Dyson has been here since April of ’05. I got him quite by accident, here is that story. Dyson is generally about 97lbs, and he’s not fat. He’s just BIG. I never wanted another lab after Redwood died, but D was meant to be here in my life. For a while I felt guilty loving another black lab, just looking at his outline was so familiar and comforting. Over time, I’ve learned that’s it’s not disloyal to Redwood to love Dyson. She will have always been the first, and he is a tribute to her.
I fell in love with Dyson for reasons I still do not know or understand, but he has turned out to be the best working dog I’ve yet owned. After a rocky start with a botched neuter, and six weeks on sleepy pills to recover, I discovered that he has an amazing work ethic, loves to play ball, and will do anything I ask him to. Ask being the operative word. I am not, by any stretch, “in charge” of Dyson. Our relationship is based on mutual respect and trust. He listens to me and trusts that I will not ask him to do stupid or unnecessary things, and I respect his ability to think on his feet and do his jobs.
Dyson and I initially went through a training program where he learned to sniff out drugs, alcohol, and firearms; and I learned to back off and let him work. We did some tracking, which he loves, and some bitework, which is just one big fun game for him. He’s gone dock diving, and he’s better at dock flopping, but the spirit is there. We do obedience, kind of, and we go to schutzhund training because someday I hope to put a title on him. Watching all that dog get moving and fly through the air for a bite is truly something to see. He also is learning flyball, and seems to really love that. We tried agility, and it’s just not pretty. He takes down more jumps than he gets over, and when he tried the tire, he took the whole thing with him and knocked us both down.
His latest career evolution is accompanying me to school as my Service Dog. I’ve been using one or another of my dogs as Service Dogs for years, and Dyson’s skills in this area are beautiful. He lays on my feet during class, creates a path in a crowd, and just generally gives me the courage to be out and about in large groups of people. His official title is a Psychiatric Service Dog – to learn more about this, visit here. Dyson’s presence is calming, and he has become my rock in ways that I never expected.
So this “out of control” shelter dog has turned out to be one of my very best friends. He takes care of me, works with me, and is a blast to play with. He has lovely house manners and always has, successfully lives with cats, birds, and several other dogs. He loves children, and is exceptionally gentle with them. All these things from a dog that someone just threw away….
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