I expect most of us had a childhood dog. If you're like me, this dog was - and forever will be - THE dog. The childhood dog, the special one you remember as your first. First real connection with another living being other than family & friends. First lessons in how to share in a responsibility (feed/walk/pick up poop). First loss. My childhood dog was called Sally Ann. Just Sally for short. She was a Shelty, one of the 'blue' varieties. Short but fast. Being a Shelty, Sally would 'herd' us kids as we ran around the back yard, but she never hurt us. It was about the chase for her. She was also rock solid in being there for me. I didn't have many friends. I don't have many 'moment' memories because I was so young, but the few I have are so visual. I remember I would get on my back, and work on fixing her belly like she was a car. She'd just stand there, patiently. Her favorite thing was the beach, we found out later. We lived in North Dakota, so by 'beach' I mean lake with tiny waves. The way she would attack those waves with her snappy jaws... she just had the biggest smile on her face. When she passed, I remember the phone call I got during class. I was in high school, and for some reason my parents thought I should know right then and there. I was confused, I didn't realize that she was so unwell, and I was so caught up in my teenage angst I lost out on those last months with her. We had her cremated. We'd always meant to bring her back to those lakes, to her happiest moments. But time passed, we had moved away, and I don't think we ever did that. And then...she just became a lovely memory. Her final lesson being that if we let other species into our lives, they can bring tremendous joy. Sally Anne. The Special One. Who was YOUR first dog, your Special one? (pictures would be amazing)