Billie Jo's furry face was different from her litter mates. The vet described it as a 'white rose.' We thought the fluff of fur around her snout fanned out more like daisy petals and it was the first thing we noticed about the tiny puppy. But the reason we chose Billie Jo was her timid disposition. She had stood in the far corner of Sherri's tiny laundry room, patiently waiting for her turn to be noticed while her liter mates jumped over each other, vying for our attention.
They say never to choose the shy puppies but we fell in love with Billie Jo from the first moment. Her shyness was a preview of the sweet, patient, and infinitely tolerant dog she would grow up to be.
If Missy Kay wanted Daisy's toy, Daisy gave it to her. Even rawhide bones were patiently given over. With a small sigh, perhaps an imploring look our way, Daisy let the puppy have what she wanted with never a snarl or a nip. We'd reward her with a pat on the head and 'good dog' and she'd settle at our feet as if that were the only thing that really mattered - that she had our love and approval.
In spite of her obvious discomfort she never lost her enthusiasm for walks. Her cheerful endurance became another one of her defining qualities. Daisy fully recovered from her back injury, although she developed a trademark swagger that she kept for the remainder of her life.
A few other things changed as well - we bought some ramps, eliminated stairs and swore off kennels. If we went on a vacation, so did Daisy. It would be five more years before we considered going on a trip without her - not until we found Paws Here Awhile Pet Resort and Missy Kay to keep her company - and even then, we left our dogs at home only when absolutely necessary.
