My Life with Dogs

Sam was an English Shepherd.  We had the honor of living with Sam for about 12 years.  We watched Sam take his first breathe and we shared his last days.

Sam was afraid of thunder but he was not afraid of snakes or coyotes.  He loved to tree squirrels and could out tree the best squirrel dog in Arkansas by using his intelligence and his keen sight.  He watched the squirrels run up the trees and tracked them through the canopy by sight.  If Sam said there was a squirrel up the tree, you could bet money on it.

Because Sam was sensitive to storms, he was our weatherman.  If Sam said a storm was going to hit the ranch, you had better be ready.  If the weatherman issued tornado warnings for our area and Sam said “Nope, wasn’t going to happen”.  Bet on Sam.  He was never wrong.

When Sam went into his “storm shelter”, it was going to storm.  Simply as that!

One day my husband and I were working on a building project under a huge red oak tree.   About 30 yards to the side of us was another really old cedar tree which stood at the end of the main horse barn.

We knew that a storm was off in the distance, the thunder was barely audible and we were hurrying to finish “ripping” a piece of lumber with a chainsaw.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sam walk by  and head towards his storm shelter.

A minute or two later, Sam appeared at my side with another English Shepherd girl.  Sam began jumping up on me , pushing me.  I yelled to get my voice heard above the chain saw.  “SAM, STOP! DOWN!

He totally ignored me and jumped and jumped at me.  I turned my attention to my husband, yelling at him over the sound of the chain saw.  “JIM, SOMETHING IS WRONG. SAM IS GOING NUTS!

Jim never heard me, never looked up , till the shock wave of the lightening bolt blew over us.  Lightening struck that ancient cedar tree 30 yards away instantly killing a cow and 3 calves.

Sam never left our side.  We threw down the tools and raced for shelter with Sam and the other English Shepherd at our side.

In the years that followed, Sam never failed to come and find me if a storm was coming.  I might be out in the woods on a horse or anywhere on our 275 acres.  If Sam came to me, I always went to the house.  And there was always a thunder and lightening storm.

Sam’s wisdom wasn’t  limited to just storms.  If he came to you with that look in his eyes, he was telling you something important.

One day, he came running up the driveway, barking and bumping into me.   Dumb me,  I thought he was playing.  After giving him a moment of attention, I continued on my journey.  He barked and barked at me.  I turned and he ran down the driveway.  “Hmm, I thought!  Wonder what game Sam has come up with now.”   Again I continued on my journey in the opposite direction.   Sam raced back in front of me, barking and running down the driveway.

Now I might be dog dumb, but I am not dog stupid.  I turned around and followed Sam down the driveway and down the road to where one of my young English Shepherds lay on the side of the road.  He had been hit by a car.

Sam taught me a valuable lesson.   Dogs are our partners as we walk through life.  They have much to give, much to tell and much to share, if we will only listen.

Sam was my guardian angel.  I was blessed to have shared his life. I miss Sam and I always will!