Memories of Thorn

It is hard to believe Thorn was ever this tiny! In this photo, Thorn is six weeks old, lying next to our dog Hawk in the front yard. Thorn has a tiny red ball in his mouth. I recognize that mischevious look even at that age. For his whole life, Thorn carried something in his mouth at all times. For the last few years, it was a red kong bone.

The kong bone was supposed to be an outside toy, but sometimes, Thorn would sneak it into the house. We would hear squeak, squeak as he chewed on it, holding it between his paws. When he did choose to leave it outside, he would always put it down in the same spot, at the base of the deck stairs, and always looked back over his shoulder as if to say "OK, the bone is in the right spot to pick up next time!" He always found that bone, even when it got covered with snow - such a "tracking dog!"

Every morning, Thorn would have to find his big ball before going out to the back yard. All of the other dogs would be scrambling at the door, but Thorn was just a cool customer - looking for the ball first! He would bring it to the glass door and hold it with his head bowed a little as if he was trying to hide it to sneak it outside. Now and then, I would let him take it out, even though it was an inside toy. He would prowl around looking like a big lion with a prize in his mouth (as in the photo, attached.)

It has been very quiet here lately, because Thorn was our noisiest dog. He always barked twice -"yes, please!" for cookies. He had a great bark command and often, I would ask little kids to whisper in my ear how old they were. Then I would say "Let's see if Thorn can guess!" I would ask Thorn to bark, and he would bark continually until I said "Yes! That's it!" (cleverly stopping him at the right number). Kids were always amazed at how smart he was.

In his old age, Thorn got even more clever. When I was on the phone, he knew he could bark for cookies and would get them so I could talk in peace! When we watched TV, Thorn would sit in the kitchen and face his cookie jar - barking for the cookies to jump out and into his mouth. Often, when I worked in the kitchen, he would find a toy and TOSS it at me with a big wolfie grin on his face. I would feel the toy or feel his eyes on me - always happy and shining - and he would bark and sometimes STOMP his front foot - here is the toy! How about a cookie! Since Thorn didn't really have a lot of big tricks, I would sometimes ask him to toss me the ball, and then tell him "YOU are a TOP DOG! He liked that.

This series of photos shows Thorn demonstrating how to get a cookie in three easy steps!

There were times at bedtime, when he would have an idea, leave the room, and come back with his big ball. Now, it was funny enough that Thorn still believed he was the size of his head when he slept on the bed, but to bring up that big ball was too funny. Sometimes we would wake up in the morning with the ball between us, as if the ball was just too big, and Thorn had to leave. I look at that ball lying in the living room now, and think that even the big ball is lonely for Thorn (I picked it up and hugged it the other day, sob!).

All of the other dogs simply lined up with Thorn as their spokesdog. Now that Thorn is gone, I realize what a ringleader he really was, with so many endearing behaviours, always trying to connect, and yes, always for a cookie! He actually learned this from tracking, because I reward my dogs for indicating articles in the kitchen with a cookie - but Thorn realized he could take that to the next level, and trained me to do what HE liked! He always made me laugh and smile and I miss him so much. It is hard to believe that they won't always be there.

The dynamics here are changing. River pounced on Ted yesterday the way she used to play with Thorn! She caught Ted by surprise, and he didn't understand this "German Shepherd" method of rough and tumble. Later, I saw River moping on the bed, sighing and missing Thorn. I have been trying to get someone to bring a toy to the kitchen the way Thorn used to, but I suppose one constant in life is change, and I will have to look for new things to enjoy and laugh at with the dogs here now!

This photo of River and Thorn was taken in Christmas 2006, a much happier time! We miss you.

A piece of advice for everyone checking this out - TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES OF YOUR DOGS! I have spent the morning going through photos and am so happy that I took the time to take shots of things that sometimes seemed mundane and every day, and not just photos of my dogs in training or competition. Those moments often turn out to be the most important memories.

Ch. Lindau Spiritdance Blackthorn TD TT JHD HCT CGC St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog

and Best Friend

May 25, 1997 - December 25, 2007

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain

When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft starlight at night

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die

Thorn, you will live on in our hearts.

Thank you to everyone for the poems and kind words and emails. They help make Thorn's passing easier and more memorable.