Drover

I want to talk about Drover today. Why I am not sure, except to say that I don't want the story of Drover to be one about what a great dog he was when the inevitable happens, but rather about what a great dog he is.
Drover has a condition, not really sure what - most likely an inherited condition called kelpie ataxia - or maybe a brain condition bought on by his mother being vaccinated and the pup having a reaction - not really sure - and either way it doesn't really matter the end result is the same - and that is that Drover has a slowly degenerative condition that effects his movement. Sometimes his brain says - hey legs go left - and they will do but only after they've done a hokey pokey knees bend a bit to the right. Symptoms are most noticeable when he is going slowly - flat out he's great.
The thing I love about Drover is he loves to be called - often of a morning he goes for a wander down the paddock, and I for once not worried about snakes given I would rather him have an adventure while he can - let him go a distance before I call him.
And when I do call him it's something to see. Run,and run like he's the happiest dog on earth, I want him and he's a comin'. He might be awkward, and gangly - but he doesn't know and sometimes it is so beautiful it could make me cry if I let it - but I make a choice and I smile instead.
And he likes to get on things - the back of the ute, the 44 gallon drum, the garden bench, the only problem being that he can't get himself up so he runs to which ever is next in the path I'm walking - shed past ute, drum to shed and stands and waits for me to walk past and pick him up.
And I always do - running late, clean clothed, doesn't matter cause if this is the last time - and anyone of them could be - then there is always time.
And he loves to lean on you - when doing his stand up on things - if you pause for long enough he stays standing but leans back on you, back of his head on your chest - I ask you what is so important you don't have 2 minutes. And he might be smelly but your hands will wash.
And he's no fool - when he first arrived I had him in one yard - and later on moved him to a second yard... and every night when it's dinner time he waits in the first yard while I mix his dinner - and when I call his name he runs to the new pen. He's a man for routine.
I often think of Drover if he could speak he would say "I like the gentle jobs". No chasing the mower, no staring at sheep, he's the guy for leaning on you at the clothes line, for lying in the sun while you garden, for the stacking the wood. The gentle job boy.
Don't get me wrong - he's not perfect and if I said I didn't get heartily sick of the way he can't be toilet trained I'd be lying.
But there is something about Drover - Mike my wonderful vet on meeting him for the first time said to me - as Drover stood with his front legs on the vet table - feet on the floor leaning on me - geez but that dog looks like he could talk... to which I replied but Mike he can, and he has something to ask you... he wants to know "is he going to die today", and without a blink Mike replied no Drover not today.
Drover is humbling, and Drover is life affirming, and I hope that he has a long long time ahead... and there is really no point to this entry except that as I said at the outset... I wanted it known now what great dog he is ... and may was be a long time coming.