This is Shadow. She's our super Border Collie. When we got Shadow she was 4 months old, didn't know how to walk up or down stairs. Was afraid of putting her feet in the grass or on the carpet. If I raised my voice, to anyone at all, she would pee right on the spot. It took us almost 8 months to help her overcome her panic of loud noises. The first night we had her home, she was so terrified and whined whenever the lights went out I ended up sleeping on the floor next to her so she wouldn't freak.
Now? Now, at 10 years old she is the sweetest, most loving dog in the world. As long as you are not another animal (see groundhog posts). She really hates other animals, including her own daughter. Well, maybe not hates, but display clear apathy for her presence. The only relationship they have is the one where Shadow shows her dominance with a few growls and periodic snarls for emphasis and Thunder stays out of her way, because it's just safer that way.
Shadow has some issues, which make her all the more special in our house. She hates it when people she doesn't know reach over her head to rub the top of her head and ears. Her body goes completely still and she gets that intent look in her eyes that means if you move one inch she'll rip you to shreds with no regret and she rumbles a bit in the chest. We warn everyone that comes in the house that they should never ever touch her there. She's allowed her space. She doesn't like to cuddle when she sleeps. As a matter of fact, she doesn't like to be touched when she sleeps. That action elicits some serious grumbling from her and a relocation of her body, where she can't be touched by annoying humans.
We came home one day and Shadow had eaten 3 pieces of a 5 piece sectional sofa. Eaten, not just ripped and tossed about. I think she shit foam for a month. We had a long talk about furniture destruction and why it's completely not acceptable behavior and she looked up at me with those adoring serious brown eyes which made me I decide that I really couldn't drop her off at the shelter for bad miserable dogs that eat couches. She doesn't like the camera so much for some reason. Whenever she sees it pointed in her direction, her ears go down and she turns away. It makes it difficult getting some great face shots. We respect her phobia's as she's come so far.
She's obsessed with anything that flies through the air that she might be able to catch. If she even thinks you might throw an object that is in your hand, she locks her eyes on it (the face in the picture) and intensely stares at it until it gets thrown, and then she handily snatches it from the air or you put it down clearly indicating it won't be in the air. In most cases, she's so intent on the possibility that the item in question might get thrown that she drools some.
She herds the kids in the backyard when they go out to play. If there is a soccer ball in the activity and it gets tossed her way, chances are she'll bounce it right back to you. She likes to lay at our feet and get foot rubs all over her chest and head. If she doesn't know you, don't try this as you might not have all of your toes when you are done.
There is one thing Shadow loves to do for hours and that is catch water shooting out of a hose. Any hose. She used to leap ass over head to catch the arching water. Jump to grab a stream shot over her head. Stalk the sprinkler and then growl and attack it when the spray came back around. She doesn't jump as much now with the arthritis but she'll still attack and swallow water from the hose as long as someone stands there and sprays it at her. And then she'll have to pee every hour on the hour because she drank so much of it. This applied to snow shovelling as well. It makes it so much fun to shovel snow that I like to do it.
Shadow sleeps on a soft bed located next to my side of the bed and if I accidentally nudge her with my toes when I come in to bed, she grumbles at me like a cranky old fart for disturbing her sleep.
These days Shadow is a bit slower. She has terrible arthritis in her legs and hips. She also has mammary tumors. We've decided not to treat her with ridiculous medicine as she's still very playful, alert and active. She'll continue to get love, play and snacks until she tells us otherwise. I just thought everyone should know what a damn wonderful dog she is.
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