Talli Dog

This is my Talli dog. 

This is her story.

We'd always had a dog but she was the first that was MY dog.  She came to be mine Christmas Eve of 2001 as a 4 month old sweet faced puppy.  I call her mine but she was shared by many.  First, with my grandparents as they harbored the surprise.  Then, the rest of my family as we thought about a name.  Finally, my parents when I went off to school.  She was Dad's constant companion to do chores and in the truck. She was mine on long walks and time on the couch.  She was mom's outside in the garden and under the cutting board.  She was mine but she was everyone's.  She didn't often have a favorite but we shared her as ours.      

 

 She was easy to train but I think the words she learned fastest were "walk," "truck," or "treat."  She learned fast her areas of the house - mudroom, kitchen, and the old brown chair.  She liked to test her limits with two paws on the stairs or a sleep spot by the chair.  She always seemed to inch her way further onto the forbidden spots and it was oh so hard to turn down those begging brown eyes.  It wasn't her fault she just always wanted to be near.   She was so smart we taught her a few special tricks like balancing treats on her nose or playing dead on the floor.  I always imagined that she was humoring us as we tried to show off to friends.

 She was an excellent mother two different times. Her puppies were the joy and highlight of that time in our lives.  She licked and loved them over and over but never was suspicious of strangers or cross state adventures.  

 We know they all grew up with her sweet disposition and love of people both big and small. It was a riot to see them all come when I called.












Mostly, she wanted to be where the people are.  She begged with her eyes and never a whine.  It was amazing how patiently she would wait her turn and her time.

She was quiet and sweet.  She seemed to hate to speak.  We could coax her into it with growl or a treat.  She always aimed to please and was hardly demanding.  She nosed for a hand and a scratch but never to go out or to eat.  She never liked to snoop or get in the trash.  She stuck to her toys, bones, and the occasional kleenex when one dropped within reach.  She played fetch for awhile but never very long unless there was water involved and then she would go on and on.  She seemed to always know when a big trip was in store and rode quite perfect, quiet on the floor.  For us and our family, she was just the right fit.  We couldn't have had a better dog to have by our sides, under our hands, and next to us in the seat.  

 It's going to be strange not to come home to her next time.  It's hard not to imagine no dog in my life.  No one to share my walk or seat on the couch.  She'll never be replaced, always remembered, and forever loved.  Someday, I'll have a new dog but it will always be compared to my Talli dog.  She'll always be there with me on walks, when I see a puppy, or have to give the floor an extra sweep.  "Talli" means lamb and our Talli dog was sweetly perfect and perfectly sweet - Always and Forever.