Who would have known that in just a short amount of time, our dog, Klink, would have gone from a small pup to a senior dog.
Where have the day's gone when her energy level has gone from chasing every thing that moved in the back yard, to laying contently in the sun and watching the world move around her.
Klink is our family pet and has been a part of us for the past eleven years.
She was purchased from our local paper advertising border collie puppies for a small fee.
When we went as a family out to view the puppies, we were guaranteed that "these are not a barking animal".
My husband and I along with our two boys drove the hour distance and discussed what requirements we had regarding our new pet.
She had to be female, have good markings, appear healthy and have personality to herself.
The man who was advertising the puppies ran a rodeo business who supplied all the bulls for local venue's in the pacific northwest.
He was informative about the parents, and stated that both of them were "working dogs" but he was not exactly sure where the father was at the time.
That should have been a red flag right off the bat.
But of course, we were excited to finally be getting a puppy.
The four of us spent time in the barn playing with all the pups and made a decision on the one that was to become a fifth member of our family.
Knowing that our new pup was again guaranteed not to be a barking dog and also that she was a boarder collie who had a high level of intelligence, we were good to go.
My husband went to pay the man for our purchase and did not have the correct bills to total his asking price.
He freely offered this pup to us at a discounted price and we were on our way.
Life with a pup was more demanding than any of us had anticipated.
My boys were ages 4 and 7 so there was plenty of energy and time to be spent working and training this new addition to our family.
In retrospect, I am thankful that we had waited to purchase a dog so that I would have the time to invest in Klink's training.
Our boarder collie had all the markings and temperament of a red healer boarder collie mix.
This said, I can now understand her need to "herd" my boys and every bird that entered our yard.
She loves to chase cars from a safe distance inside our fenced yard.
She is overly protective off my boys from anyone that she feels may threatened them.
This is when the decision was made by my husband that it is in her best interest to enroll in obedience training and I was the chosen one to attend classes with her.
Many people have different opinions on what is acceptable forms of training and what is not.
I attended the first set of classes with a very strict instructor who taught only straight forward commands and expected our pups to abide by them.
With learning the proper commands and working with Klink, she graduated with honors.
Anytime I put on her "choke chain" she behaved as a perfect pet.
When the collar came off, life was back to total chaos.
She has tried my patience beyond words.
For a pet who has such a high intelligence, there are times when she has been to bright for her own good.
Klink has been a high maintenance dog from the day we brought her home.
She can climb fences, open doors, sneak up on the leather furniture to take naps and appear to be sound asleep on her bed when we enter the room.
Only signs of her impression on the couch are a dead give away as to where the majority of her napping has taken place.
Little did we know that this non barking dog, loves to bark at every movement that catches her eye.
No command given will stop her of this.
She loves to bark! It is a part of her from the moment she was born.
It will continue until that day that Klink is no longer with us.
My little pup now is slightly overweight, a touch deaf and has slowed down tremendously in the past three years.
She no longer can jump off the back of the boat into the lake and swim with the boys.
As much as she loves the water, the chore of pulling her back up into the boat is just to much for her aching bones.
She prefers to sleep in until nine o'clock every morning instead of getting up to be a part of our morning rituals.
Klink will lazily lay anywhere in the house where we happen to be.
She is a wonderful dog who is delay loved by all of us.
One son has grown up and moved out on his own to return during evening meal time three times a week.
When his whistle is heard by her, announcing his arrival, Klink will perk up and greet him with the enthusiasm that I once saw as a pup.
This is the most energy I see Klink put forth during her days.
The bond between my son's and their dog has been priceless.
Lessons have been learned regarding responsibility, patience, nurturing and unconditional love.
Each of my son's talk of someday having a dog of their own.
Again, I ask, where has the time gone? How can my furry friend be gray around the face, walk with a limp and prefer to lay and watch the world go by? What happened to all the energy that she was blessed with as a pup? The one thing that has not changed is the fact that "she is a barking dog" and will be until the day that she passes.
We have been truly blessed as a family by having decided to include this four legged addition so many years ago.
Long live Klink!