There's a birthday today!!!!!

Yes it's Duffy's 5th Birthday!! I can hardly believe he's 5 already.  He and I have made a pact to stop aging at our respective ages right now--at least for 5 years.  So he will stay 5 and I'll stay 60!! I think that's a fine idea!! Duffy has become the love of my life.  You all can probably recall the blog posts and emails of his early years where I mentioned that he wasn't the dog that I had expected or had wanted. He was not the biddable easy collie that I had envisioned.  He was stubborn, used (and still uses) passive resistance techniques, was a challenge all the time, and drove me up the wall so many times! But he is also so very smart and is incredibly intuitive.  He is one of the few links to my mother that I have--we took him to the EG when he was 9 weeks old and he went right to her. And he continued to check on her and care about her right to her last day on earth.

From an unaffectionate puppy, he is now the most affectionate dog one could hope for. He's my protector, the yard's protector, and the neighbors' protector. He's a good judge of character--he usually chooses to ignore people he doesn't care for, unless he thinks they are a threat to me. He has no aggressiveness in him to other dogs--he always wants to make friends, even with the ones that are snarling and lunging! Um no--not today Duffy!! He barks like a fiend!! And to a point that's okay--especially in this neighborhood but he could quit sooner!!

Duffy's new bed!

Checking it out. There's no collie on it, but that's okay.  He'll be the collie on it!!! Hahaha!!

He's mellowed and matured this year and I think a lot of this has to do with Lanny's arrival.  Duffy takes his big brother role quite seriously and has been a great help to me.  Duffy seems to know when he should show Lanny how something is done--without me asking or saying anything.  For instance he showed Lanny how to go up the outside stairs and he showed him what to do in the business place!!  But he is jealous of Lanny!! After all he was an only dog for 4 1/2 years!! And like the imp that he is with the devilish sense of humor, he takes every opportunity to push Lanny's buttons.  When I come home and Lanny is in the pen, Duffy goes out of his way to shower me with greetings--way more that he would usually!! And Lanny howls with protest!! Lanny is a howler, while Duffy is a whiner--I've decided I prefer the whining, if I have to have one of these behaviors!!

Birthday portrait!

Duffy is independent but likes to spend time beside me--then he will go off to the bedroom or find another spot to lay down when we are outside. I don't think I'm the centre of Duffy's world--unlike how Jolene's Kort feels about her.( www.onecollie.blogspot.ca ) Yet he's my friend and pal.  He learns things because he wants to, because it's a challenge--and he loves that-- and because he loves me. Oh, and lets not forget food!! Hahaha!!

Duffy was sent to me--of that I'm sure. Through him I've learned anew that I can deal with difficult challenges and not give up. And I've learned that sometimes we can have the most special bond in the world with the one that challenged us the most. Happy Birthday my Duffy!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ I love you heart and soul forever.