HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY DUSTY!!!

Here's one of my very favorite pictures of Dusty and I. He was just 5 years old at the time, and it was the 2000 Sheltie Nationals. That picture still brings a lump to my throat as it really says how I feel about him and his general demeanor is beautifully portrayed.

Dusty has a special place in my heart as he is the first dog I had, almost 20 years after the death of my childhood dog. I'd gone through a divorce and was a single mother and while my heart ached to have another pooch I knew I didn't have the time to be a good "mom". Once my daughter graduated high school and I purchased a townhome with a small back yard it was time. I learned a lot about getting a quality dog from a reputable breeder vs. just getting a pup from the local paper. And, I was VERY lucky to have found Dusty - serendipity was at work with the events that followed that led me to him. He was - and still is - the perfect Novice A dog for a green handler, he has always been cheerful, unflappable and never had a single training issue. Together we learned Obedience, Herding, Agility and Tracking together, all for the first time. I believe the soul of my childhood dog Sunny lives in Dusty as he has many of the same mannerisms. The story of how these two lives are intertwined is featured in the book "Tails from Beyond" . Here is the link: http://www.tailsfrombeyond.com/index.html

Because of Dusty, I've learned much more than how to train and show in the various venues - I've learned good sportsmanship, humility, patience, and a plethora of other life lessons. He truly brings meaning to the statement "Dear God, please let me be the person my dog thinks I am."

Happy Birthday, my Heart Dog!