When Red died, I thought long and hard about the next dog I wanted. I didn’t want another Red; I don’t think that’s fair to the new dog. And I wanted a chance from border collies.
I decided I wanted a dog who was even and loving and trustworthy. A therapy dog but also a family dog. I didn’t want or need for the dog to be my dog only; I wanted a dog that Maria could love and that Bud and even Fate could be easy with.
I wanted a dog with extraordinary temperament and good genetics for the country’s sometimes rough life – a land of viruses, ticks, chicken droppings, feces, and wildlife.
I found Lenore Severnie, a breeder with more than 35 years of experience, a dog whose line I could trust, whose health and temperament I could count on, both for the therapy work and as my writing companion.
I spent months looking for the right breeder and studying different breeds. I know Labs well and love them and chose on Lenore as a breeder and a yellow lab as the dog I wanted.
I listen to my heart. When you find the right dog, it sings.
I never listen to people who tell me what dog I ought to get or that there is only one way to get a dog. As a steward, I owe dogs more thoughtful consideration than that.
I got precisely the dog I wanted in every way. When I come into my study and open the gate, she comes in with me. Like all of my dogs, she doesn’t move while I am writing; she will sit peacefully by my side for hours.
She loves therapy work and is perfect for it. She loves to play outside (no ball throwing or loud playing inside). She is best pals with Bud and is slowly charming the moody Fate.
She is happy in Maria’s studio, happy in my study, happy in the car, happy in the yard. I can also leave her off at the Mansion and next week, Bishop Maginn High School. She knows what to do and where to go, even though I can’t go with her.
I worked hard and thought long, choosing Zinnia. I got the dog I wanted. It is deep and easy love. This is what I needed.
Jon,
Thanks for sharing your choice if Zinnia. I’m inspired by your careful considerations and researcher’s diligence.
My 17 year old Gigi just died of old age, happy and healthy to the end. I miss her greatly. Yet will follow your lead and carefully consider what dog would find happiness with me.
What a wonderful tribute to Zinnia.
Your thoughts are exactly why we chose our Lab. He was with us for 15 years, and we still miss him, six years after his passing.
I read somewhere….”You don’t always get the dog you want, but you get the dog that you need.” My local shelter called me to ask me if I could foster an adult dog who has not been well socialized and who has fear aggression and leash reactivity and I said yes. Well, I have been working so diligently every day with her for some time now and every little win is such a victory to celebrate that I have decided to adopt her and I have never lived so much ‘in the moment, in the now”, This is really the dog I needed. Zinnia is a dream dog and I am very happy all is well with you so we can enjoy your writing for years and years to come!
Dogs are truly God sent. I had to twist my husband’s arm to get another dog when our beloved Sneakers passed away. I twisted it for four months and in a moment of love on Valentine’s Day, he said we could get another dog. The best gift he could ever give me, I might add. When he thinks of how sad he was when Sneakers died, his mind drifts to when that time will come for Cooper. I remind him not to look at the glass half empty. “We will just remember how happy Cooper is living with us, all his needs are taken care of including our love and attention. And we will in turn remember how much joy he gave back to us and how much he filled a void in our lives.”