to realize that he was a special dog. And that I may never have another special one like him, where we just click from the start, and commands (requests really, I never needed to command him to do anything, all I had to do was ask, and he would give his all) could be issued silently.
He never allowed any harm to come to me, even though he was a smaller dog, only 34 pounds. He was all heart. That's what makes him my heart dog.
I only had him for a short time unfortunately. And he was not a perfect dog by any means. We had to put him to sleep for severe child aggression. But when he was with me, he was, my soul, given form and four legs, and floppy ears, with beautiful eyes and the softest coat you can imagine.
I too, can still remember what he smelled like. And how my thumb would fit perfectly in the hollow behind his front paw. And I remember how he would look at me when I was being silly or dumb, and how I would just laugh, and say "You're right, let's do something else."
When I needed him, he was always there. Every time. He never ever let me down. And in the end, it was I who let him down. Even now, I think about the what if's and what might have beens. What if I'd been a better trainer, or worked harder? But that doesn't change the what happeneds. He was with me until my parents tore me out of the car and made me stay at home. I cried for a week straight after he was gone, and I wouldn't speak to anyone. It was really like someone had stolen the brightest part of my life.
Charlie was there for me at a time that I hadn't many friends. It was me and him, and we would have the best reunions after a hard day at school, and I would take a pack, and he would have his pack and we would just walk around for hours together. He never needed a leash, even as a young dog. He didn't have any desire to run off or leave me. He wanted to be where I was. And that was enough.
And every dog I looked at for years, never compared to him. And I didn't know if I'd ever own a dog like him again. It took me a long time to realize that he was a special dog. And that I may never have another special one like him, where we just click from the start, and commands (requests really, I never needed to command him to do anything, all I had to do was ask, and he would give his all) could be issued silently.
He never allowed any harm to come to me, even though he was a smaller dog, only 34 pounds. He was all heart. That's what makes him my heart dog.
Your furry soul mate. The one who saved you from yourself. Stood by your side when everyone else left you. Protects you when you need it. Your perfect friend. The one who accepts you no matter what you do and still loves you totally and completely and whose look never changes. He loves your child like she is his own even when hes not normally a total kid dog.
B
Thanks everyone. Some of your posts brought tears to my eyes.
I am missing my heart dog a lot right now. Lucky passed quite a while ago, but he was the best, most amazing dog I've ever known, and like many of you said, he saved me from myself.
((((((((((hugs))))))))) to everyone who contributed, and to those who still have something to add.
I am missing my heart dog a lot right now. Lucky passed quite a while ago, but he was the best, most amazing dog I've ever known, and like many of you said, he saved me from myself.
((((((((((hugs))))))))) to everyone who contributed, and to those who still have something to add.