Stone didn't come as a pup. He came as a bit of a reject at about 8 or 9 months old. He had undergone a surgery for a throat problem and was shaved on one side, ragged looking, skinny from not eating well, nervous and a bit unsure of everything. Steve Vires asked me to take and care for him while he trained my dog Cody. I was dogless and it was killing me so I gladly accepted. I loaded Stone into the back seat of my truck and he laid there and just kinda looked at the door facing away from me. Wouldn't even look at me as I talked to him and wouldn't look around either. Like he didn't feel good or was nervous or both. Probably some of both.“God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there”
Billy Graham
He couldn't eat normally due to the throat problem and if he ate too fast it would ball up in his throat and he would throw it up. It was not pretty. I learned how to feed him so he could eat normally & swallow his food. I had to part it out, soak it in warm water and give it to him in 3 portions and once I figured that out he began to gain weight, shine up and start to look healthy. Wasn't but a few months and I began to train him.
He was a joy to train....all his basics went amazingly smooth. In the field he had the most amazing eyes, could see birds when no other dogs could and an uncanny ability to understand what was being asked of him. He could plainly and clearly understand plain english. I always called him The Professor because he was so intelligent. He could sort out a set of marks or a problem in the field like no dog I have yet seen. Some dogs can get the marks with talent but without the understanding......He had the understanding to go with his talent. Not overly athletic but intelligent enough to not have to be.
At any rate he wasn't my dog.......He was still Steve's dog and Steve being a pro didn't need one that was hard to keep. Way too much for a him to handle and train everybody else too. So, one day Steve called and said "bring Stone this weekend when you come as there is a guy that wants to buy him". I said okay and then we hung up.
Well, hold the phone, it hit me that I was attached to Stone and couldnt imagine not having him around. Like a ton of bricks!! So, I called Travis and told him about it. Steve had to get $2000 to get his money back on him. I didn't have it. Travis called Steve and told him that I was a bit heartbroken about having to give him up. Steve came to me out of friendship and we made a deal that I would pay him out over time. I gave him two payments over a span and that was REAL FRIEND gesture on his part and boy I was thankful for it.
Throughout his life he remained hard to keep. Had to feed him a special way. A mess in the kennel so he got to stay in the house. (Knowing Stone he was smart enough to know that I hated cleaning dirty kennels so he figured it as a way to get in the house everyday was to keep a dirty kennel). He didn't get along with other dogs or puppies either. But it never bothered me he needed special attention so we managed.
I fed him special for 12 years. He slept next to me for about 8 years. The last 4 years it was too hard to get on the bed so he slept at my feet. I would take him, hard to keep, for another 12 years.
Stone died last night. He got sick and couldn't overcome. He did way more for me than I ever did for him. He was a gift from God I am sure of it. I will see him again one day, I am sure of that also. I am sure that he his with my Cody today; His only other dog friend he ever knew and I look forward to seeing them both again.
