I was sitting down outside having coffee this morning. It was a beautiful day in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Sundays are usually our day to take it a little easier, at least for a few hours in the morning. Our time to while the hours away while having coffee, reading, and enjoying our beautiful homestead in the mountains. And of course The Girls lay close by. Koda usually naps in the sun. Kloe is typically on alert with chin on the bottom of the deck railing looking across our property to the road below. In Kloe’s mind one never knows when a perpetrator (neighbor walking on the road) or intruder (squirrel, jack rabbit, or black tail deer) may present themselves. As the self-appointed protector of the Golden K, Kloe takes her job very seriously!

This Sunday morning, which is typical of me, I was not very good at whiling all the hours away and was only able to while the minutes away. 🤓 I decided it was time to begin my morning routine. As I opened the door to the kitchen to go back inside Koda hopped up and looked at me. I tell her I’ll be back soon to make breakfast (for me not her – she and Kloe have already eaten). Her eyes continue to fix on mine and I hold the door open for her and she follows me in.

I walked into the bathroom and as I stood at the sink I looked down at Koda lying down a few feet away, head on the ground, with relaxed breathing. I know she was there because I was. I was sitting outside – she was there. I came inside – she was there. At that moment I recalled the “early days” when she was so out of control challenging. We adopted Koda as a four month old pup. She was tenacious, ornery, and very vocal. She still is! She was excitable and suspicious. She still is. There was a point when Holly said that we needed to send her back to the rescue group. Holly was mostly serious but acquiesced saying that Koda needed to be with me as much as possible. So she was. In my mind there was never a chance we would send her back. We made a commitment to this puppy and we would hold up our end of the deal. Like they (used to) say when you get married: for better or worse. I know that down deep Holly felt the same way. About Koda and about me….😅

I remember a time in the early days of Koda I was commiserating with a fellow blogger who had a Rhodesian Ridgeback who consistently tested his patience and resolve. He told me that his pup had made him a better dog parent and person and that he had learned as much about himself as his pup. This was encouraging to me and I resolved to be more patient and understanding with Koda. I was. I resolved to work harder at understanding her motives and perspective. I did. I was hopeful that I too would learn to be a better dog parent and person. I did and I continue to grow on both counts.

So as I stood at the sink and looked down at Koda on just another Sunday morning recalled certain memorable events. Like the time she stole a hamburger bun off the dinner table on about day four of being with us. About a week later I came into the kitchen and found her on TOP of the table! It took me about a year to tell Holly about that one! I thought about Koda’s recall. She has the best recall of any of the Golden’s we’ve had. I can call her from any part of the property and she comes running directly to me and is at my service.

I thought about how Koda looked out for Kali as Kali got older and began slowing down and having issues with her legs. I thought specifically about the time we returned home from an outing and only Kloe was on the deck where The Girls usually hung out when we were gone. Where’s Kali? Where’s Koda we said to one another. Then Koda comes running up from another part of the property barking and doing the Timmy’s in the well kind of thing. (It’s a show from the fifties called Lassie. Look it up! 🙂) With her body language Koda asked us to follow her. We did and we found Kali stuck in a shallow hole unable to get up. Wow! Good thing we didn’t send Koda back right Holly!?

Koda is now older herself and at eight years is beginning to slow down. She’s getting a sugar face, sleeps more, and wait for it…. is calming down. Although a true and loyal member of the pack, she’s always been “my dog”. Like Kloe is “Holly’s dog”. Koda follows me from room to room sometimes looking at me as if to say, “Can we just stay her for a while?” The only time she chooses something over me is when her big Sissie Kloe (the aforementioned Protector Of The Golden K) sounds the alarm to announce trouble and calls for back ups. In that situation Koda will look at me and say, “I gotta go – Kloe needs me!”.

So as I stood there at the sink looking down at Koda I felt grateful for her and for our collective journey and I thought:

You have made me a better person Koda.

I’ve learned so much from you.

I always said I didn’t want you to change. Like people, our collective personalities traits makes us who we are and I’ve always liked who you are.

And through the years all you’ve ever asked of me is to be nearby – and I will. And to have you top of mind – I always do.

At your service dad!