I love big dogs: big, loud deep bark, big bite out of your butt--and what were you doing in my backyard/house anyway?--big love puppies, big appetites and yes, big poop machines. I miss my Bouvier des Flandres; Mu was his name--long dead, but not forgotten. He was a big hairy beast—like these, his brethren…
…with all of the above-mentioned attributes. This Newfoundland winner of the Westminster Kennel Club's Best in Show (registration required) reminds me of my old friend.
In 1989, just weeks before I was about to come home from my first tour in Germany, my parents gave me a call. Twelve-year-old Mu had cancer and my mom was torn between waiting until I came home three weeks later (to say goodbye) and putting Mu out of his misery as soon as possible. I told her to go ahead and get it done.
I still remember sitting on the floor in front of the couch. Mu would lay on the floor perpendicular to me, put his front paws under my legs and put his head in my lap.
Love ya, buddy. Dogs pack a lot of that into a short lifetime.
(Bouvier portrait property of Robin Renton)
