I feel like he's getting ready to leave us...

Dainerra · 12-23-2012, 08:47 AM

For 9 1/2 years, I've had a shadow. Not like the normal dog person who says "my dog follows me everywhere" You see, I have a German Shepherd Dog. Since 8 weeks old, everywhere I go there is the pitter patter of little feet. If he can't follow me, he is waiting at the door for me to come out.
At 6 months old, Rayden earned his freedom at night. That first night I woke up to the sound of footsteps. Front door, back door, youngest daughter's bedroom, up the stairs to the eldest, back to my bedroom. Our lab would look at him like he was crazy.
So it went for 5 years until Freya came home. She never patrolled the house, that was Rayden's job. Front door, back door, both the kids, back to my side of the bed. If the neighbor's were being noisy across the street, he stayed in the hallway between the bedrooms - watching the front door.
Freya left us and eventually Singe came. Annoying little puppy; Rayden used to pick Singe up by the head and carry him to me and drop him on the floor at my feet when he got tired of the puppy antics.
And still every night, front door, back door, both the kids, back to my side of the bed.

When Singe earned his freedom at night, you could never guess where you might find him sleeping. And Rayden always at my side of the bed unless it was time for the patrol.
Front door, back door, both the kids, back to bed.

About 8 months ago I woke up suddenly. I listened and couldn't figure out what was different. Then a couple nights later it hit me. 2 sets of feet. Front door, back door, both the kids, back to bed. Singe started sleeping in the hallway. Every morning, he was there between the 2 bedrooms watching the door. This went on for a couple weeks, then Rayden continued his patrols alone.

For the last couple months, the patrols have been sporadic and finally stopped completely. Every noise was still investigated but there was no nightly walk. Rayden doesn't come to the bedroom anymore. He's more comfortable sleeping on the cool tiles by the front door. Singe still sleeping in the hallway.

A week ago, I stepped on a dog when I got out of bed. It was Singe. Everywhere I go, he is my shadow now. Every move I make, he jumps up to follow me. If he doesn't, Rayden gives him a nudge.

Last night I woke up. I could hear the jangle of Singe's tags through the house. Front door, back door, both the kids, back to my side of the bed.

ksotto333 · 12-23-2012, 09:39 AM

This made me cry, what a good faithful dog you have, he wants to make sure your family is always safe. Hug him for me..

vjt555 · 12-23-2012, 11:10 AM

My gosh. Amazing are GSDs. Mine is 10 now and patrols this house at around eight and then expects a biccie...!

robk · 12-23-2012, 11:19 AM

I love dogs. The role they play in our lives is so hard to explain. They are almost like having guardian angles in your life.

Daisy&Lucky's Mom · 12-23-2012, 11:20 AM

The changing of the guard. We are so blessed by these dogs.I watched Lucky become the sentry outside while Daisy watched form the deck and joined him when she deemed it necessary. Rayden is still there as back up but has earned his nights rest. Rayden ,you trained Singe well.

Sunflowers · 12-23-2012, 11:22 AM

Crying here. Wish I could give you a hug.

Ayla · 12-23-2012, 11:29 AM

Such a beautiful story... I hope to have a dog as amazing as your Rayden sounds...

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Loneforce · 12-23-2012, 11:54 AM

At least you picked up on rayden. I did not notice this when Taz was getting Ill. Now that I think back He did and now I know why Ginger started to protect the house and Bark when she would never do before. This is a real nice write up about as "Daisey and Lucky's mom said" The changing of the guard. I hope you have many more years with Rayden. He sounds like the perfect Guardian Angel....

llombardo · 12-23-2012, 12:10 PM

I shed a few tears when I read this...what a blessing dogs are. He is making sure the family is taken care of, how can one not appreciate a GSD??

Dainerra · 12-23-2012, 01:00 PM

I know we don't have forever but i'm holding onto every day. Yesterday Rayden fell getting off the porch andmost mornings he can't stand up without help. Dr Sarah says as long as he is happy, it isn't time.
The goats milk helps; he's back up to 77 lb now.
Looking at his face you would never think that he is sick. His body just isn't holding out. The tumor is blocking the lymph system to his leg entirely so the swelling is worse. He's still eager to go and play; he just needs someone close when he falls.
The last 2 days, when he falls, he waits for us to help him up instead of trying on his own. He seems patient with it though, not disturbed or frustrated.
Just that small part of me watching this"changing of the guard"keeps whispering "wrong dog"

12-23-2012, 08:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dainerra Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N. Central Arkansas Posts: 5,274	I feel like he's getting ready to leave us... For 9 1/2 years, I've had a shadow. Not like the normal dog person who says "my dog follows me everywhere" You see, I have a German Shepherd Dog. Since 8 weeks old, everywhere I go there is the pitter patter of little feet. If he can't follow me, he is waiting at the door for me to come out. At 6 months old, Rayden earned his freedom at night. That first night I woke up to the sound of footsteps. Front door, back door, youngest daughter's bedroom, up the stairs to the eldest, back to my bedroom. Our lab would look at him like he was crazy. So it went for 5 years until Freya came home. She never patrolled the house, that was Rayden's job. Front door, back door, both the kids, back to my side of the bed. If the neighbor's were being noisy across the street, he stayed in the hallway between the bedrooms - watching the front door. Freya left us and eventually Singe came. Annoying little puppy; Rayden used to pick Singe up by the head and carry him to me and drop him on the floor at my feet when he got tired of the puppy antics. And still every night, front door, back door, both the kids, back to my side of the bed. When Singe earned his freedom at night, you could never guess where you might find him sleeping. And Rayden always at my side of the bed unless it was time for the patrol. Front door, back door, both the kids, back to bed. About 8 months ago I woke up suddenly. I listened and couldn't figure out what was different. Then a couple nights later it hit me. 2 sets of feet. Front door, back door, both the kids, back to bed. Singe started sleeping in the hallway. Every morning, he was there between the 2 bedrooms watching the door. This went on for a couple weeks, then Rayden continued his patrols alone. For the last couple months, the patrols have been sporadic and finally stopped completely. Every noise was still investigated but there was no nightly walk. Rayden doesn't come to the bedroom anymore. He's more comfortable sleeping on the cool tiles by the front door. Singe still sleeping in the hallway. A week ago, I stepped on a dog when I got out of bed. It was Singe. Everywhere I go, he is my shadow now. Every move I make, he jumps up to follow me. If he doesn't, Rayden gives him a nudge. Last night I woke up. I could hear the jangle of Singe's tags through the house. Front door, back door, both the kids, back to my side of the bed.

12-23-2012, 11:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
vjt555 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,030	My gosh. Amazing are GSDs. Mine is 10 now and patrols this house at around eight and then expects a biccie...! __________________ Traveling Slave of: Mattie, GSD, 10 years, Scooter, pit/lab mix 8 years, Vampire, really evil cat, 17 years Candi, 12 years, Brendan, golden retriever-the thriller from Manila, 7 years Becky, Jazz and Annie at bridge

12-23-2012, 11:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
robk Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 1,561	I love dogs. The role they play in our lives is so hard to explain. They are almost like having guardian angles in your life. __________________ Honor Von Kaltwasser BH aka "Ruger" http://www.working-dog.eu/dogs-detai...von-Kaltwasser

12-23-2012, 11:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Daisy&Lucky's Mom Crowned Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,746	The changing of the guard. We are so blessed by these dogs.I watched Lucky become the sentry outside while Daisy watched form the deck and joined him when she deemed it necessary. Rayden is still there as back up but has earned his nights rest. Rayden ,you trained Singe well. __________________ Daisy 11/26/99-7/25/12- Lucky- GSD Rescue 2/16/2002 Thunder from the East: adopted 1/25/2013 Miss Chevy Cruz - adopted 1/25/2013

12-23-2012, 11:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,820	Crying here. Wish I could give you a hug. __________________ Norden von Narnia--Hans, dob 1-15-2012 http://pdgf.pitapata.com/uC6lm4.png

12-23-2012, 09:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
ksotto333 Master Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 753	This made me cry, what a good faithful dog you have, he wants to make sure your family is always safe. Hug him for me..

12-23-2012, 11:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ayla Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Fort Bragg, NC Posts: 57	Such a beautiful story... I hope to have a dog as amazing as your Rayden sounds... Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

12-23-2012, 11:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
Loneforce Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,606	At least you picked up on rayden. I did not notice this when Taz was getting Ill. Now that I think back He did and now I know why Ginger started to protect the house and Bark when she would never do before. This is a real nice write up about as "Daisey and Lucky's mom said" The changing of the guard. I hope you have many more years with Rayden. He sounds like the perfect Guardian Angel.... __________________ Jonas :Black & Red WGSL D.O.B.01/14/2012... Taz:11/15/99-01/16/12 Ginger:06/23/02-02/13/13

12-23-2012, 12:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
llombardo Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,134	I shed a few tears when I read this...what a blessing dogs are. He is making sure the family is taken care of, how can one not appreciate a GSD?? __________________ Misty- Samoyed Mix Tannor- Golden Retriever CGC Robyn- German Shepherd CGC Midnite-German Shepherd "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

12-23-2012, 01:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dainerra Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N. Central Arkansas Posts: 5,274	I know we don't have forever but i'm holding onto every day. Yesterday Rayden fell getting off the porch andmost mornings he can't stand up without help. Dr Sarah says as long as he is happy, it isn't time. The goats milk helps; he's back up to 77 lb now. Looking at his face you would never think that he is sick. His body just isn't holding out. The tumor is blocking the lymph system to his leg entirely so the swelling is worse. He's still eager to go and play; he just needs someone close when he falls. The last 2 days, when he falls, he waits for us to help him up instead of trying on his own. He seems patient with it though, not disturbed or frustrated. Just that small part of me watching this"changing of the guard"keeps whispering "wrong dog"

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