When we got our first dog, we certainly didn't start out looking for a deaf one. In fact, deaf, blind, three-legged or otherwise challenged dogs seemed to me a bit broken and sad. I wanted a "whole" dog, one who would come when I called or whistled, one who would hear my words of praise, endearments, scoldings and directions.
Actually, what I hoped for was a quiet, sweet dog that everyone would love. With a minister for a husband, we had plenty of visitors. Our dog needed to be gentle and not at all scary. I had only had outdoor dogs as a child, but I hoped for a dog that could live with us in a suburban home and be a companion on hikes and car rides and at ease indoors.
As a dog walker at the local no-kill shelter, I saw a lot of dogs. Dozens and dozens of them, and I was ready to love them all. I wanted a puppy, though, and I wanted to be choosy. However, within just a few weeks, one dog stood out. She was a sleek black shepherd mix with tan points and pale, pale blue eyes. It wasn't only her looks that caught my eye, but also her unusual demeanor. This year-old dog, housed alone in a narrow fenced run, was a lady. She sat quietly, watching everything with interest, but saying nothing. Nothing! In a concrete room full of barking dogs, she was clearly unusual.
When I stopped to greet her, she was came slowly to the gate. She seemed shy but not frightened, and so calm and grateful for a little attention.
Oops. It was with excitement and some fear that I knew I had found our dog.
Fortunately, my spouse agreed. He trusted my instincts and I wanted this dog so badly. Within a few days we added Josie to the two pussycats in our household.
But....lady-like? Well, no. As it turned out, Josie was a hoyden, a whirlwind on a leash, a disaster. She was nuts! That's what I thought on day one. How could I have been fooled so badly when she seemed so perfect?!
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