Listen to this post instead:
He’s still my why.
In business, we’re told to find our why, the driving force behind everything you do. Simon Sinek calls it “the purpose that drives every one of us.”
Some people build their why around success, legacy or passion. Mine? He had four paws, a big heart and a way of changing my entire world.
Shep wasn’t just my dog. He was my compass, my constant, the reason very I picked up a camera to take pictures of a dog. And even now, years after he’s gone, he’s still guiding me.
Because of him, I know this to my core: Every dog deserves to be remembered like this.
He led me here. Every step we took together helped me create the life I have now. And more than a decade later, he still continues to be an influence.
The dog who changed it all
Shep was my first big girl dog. He came into my life in 2004 when a dog shouldn’t have been a good idea. I was a single gal, working long night shifts at a newspaper in Calgary and running off to the ball field whenever I could to play slo-pitch.
We took some time to get to know and trust each other. Gaining the trust of a Maremma, I’ve learned, is kind of a big deal. After thousands of years of accompanying shepherds in the Apennine mountains of Italy, the Maremmano-Abruzzese relies on partnership with their humans, not dominance.
Shep and I were together for a few years before I realized how deeply he would change my life. In 2007, he convinced me that corporate pencil skirts, high heels and a Ford Mustang were overrated.
Enter hiking boots, cargo pants, a backpack and an SUV. And a camera.
After a decade of doing journalism-type photography, I needed a break. I ditched all my film gear before I met Shep. But in 2008, I realized I wanted to start documenting our travels around Alberta and the Rocky Mountains. I picked up an entry-level Nikon DSLR and rejoined the photography world.
How could I be in the most beautiful place in the world with the most beautiful dog in the world and not take photos?
More than a companion
No matter what, he always paid attention to me when I came home exhausted after a long night (or day, after I switched from sports writing to marketing) at the office.
He cocked his head thoughtfully when I worked through complex issues out loud.
He put his head under my hand when I cried out frustrations.
And he knowingly avoided the trajectory path of the remote control when the Calgary Flames were playing hockey on the TV.
He taught me more about love and life than I ever thought I could learn.
Shep taught me about:
- Patience
- Peacefulness
- Showing our loved ones they matter
- Peeing on everything
Wait, scratch that last one. That was just for him.
More than anything, he taught me how to be present in the moment.
The phone call nobody wants
I remember it oh-so well.
It was August 20, 2014. Shep and I were living in Kelowna. We’d just gotten engaged to Our American and were waiting for my visa approval to go through so we could move to Spokane and be a family.
I knew he’d been failing. He’d had torsion surgery the November prior to save his life. He recovered nicely, but there’s no way it didn’t take a toll on his 12-year-old body.
He stopped eating. He even refused steak and his home-made liver cookies. The call came on a sunny Wednesday morning. Shep’s kidneys were in failure. His heart was ready to explode out of his chest.
I threw a few clothes into a bag, went out into the yard where he was lying in the grass and said, “road trip.” He perked up and lumbered his way up the ramp into the back of our great Escape, the little SUV that drove us all around North America together.
We made it just in time for one last hour as a family.
The healing — and the next chapter
I was devastated. My constant companion was gone. My grief was overwhelming.
But each dog we love prepares us for the next one. Each dog we love helps us grow our hearts so we can love the next one even more.
Shep made me a better human so I could give Bella every ounce of love she deserves,
And he continues to walk beside me every day. His spirit guides me through this ridiculous journey called life, guarding me every step of the way.
He is my inspiration every time I pick up the camera.
Had it not been for our trips to the Rocky Mountains, I might never have thought to buy another camera and pursue digital photography.
Had I not had hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful images of him backdropped by amazing mountain scenery, I might never have realized how precious a single image of your furry best friend can be.
Had I not had Shep in my life, I might never have wanted to make sure you, too, have gorgeous photos of the pets that bring you as much joy as I’ve found with my dogs.
He led me here.
And now, Shep is leading me into the next chapter of this journey by creating Adventures With My Copilot.
Because these moments? The hikes, the road trips, the breathtaking landscapes and the quiet moments of connection? They’re everything. And your copilot deserves to be at the center of it all.
Stay tuned. Big things are coming.
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