Maddie Girl

We had to put our dog down a few weeks ago.  As anyone with a pet can imagine, it isn't always an easy decision to make.  My mother reminded me that we had been wondering if it was time for well over 6 months.  It still wasn't easy to do, but the time had come when it was best for her.  But I miss her.

We've had Maddie since she was a puppy and we basically were the same, pups.  Brad and I were in college went she came to live with him.  She was such a regal dog.  Most of my friends were scared of her and most of his helped to take care of her.  Maddie would have been 16 in April.  I've never known life as an adult without her.  I haven't known married life without her. 

As we were leaving the vet's office that day he asked, "what is the funniest/stupidest thing she ever did?".  I couldn't think of one stupid thing she had ever done.  Funny, though, I had a few. 

Maddie could fall asleep standing up, and liked to exercise this skill often.
Maddie liked to curl into the smallest possible space to sleep.  And with Doberman legs this wasn't always easy.
She slept on her own bed (after we broke her of having to sleep with us) and she would carry her bed all over the house.  In fact one night I thought someone had broken in the house and was noisily walking down the hall, only to discover it was Maddie moving her bed from the family room. 
She used to want to sit between me and Brad on the couch (again, before we broke her of that habit). 
She once pinched my butt between her front teeth because I was hugging Brad (clearly she was his dog).
Maddie knew the exact way to burrow her nose under the covers to wake you up the quickest. 
She was a master ventriloquist.  She could make tons of noises and her mouth never opened. 

Maddie was fiercely protective too.  I once saw her make an ex-Marine scream like a kid.  To Maddie's credit he walked in our house without knocking. 
But she loved other dogs.  Taking her for walks was tough because she knew they were out there for her to play with. 

Maddie was our baby when we thought we couldn't have any.  And she carried us through.  And for that I will forever be grateful.

Goodbye, Maddie girl.  Say hi to kitty for me.