Buddy is just that - my buddy! Our love of Shelties began over 30 years ago, when my mother bought a Sheltie boy and then realized he was just too much puppy for her. Riki was my 23rd birthday present. Mom also thought that having a puppy would get my mind off of trying to get pregnant, and I suppose it worked! Eighteen months later our first son was born. When Riki died, we couldn't afford a purebred and I don't even know if Second Chance existed then, so we went to the Humane Society and I was instantly drawn to a small brown spotted puppy with Sheltie eyes. Our vet said that among other breeds, he was sure she was part Sheltie! When she and our Lhasa died 2 years ago within 10 months of each other, we were devastated. We needed another dog! We found a sheltie breeder and Ginger came into our lives.
Okay, I know you're saying, so when do we get to Buddy! While researching breeders, I found Second Chance Sheltie Rescue. I didn't think I wanted an older dog - just that much closer to the end, if you know what I mean. However, Ginger is a really active puppy! AND, having had two dogs for over 15 years, just one in the house left something still feeling like it was missing. SO, I checked out Second Chance's webpage. There was a picture of this boy with one ear up and one ear down. It was just a head shot and I connected with his eyes in the picture. BUT, I wasn't sure if we could handle two shelties (Ginger was just 6 months old). I filled out the application and saved it. A week later, I showed the picture to my husband (I'd been looking at it daily). He said, "go for it!" I still waited another week, then one night, very late, I pressed send. I couldn't sleep that night. I just knew someone had already adopted Buddy! The very next morning, I got and e-mail from Janice Mitchell, Buddy's foster mom, to call her. I did and the rest is history.
Buddy is the exact opposite of Ginger. He's so laid-back. We call him "Prince Naps-a-Lot" to Ginger's "Princess Yaps-a-Lot". He's my Velcro dog. Where I am, he is. If he can't get to where I am, he's at the door to where I am. He lies in my lap and props my books when I read. He snuggles alongside my husband when he naps in his recliner. He and Ginger play together really well. She's a real brat and is always trying to get him to play. When she feels he's getting the upper hand with her, she falls to the floor and plays "dead" until he walks away. They chase squirrels and birds out of our yard. They make us laugh each day! Buddy doesn't have the typical Sheltie personality-when someone comes in the house, he assumes it's for the sole purpose of getting a "Buddy Kiss". We're constantly working on that part of his manners. In over a year, I have not heard him growl, there's not a mean bone in his body. The most dangerous thing about him is that he's not very graceful and could knock you over accidentally. But then he'd love THAT because he could kiss you while you're down at his level.
I know now that my life will always have at least two shelties in it! Thank you, Second Chance Sheltie Rescue, for the love of my life--- My Buddy!