I believe every dog is born for a purpose with his or her own special job to accomplish during its lifetime. Some are show dogs like my Gandalf and Victoria. By becoming Champions in the ring, they have met the German Shepherd Standard and the Standard will be reproduced in their offspring so that the German Shepherd will remain the beautiful, intelligent, dog that it was yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Others are the matriarchs like my Guinevere who are born to nurture their own puppies and their grand puppies plus display super intelligence when competing in the Obedience Ring. Confidence and solid temperament are just as important in the German Shepherd Dog as the desired structure and side gait.

And then there is Princess Pie.

I look back through the years since she took her first breath while lying in my hands. She was the little black female that I had been hoping for and the image of her gorgeous Dad, Merlin. I had high expectations for her in the show ring. She started out with much promise winning her 6 – 9 month class in her first show. Even though she did get placements in her classes for the first couple of years, she did not have the attitude or structure to be a top show dog.

In the whelping box she produced a nice litter but could not carry subsequent litters to term. Pie was neither a brood bitch nor a show dog! So what was her role?

Blackberry Pie is my buddy, my constant companion, my protector. She is with me every minute of the day. She is my shadow. And when she follows in my footsteps, she is my Merlin and Victoria. She is my peace as she lays her head beside me each evening. Sometimes in the dark, as I reach out to pet her head before I drift off to sleep, I wait to hear the rustle of angel wings. She licks my hand with the slightest touch as if to say, “All is well, Mom. I am here with you.”