I met Dave in the summer of 1997 in a small town called Manzanola Colorado. He was 6 weeks old when he stumbled up to me. Although, I had already picked another Border Collie from the litter 2 weeks prior this little puppy would not leave me alone. I asked the breeders if I could take him instead. The Breeders looked at each other in shock since the pup I had picked out prior had perfect markings and traits and the playful puppy that would not leave me alone was far from ideal. You see, Dave was born with a massive overbite and was a split embryo so his markings were only on half his body. The breeders happily agreed. Although he was very young Dave almost immediately learned his name. He was fully house broken within a few weeks.
His overbite became one of his best traits most of the time it looked like he was sticking his tongue out at you.
I spent every moment I could while raising Dave. I started noticing his incredible intelligence when he was still a puppy.
(One of my favorite stories that highlights is intelligence) When Dave was only a few months old I kept finding my socks all over the house I kept figuring he was getting them out of the laundry and although I kept telling him "bad" the socks kept appearing on the floor. One day I was in the bedroom's bathroom with the door cracked and I heard the bedroom door open, curious, I peeked out. I watched in awe as young Dave walked in, walked to the dresser and pulled open the sock drawer. What happened next was devious. He retrieved a bundle of socks, laid them on the floor and closed the drawer... I was stunned, he knew it was bad, and how to cover his tracks. To this day I still get chills when I think of it.
Soon, I had to move back home. Dave came with me. Dave found my parents house, home. Shortly after when I got a new place Dave came to see it, instantly he realized the 700 sq. ft. ranch with no AC was no place for him. I understood.
Dave and my Father had already began to bond. Plus my Dad was able to spend twice the time with him that I ever could. My Dad took Dave everywhere with him. The enjoyed getting lunch at the local burger joint, and ice cream on special and not so special occasions. Dave stayed by my Dads side as he recovered from heart surgery a few years ago.
Another odd trait that some dogs have but not many is, and everyone knows that ever met Dave, is Dave loved watching television. At first it seemed as if he was attracted to the motion but as my Mom and Dad can confirm is Dave would recognize certain programs, commercials or parts of movies and run from other rooms to sit and watch. His favorites were "Finding Forester" and "Notting Hill". He loved sports too. Tennis was fascinating to him, basketball and football too. During football games Dave would mull around during the huddle and as the players would get to the line, Dave would sit intensely and as the players hiked the ball Dave would spring up and run around and grab a toy as if he were playing. This process would repeat throughout the game. Dave was such a sports fan it was hard to find him without his basketball which he would push around the house.
Soon, I had to move back home. Dave came with me. Dave found my parents house, home. Shortly after when I got a new place Dave came to see it, instantly he realized the 700 sq. ft. ranch with no AC was no place for him. I understood.
My parents neighbors all knew Dave because everyday the two of them would sit in front of the house. Dave would never be on a leash but would never leave the confines of the front yard regardless of passing dogs, passing people, playing children or anything out of the normal.
Over the past few days, Dave's energy began to deplete. We learned yesterday that his body was riddled with tumors that were constricting his heart and liver. We decided the best thing for him was to put him down peacefully. Dave the wonder dog died in my arms on this day, 01-22-10 at 11:11 am. Dave was more than a dog he was an anomaly, a prodigy, he was my family, he was my hero and one of my greatest friends.
I will miss him always, and love him forever.
His overbite became one of his best traits most of the time it looked like he was sticking his tongue out at you.
I spent every moment I could while raising Dave. I started noticing his incredible intelligence when he was still a puppy.
(One of my favorite stories that highlights is intelligence) When Dave was only a few months old I kept finding my socks all over the house I kept figuring he was getting them out of the laundry and although I kept telling him "bad" the socks kept appearing on the floor. One day I was in the bedroom's bathroom with the door cracked and I heard the bedroom door open, curious, I peeked out. I watched in awe as young Dave walked in, walked to the dresser and pulled open the sock drawer. What happened next was devious. He retrieved a bundle of socks, laid them on the floor and closed the drawer... I was stunned, he knew it was bad, and how to cover his tracks. To this day I still get chills when I think of it.
Soon, I had to move back home. Dave came with me. Dave found my parents house, home. Shortly after when I got a new place Dave came to see it, instantly he realized the 700 sq. ft. ranch with no AC was no place for him. I understood.
Dave and my Father had already began to bond. Plus my Dad was able to spend twice the time with him that I ever could. My Dad took Dave everywhere with him. The enjoyed getting lunch at the local burger joint, and ice cream on special and not so special occasions. Dave stayed by my Dads side as he recovered from heart surgery a few years ago.
Another odd trait that some dogs have but not many is, and everyone knows that ever met Dave, is Dave loved watching television. At first it seemed as if he was attracted to the motion but as my Mom and Dad can confirm is Dave would recognize certain programs, commercials or parts of movies and run from other rooms to sit and watch. His favorites were "Finding Forester" and "Notting Hill". He loved sports too. Tennis was fascinating to him, basketball and football too. During football games Dave would mull around during the huddle and as the players would get to the line, Dave would sit intensely and as the players hiked the ball Dave would spring up and run around and grab a toy as if he were playing. This process would repeat throughout the game. Dave was such a sports fan it was hard to find him without his basketball which he would push around the house.
Soon, I had to move back home. Dave came with me. Dave found my parents house, home. Shortly after when I got a new place Dave came to see it, instantly he realized the 700 sq. ft. ranch with no AC was no place for him. I understood.
My parents neighbors all knew Dave because everyday the two of them would sit in front of the house. Dave would never be on a leash but would never leave the confines of the front yard regardless of passing dogs, passing people, playing children or anything out of the normal.
Over the past few days, Dave's energy began to deplete. We learned yesterday that his body was riddled with tumors that were constricting his heart and liver. We decided the best thing for him was to put him down peacefully. Dave the wonder dog died in my arms on this day, 01-22-10 at 11:11 am. Dave was more than a dog he was an anomaly, a prodigy, he was my family, he was my hero and one of my greatest friends.
I will miss him always, and love him forever.
