The Best Dog Ever

I have been told before that I speak in extremes. "This is the best spaghetti in the world!" or "She is seriously the cutest baby I've ever seen!" or sometimes even "Today has been the worst day of my life."

Those of you who know this about me please know that when I talk about Harley now and call her The Best Dog Ever, she truly is the best dog I have ever known.

A little while back, Harley was diagnosed with bone cancer. Since then, she has increasingly been getting worse. Harley is now in her last days of life, so I wanted to take a few minutes to remember her and celebrate the incredible dog that she has been. 

Throughout the years of my life at home, we have had many dogs. Many as pets and many more that my parents bred and sold. We got Harley 13 years ago as puppy. She was beautiful, spunky, and fun. We named her Daisy. Quickly we began to learn her personality and saw that a dainty name like Daisy just did not fit. Harley was active, messy, playful and so very smart. We taught her so many tricks. She can sit, shake hands, lay down, roll over (it took a while to get her do that one.) 

One of my favorite stories to tell about Harley happened shortly after my brother got a new puppy. Our dogs had a lot of toys, but they were not allowed to take them outside. Once as the dogs were going outside to potty, the puppy ran outside with a stuffed bear and dropped it on the porch before running to the yard. Harley ran out, picked up the stuffed bear, brought it back inside, and then went back out to the yard to potty. Such a rule follower. 

As Harley gets older and sicker, she is slower and gets tired easily but her sweet and unique personality still shines out. Harley loves the lake and hates thunderstorms. She loves attention and never meets a stranger. She can eat a whole bone in a matter of minutes. She won't eat leftovers unless they've been warmed up. She lets babies hug her and loves to put her paw on top of your hand. Harley refuses to swallow pills and CANNOT be tricked. She likes her big pillow bed and loves her family. She isn't always the best cuddler, but she is the most loyal friend. Harley is the best dog I've ever known.

I can't imagine a world without Harley in it, and I am heartbroken to see her go, but I am grateful to have had 13 years with such an amazing girl. It has been a privilege to have this dog in my life. My family has been blessed to have had such a gift.

I love you Harley.