Photos and text copyright Romping and Rolling in the Rockies 2009-2017.

All photographs and text within this blog are copyrighted.

You may not copy or repost any photos or text without specific permission from the author of this blog. When in doubt, please ask.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Black Dog Sunday

Our Black Dog had a heart that knew no bounds. He had serious surgery on his elbow his first birthday. As a puppy, we'd noticed him limping, and imaging showed that he'd been born with elbow dysplasia. 

His breeder offered us a "new puppy" if we returned R to her. We didn't even consider that option for an instant. It was not an option - R was ours and we were his.

During the month leading up to his elbow surgery, he was not allowed to run at all. As an 11 month old puppy, getting no exercise was impossibly hard on R and on us. Finally, when he had not improved at all during his rest, the vet said that it was okay to let him romp in the time leading up to his surgery. 

With permission to let him run, we went out the front door, and unhitched his leash. Then, he flabbergasted us when he took a flying leap off of the landing onto the ground that was about 8' down. His flying trajectory reminded me of a dock-diving dog. He landed in the grass and did joyful laps around the house. He was irrepressible.

That surgery did give him some relief from his pain, for at least a year or so. He never hesitated to go out and have a wildly good time even when his elbow was hurting. We knew that we should try to limit his boisterous play to save his elbow for later in life but neither of us had the heart to do it.

Here he was during a break in a happy romp.

R's happy face appears in my mind's eye every single day. His face had a bit less mischief in it later in life but his purely hopeful and happy eye(s) never changed.

Happy Black Dog Sunday. Just looking at R's face makes me smile, and he would want us all to smile in his memory.

20 comments:

  1. i am smiling in his memory, he made me smile many times and he had such a strong big heart... love looking in those eyes

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hari OM
    Darling angel R... you were soooooo handsome!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your happy smile always makes us smile, R♥

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am trying to imagine stopping Bertie from running when he was that age. Impossible!
    Cheers, Gail.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It is the memory of those faces, those eyes, those smiles, that helps us live with missing them so much.

    ReplyDelete
  6. He definitely makes one smile, and your memories bring his joy and exuberance to all of us. Take care and stay well!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I smiled as soon as I saw that happy puppy face covered with a long drool of slobber.

    ReplyDelete
  8. R gave me the happies every time I saw his handsome face and signature smile
    Happy Black Dog Sunday
    Cecilia

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy Crazy Love you sweet boy!
    We miss you so much.

    Astro and Mitzie

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's too bad R had to live with his elbow pain, but it's clear it never defeated his enthusiasm for life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh R, that pic just cracks me up!!! I do loves me some serious slobbers! BOL!!!
    I miss you my sweet furiend!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

    ReplyDelete
  12. We are so very glad that you did not exchange R for another puppy. He was and remains a real treasure!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Smiling at the mere thought of his younger days.

    ReplyDelete
  14. He has always been a happy dog. You made him that way.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm smiling for R, I know that's what he wants. What better legacy to leave us: Smile when you think of the Black Dog, me.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I get that. We should limit Luke's running because of his knees, but if he wants to romp around, we let him. We want him to just be a dog and enjoy everything! ♥
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

    ReplyDelete

If you are a Blogger registered user, you can skip the step asking you to verify that you are not a spammer. For posts older than 5 days, I have comment moderation turned on.

Thanks for your comments!!!!!