Baylee and Dakota Valentine

Baylee watching me take photos of the dock building process.
She can barely contain her excitement.

This is a story of two dogs. Baylee, my "Berniel" and Dakota Valentine, my mom's new sheltie. For the sheltered among you, a Berniel is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and some sort of Spaniel....and a few other breeds. Kayla and I made up the breed name 'cause we just think Eukanuba and Westminster dog clubs should make Berniels official. But that's not the story. The story is about the developing friendship between these two dogs.

Baylee is very laid back. She lumbers here and there, but can get all excited. It's not a good idea for a 55 lb. dog to get excited when her mama (me) is only 5'2 and little.

Dakota is NOT laid back.

Little spirited Dakota Valentine has fallen in love with Baylee. He thinks she's beautiful, this tall, leggy brunette with bedroom brown eyes and a breath that is so stinky. And other parts that smell good to Dakota. They romp and play; Dakota turning quick circles around Baylee who gets bewildered and does her best to keep up. They love sitting on my mom's "sunny beach porch" while she and I have a bit of the grape. This was their first porch sitting.

Dakota is like "Hey, I like you! I really like you! Can I smell your breath? Look at me! Can't you see me? Hey, I'm down here! Hey, I really like you! Hey! Hey! Look down here! Hey, Baylee, play with me! Let's run some more! Oh please oh please oh please!!!!!"

"Help?"

Dakota isn't ready to stop. "Hey!!!!! Hey!!! Ruff!!! Ruff!!! Baylee...let's pllllaaaaaaayyyyyy!!!!

Finally, Baylee wins and Dakota stops. For a minute. Then the playing begins all over again. These two are so funny together! They love walking together and chewing on sticks together and chasing birds together.

Dakota and Baylee sittin' in a tree....kis, nah...just kidding. They're both, um, fixed. LOL!

Dakota Valentine

My mom has a thing for shelties. Her first sheltie, Maggie, crossed the rainbow bridge several years ago and my mom has been grieving since. The sight of a sheltie brings her to tears every single time. My mom lives alone but is very social with church, watercolor painting classes, PEO, bridge club and has many friends. Still, she gets so lonely rambling around her house. Kayla and I have been encouraging her to adopt through a sheltie rescue or the pound but they've never had a dog for her. Finally, she said to me "When it's my time God will send a sheltie to me."

Well, God put an ad in the paper Thursday that said "Free Sheltie to a Good Home," along with His phone number. She paced the floors and debated with herself and finally picked up the phone to place a call. The ad said to call after 5 but she couldn't wait that long. She rambled about Maggie and living alone and how long she's been wanting a sheltie, left her name and phone number, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, she could wait no longer and called the number again at 9 pm. A lady answered and prompted mom with some questions. When mom said Maggie's name the lady said to someone in the room "She's the one!"

As usual, Saturday morning I was up before everyone else. The coffee was brewing, and I'd just turned on the computer to check weather and e-mail when I heard a gentle tapping on the door. Baylee was happy - it was Mur! Mind, I'm sitting in my PJ's so I'm glad it was someone I knew! She came in and whispered..."I have a sheltie!" We hugged and cried and she told me the story about the ad in the paper. We drove to get him at noon, met the family and heard their story of sacrifice. Dakota needed a good home because their work situation wasn't good for a dog - he was in the crate most of the day and they knew it wasn't a good arrangement for an active little dog. They chose mom because she was familiar with the breed and had rescued a sheltie before - Maggie came from a really, really bad place. Dakota is the sweetest, cutest sheltie I've ever seen....not that I'm biased or anything. He loves his little blue ball and loves to chase shadows. His personality fills the room and my mom's heart. We added the name "Valentine" in honor of the day he came into our lives and for the love that we already feel for him. So, meet Dakota Valentine!