Fond Memories of
Dogs I Have Known

Chris

The first dog I remember owning was Chris. Chris was a very stupid little mutt. We didn't keep him long - we were never able to successfully housebreak him. He would eat anything - I remember seeing him scarf down orange peels and egg shells. We had some little dog "candies" for him - I used to open the back door and toss one outside for him, and he'd charge out after it. If the back porch was icy, he wouldn't be able to stop and would go bumping down the stairs.

After a few months, we decided that Chris was hopeless, and Dad gave him to a farmer up near Arlee (no, really — I saw him there a few months later). I don't think he lasted very long there, either.

King

Our next dog was a German Shepherd named King. King was a very friendly dog - to the family. Someone told us that we should walk King around the property line a few times so he'd know what his boundaries were. He really took that to heart. The family could come and go as we pleased, but any non-family member that crossed that line into our yard was in for trouble.

When we'd eat dinner, King would always want to come begging. We wouldn't let him in the kitchen where we were eating - we made him stay in the next room. But he was a sneaky fellow. He'd sidle on in an inch at a time until he was right there at the table. We'd send him back out of the room but pretty soon, there he was again.

When we expected guests, we'd shut King up in the basement. During the whole time they were there, King would be barking furiously and throwing himself against the door.

I used to take King out for walks, up to 2 miles or so. It was fine if a friend joined me, as long as that friend didn't try to come on to the property with me until I got King secured in the basement.

One day, Lois and a friend were walking down the street with King. Lois's friend strayed across the property line and King attacked. We had to get rid of King after that. He went on to a career as a police dog.