Happy birthday, Skunk Dog!

Connor turns 15 today! He's a little wobbly and deaf as a post but mostly doing okay and still likes to give the Belgians hell.

Connor at 10 weeks, in November 1994
(the future OTCh., U-OTCH. Sunazie's Black Diamond, UDX5, MX, MXJ)

Connor, 5 years old

This is my absolute all-time favorite picture of Connor.

Highlights of the last 15 years:

• You were the first dog I ever trained who heeled in the correct position.

• Two trips to the National Obedience Invitational.

• Failing BOTH heeling patterns in Novice our first time in the ring.

• That crazy 4-way 199 point Open B run-off at Madison, Wis., where we kept going back in the ring over and over and over.

• Taking you to the vet school at Iowa State when you had a lung infection.

• Getting you measured at EXACTLY 18 inches for agility.

• Wishing on a shooting star and finishing your OTCh.

• The funny little growls you always made on the figure 8, like it was so much fun you couldn't stand it.

• The kid at the drive-through window who thought you were a skunk.

• Working through that list of food on the elimination diet to find out what you were allergic to.

• Lifting you off the floor in the ring because you wouldn't release your dumbbell after fronting.

• How you shared your opinions on EVERYTHING.

• Doing run-off after run-off during 9 years of obedience. Bonus heeling!

• The spring trial when we camped at Mason City and you slept inside my sleeping bag because it was below freezing.

• Your absolute conviction that no matter what you did, it was right.

• The total rush of going into the obedience ring with you because you loved it.

Love you, Skunk Dog!