I didn't want a dog. Especially a dog who's going to sniff my butt every time I turn around, lick my hands, bark at the door when everyone walks by and shed all over my house. After much convincing from my children who pretended to be a dog for months and a lot of persuasion by my husband, I eventually reluctantly agreed, right before Christmas 2010. Koda Bear came from a breeder who had to be spayed because her uterus was weak and her puppies didn't survive. She was already house broken and basically trained. I agreed to get this dog promising myself that I wouldn't get attached, especially if she was going to shed all over my house. What little did I know that she turned out to be the perfect dog.
Koda didn't eat people food, let alone beg. If you dropped food on the floor, she'd show no interest. Koda didn't go upstairs. That was my only dog and dog-hair-free zone and I liked it. Koda's favorite spot was under my computer desk. She'd keep my feet warm while I worked and if I needed any inspiration, I'd just reach down and give her crooked ear a scratch. Koda and I would enjoy a very quiet morning together but once the girls woke up, she'd start running around the furniture and wagging her tail trying to get them to pay attention to her.
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Koda would keep me "company" laying on the rug right in front of the stove while I cooked... at least until I kicked her out of MY area. She would freak out when the girls jumped up on the counter to get into the snack cabinet. She'd greet us at the door every time we came home, and I was told that she would lay by the back door the whole time I'd be gone and wouldn't move until I got home. Koda watched the girls with a very close (almost freakish) eye. It was comforting to know that I had an extra set of eyes on them while they played outside.
Koda rarely barked, even when the doorbell rang. Sometimes when certain dogs would walk by, she'd bark at them through the window and her back legs would skate on the carpet as her hair stood up. It was really funny to see her "running" in place and not go anywhere.
Koda was trained off leash. She was an almost great listener (as long as she had her training collar on). She loved us so much she was willing to do anything for us, even stand on a fire hydrant. Koda loved the water. Even the girls at Petsmart loved bathing her.
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| Poor Koda! She made a lovely ballerina! |
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| Koda Bear always ate laying down. What a goofy dog! |
I could go on and on about how Koda was the perfect dog. We'll never know why she was taken away from us at only 3 years old. But I have to believe that God has a plan for us. Sometimes, we may think we know what we want, but God knows what's best. We have to have faith and if we're patient, God will reward us for trusting Him. I don't always like God's plan and sometimes it's harder than heck to accept things I don't want, but I believe there was a lesson for us to learn through Koda. Koda is now in Heaven playing with her pups and being a mother to them like she was meant to be. We will miss her so very much and we're so thankful that we were the ones who got her even if it was for a short time.
Koda Bear is leaving paw prints in Heaven.
October 19, 2009 - July 20, 2012
