Celebrating my companion's birthday (picture heavy)

[Greylyn58]

Today is my best friend's birthday and I wanted to share him with you. He has stood by me during good times and some very bad times in my life, always there with his warm brown eyes, a cheerful smile and constantly wagging tail.

Oh, did I mention he's a dog. Some of you might know him or have asked about him. This is my beautiful boy Sheridan and he's turning 12 years old today.



He first came into my life when he was 12 weeks old. Just a tiny thing then, a ball of golden fur. He was a birthday present from my then husband, Al. He knew I wanted a dog and that I wanted a Golden Retriever. I had done a lot of research about them, and after finding a great breeder, we brought our baby home.

We were both fans of the sci-fi tv show Babylon 5 and decided to name him for one of the characters, Capt. John Sheridan. His AKC name is also derived from the show: Claridge Sky Full of Stars.



We had recently bought our first house and now had a yard for him to play in. Our cat, Fritzie, who had been our only fur-baby at the time, was introduced to the newest member of our family. It was a tense meeting. Sheridan, who was 4 times bigger than our little Fritzie tried to be friendly, but she promptly smacked him on the nose. It took them about a year to become friends, but they did.



Sheridan grew fast, turning from the furry butterball into a large puppy who was all legs.



By the time he had reached 8 months old, he was turning into a handsome golden. He graduated from obedience classes and they took pictures. He was just beginning to show the feathers on his chest and legs that Goldens are known for.



Sheridan continued to grow, becoming a handsome Golden boy, who loved everyone he met (and still does)





Over the years, he has been with me through the ups and downs in my life, my divorce, an emergency surgery, loss of my job, almost being put on the street.

Through it all, he has never asked for anything more than good food, a belly rub, scratches behind his ears, plenty of visits to the grandparents, car rides and long walks.

He is my best friend and always will be and I love him dearly.




Thanks for letting me share my boy with you. He's a little whiter now around his muzzle, a bit slower in his manner, but Sheridan is still a ball of energy, ready for anything. I hope we have many more years together, but if not, he's given me a lifetime of love and memories

[VenusRising]

1. Happy Birthday, Sheridan, you big puppy!

He's a beautiful baby, and you gave him such a loving birthday tribute.

I hope you two have a wonderful day together.

[MissMillie]

2. I'm in love w/ him... just looking at him

your story makes him all the much sweeter.

Happy Birthday Sheridan!

[auntAgonist]

3. Sheridan is GORGEOUS!

Happy b-day doggie!!


What a nice tribute.


aA

[Greylyn58]

55. Thank you from both of us.

[LynzM]

4. Happy Birthday, Sheridan!

What a wonderful friend you have there! :loveya:

[Greylyn58]

5. Celebrating my companion's birthday (picture heavy)

Today is my best friend's birthday and I wanted to share him with you. He has stood by me during good times and some very bad times in my life, always there with his warm brown eyes, a cheerful smile and constantly wagging tail.

Oh, did I mention he's a dog. Some of you might know him or have asked about him. This is my beautiful boy Sheridan and he's turning 12 years old today.



He first came into my life when he was 12 weeks old. Just a tiny thing then, a ball of golden fur. He was a birthday present from my then husband, Al. He knew I wanted a dog and that I wanted a Golden Retriever. I had done a lot of research about them, and after finding a great breeder, we brought our baby home.

We were both fans of the sci-fi tv show Babylon 5 and decided to name him for one of the characters, Capt. John Sheridan. His AKC name is also derived from the show: Claridge Sky Full of Stars.



We had recently bought our first house and now had a yard for him to play in. Our cat, Fritzie, who had been our only fur-baby at the time, was introduced to the newest member of our family. It was a tense meeting. Sheridan, who was 4 times bigger than our little Fritzie tried to be friendly, but she promptly smacked him on the nose. It took them about a year to become friends, but they did.



Sheridan grew fast, turning from the furry butterball into a large puppy who was all legs.



By the time he had reached 8 months old, he was turning into a handsome golden. He graduated from obedience classes and they took pictures. He was just beginning to show the feathers on his chest and legs that Goldens are known for.



Sheridan continued to grow, becoming a handsome Golden boy, who loved everyone he met (and still does)





Over the years, he has been with me through the ups and downs in my life, my divorce, an emergency surgery, loss of my job, almost being put on the street.

Through it all, he has never asked for anything more than good food, a belly rub, scratches behind his ears, plenty of visits to the grandparents, car rides and long walks.

He is my best friend and always will be and I love him dearly.




Thanks for letting me share my boy with you. He's a little whiter now around his muzzle, a bit slower in his manner, but Sheridan is still a ball of energy, ready for anything. I hope we have many more years together, but if not, he's given me a lifetime of love and memories

[LeftyFingerPop]

6. Wonderful post and a beautiful friend...

thank you for posting this heart warming tribute.

[Greylyn58]

21. Thank you

[AndyA]

7. Happy Birthday, Sheridan!

You're a good looking boy, and you are lucky to have such a loving companion to take care of you. You are obviously very much a part of the family, which is as it should be.

Enjoy your birthday, and may you have many more to come! :)

[BrklynLiberal]

8. An exquisite tribute to a deserving friend.

I understand and share your love for our canine and feline friends who ask so litte in return for the unconditional love they give us until their last breath....and sometimes even afterward.

He is very handsome, and his wonderful personality shines thru in his pictures.

[Greylyn58]

59. He is definitely a personality

He loves to ride in the car and gets lots of looks from the cars we pass.

[Jane Austin]

9. Happiest Birthday, Sheridan!

From your Texas cousins, Rocket, Scurry, Brewster, Dizzy, Chip, Campbell, Scooter, Rascal, BB, Jolie, Punkin, and Princess!

You are a handsome boy!

[ceile]

10. Thanks for sharing!

Who could ask for a better friend? Happy Birthday, Sheridan!

[ccpup]

11. oh man

your Post made me get out of my chair, go over and disturb the sleep with a big, B-I-G huge for my gorgeous 10-year old dachshund Cinnamon and my own little Golden Boy Harry, a Norwich terrier (he's my avatar). It's hard to explain just how much we love them, how much like people they can be and how much we cherish our time with them. You did a fantastic job, though.

And he is a beauty, isn't he? Congratulations and give him a big birthday hug for me.

[Greylyn58]

22. I will...

he loves hugs too. :)

[Beelzebud]

12. Thanks for sharing. It made me smile!

Dogs are one of the best things in the universe. :) I firmly believe that. :)

[mod mom]

13. Adorable! I just purchased 2 jars of organic baby food to make my Canine-Americans

Christmas gifts (home made dog cookies)

Someday, when the world is saved from BFEE, I want to be one of those crazy ladies who lives out in the country with 10 dogs. They bring so much joy into our lives!

[RiverStone]

14. Wrappy Werfday Sheridan !

In scooby do-speak.

Glad your a DU dog :hi:

[Frustratedlady]

15. Happy Birthday, Sheridan!

Don't you wonder what stories they could tell if they could only talk? They see and hear so much and are included in most everything we do.

Mine is going on 14 and I can't imagine not having him with me.

Lovely tribute!

[LakeSamish706]

16. Thank you so much, I needed that today... I hope he lives a very long life! n/t

[Neecy]

17. happy b-day!

He's simply gorgeous. I just want to grab him up and give him a big ol' bear hug. Lucky you!

Do you have him on a glucosamine regiment? My dog is 18+ and I've had him on it since he was about 9. He has a little arthritis in the hips but otherwise is very mobile for his age.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. What particular breed do you have. I have a German Shepherd, and have him on Glucosmine and

chondroitin. He is almost 10, and I hope to have him around for a very long time!!!

[Neecy]

30. He's a Lhasa Apso mix

He must have pretty good genes, but I'm convinced the glucosamine has improved the quality of his life. He's still as sassy as ever, especially when he makes faces after his bath.

[BrklynLiberal]

33. He is ADORABLE! I had a Lhasa Apso that I got in 1970. She lived to be 18 1/2!!

[Greylyn58]

19. No I don't, but thanks for the info

I might have to do it because he seems a bit slower after a visit to my folks and a run in their backyard.

[Eurobabe]

20. I can't think of a better combo....

A Sagittarian Golden. Happy Birthday Sheridan!! :grouphug:

[Beausoir]

23. Happy Birthday, big fella!

[petersjo02]

24. Thank you so much

for sharing these great pictures and Sheridan's story with us. You are blessed to have such a wonderful companion in your life.

[Greylyn58]

58. I really have been blessed

There have been times when I was so glad he was with me. He has also kept me sane in some insane times.

[TomInTib]

25. Ain't nothin' like a Golden. (Health hint to follow)

My 10 year old Golden, Seamus, just left for work. He is the Official Greeter at our Asian furniture and accessories store (10,000 sq ft with a dedicated parking lot). He runs out to cars that pull up and sits until the people get out. He also fetches tape measures on command.

Anyway, back to the health thing...

Pumpkin.

That's right. Libby's pureed 100% Pumpkin (not pie filling).

You cannot imagine the benefits that feeding a big spoonful of pumpkin along with his regular food can have on an older dog.

Fat loss, joint fluidity and skin care. Seamus was coming off a leg injury and put on about ten pounds of fat (he normally weighs 90 lbs). Pumpkin melted that fat off of him in two weeks.

And he has not had a hot spot in the two years since we started the pumpkin regimen.

Seamus is probably our town's best-known dog (or anything, for that matter) and we now have a cult of Pumpkin-Feeders.

[Greylyn58]

27. Thanks for the information

I will definitely look into that. Anything I can do to make my boy a bit healther is worth it.

Give your boy a big hug for me. :)

[BrklynLiberal]

35. Cool. My GSD had a bought of the runs a few months back, and I added pure pumpkin to his diet. He

gets a heaping tablespoon with every meal, and he has been fine ever since. I am so glad that it has added benefits as well.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

26. Happy Birthday Sheridan!

From all of the longlittledoggies!

[Greylyn58]

28. Hehehehe

I love it.

My ex and I had talked about getting a weenie dog, but since it was my birthday, my choice won out.

:)

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. Sheridan

:party: :hug:

[Gato Moteado]

31. happy birthday sheridan....from simba and coquito

birthday wishes from costa rica from your friends:

SIMBA
http://i55.photobucket.com.nyud.net:8090/albums/g138/GatoMoteado/simba02.jpg

COQUITO
http://i55.photobucket.com.nyud.net:8090/albums/g138/GatoMoteado/coquito01.jpg

[Greylyn58]

38. Your babies are beautiful.

Sheridan's father, who was a show dog, was named Simba. :)

What kind of dogs are they?

[Gato Moteado]

50. rhodesian ridgebacks

they're not 100% but pretty close. they're a little less than 10 months old and probably 70lbs or so. great dogs but very restless...they need a lot of attention and activity. they're on my 50 acres down in golfito and my GF's brother is taking care of them. i see them once a month or so...they love walking the trails through the rainforest with me. eventually, once i'm living on one of my rainforest properties they'll stay with me full time. i had them with me at my house in the san jose area from the time they were about 5 weeks old up until a few months ago and let me tell you...they grow fast and can tear up a small yard in no time!

they have a deep and loud bark which is great....anyone snooping around the property that hears it will think twice about sticking around.

additionally they don't mess with the chickens or other animals.

here you can see the ridge on simba's back (coquito doesn't have the well defined ridge):

http://i55.photobucket.com.nyud.net:8090/albums/g138/GatoMoteado/simba01.jpg


i also have little abbey, who used to love to play with the late andy stephenson when i still lived in austin and andy would come in from seattle to visit friends and family. like all of us, abbey misses andy too. here's abbey:

http://i16.photobucket.com.nyud.net:8090/albums/b13/vegematic/abbey4.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com.nyud.net:8090/albums/b13/vegematic/abbey1.jpg

[Greylyn58]

51. That's funny, I was going to ask if they were Ridgebacks

or had some in them, because I thought they looked like that breed.

Your other baby is adorable. I love the smile on her face in the last pic. What a cutie.

[bear425]

32. That was so beautiful it made me cry. Thank you for sharing and

Happy B'day Sheridan!

[Greylyn58]

69. I'll be honest, I shed a few tears as I wrote this

mostly thinking of all he and I have been through together. He always greets me in the morning with a smile and does the same when I come home from work. I can't image being without him.

[KansDem]

34. Who's the cat in the third photo?

Looks like a calico. I have a calico, and a tortoise shell. I like cats!

Oh, and Happy Birthday, Sheridan! :party:

I like dogs, too!

[emilyg]

36. Happy Birthday Sheridan

Enjoy your kitty companion

[Greylyn58]

37. That was my baby Fritzie.

She has passed on. She and Sheridan had a rocky start...she smacked him on the nose, he yelped and peed on the rug. :rofl: But they were good friends after about their first year together.

Here's a better picture of her. She wasn't a calico, but grey striped with white paws and a white chest.

[bdamomma]

39. Happy Birthday Sheridan!!!

please give him a extra doggie treat from me. Pretty dog.

[JuniperLea]

40. What a great face! Such a handsome boy...

You are both very lucky to hve each other.

Dog people are the best people!

Jack and Sedwick wish Sheridan a very, very happy birthday!!!

[Greylyn58]

42. Oh how cute!!

I love all dogs, big and small. Your babies are beautiful.

[Gato Moteado]

56. hey there....is the brown pup a rat terrier?

nt

[Le Taz Hot]

41. Happy Birthday

from my brood (cats)!

Sly
Jerry
Ghost
Shasta
Henry
Xena
Erica

What a little cutie pie!

[canadianbeaver]

43. You are both very lucky to have each other......

His eyes look so wise...like he knows.

Peace to you and Sheridan this holiday.

Merry Christmas!

[Greylyn58]

44. I'm adding this as a Tribute to my Sheridan

This is a poem I just found and I think fits all dogs.


Walking With an Old Dog

Because you will not be forever,
Hope against time though I may,
I paint your picture in my memory,
Eyes blue with age, muzzle gone gray.

Because you walked with me in Springtime,
Puppy-clumsy, running free.
As you grew, we grew together-
You became a part of me.

Because you shared with me my sorrows,
Not understanding- simply there.
Often spurring me to laughter--
My friend, you know how much I care.

Because the years have slowed your fleetness,
Though your spirit still is strong.
I promise I will take more time now,
So that you can go along.

Because you do not fear the future,
Living only in the now,
I draw strength from your example-
Yet time keeps slipping by somehow.

Because the day will soon be coming
When I will no longer see
You rise to greet me-but in memory
You will always walk with me.

- Gayl Jokiel

[Janice325]

70. Thanks for that tribute. It made me cry, because it reminded me

of my late "geriatric puppy," Brigit, who I had put to sleep almost two years ago, just after Christmas. I'd had her over 15 years.
Gotta go hug my terrier, Morgan, now, even though she just demolished a brand new roll of toilet paper that I made the mistake of leaving loose in an opened roll of toilet paper I'd left on the floor of the bathroom. Now I have to clean up chewed up tp on my bed and the floor.
Also gotta hug the 3 rescued kitties, Tommy, Loki, and Lucky.
A big happy birthday and hug for Sheridan.
Thanks for sharing.

[BarenakedLady]

45. Happy Birthday Sheridan!

Love, Ben

[Greylyn58]

48. What a beauty!

How old is Ben? He's a handsome boy.

[NewWaveChick1981]

46. Awww....What a wonderful tribute to Sheridan!

:hi: :D :loveya: May you have many more happy years with your sweet boy. :hug: Give him an extra pat on his head from me and my doggies.

[Fire Walk With Me]

47. .

:thumbsup:

[zanne]

49. Damn. I'm gonna cry. nt

[Greylyn58]

78. I didn't mean to make you cry

just wanted everyone to help me celebrate my boy's big day!!

[judaspriestess]

52. Happy Birthday ya handsome fella

and many more!!

[Phentex]

53. what a beauty!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful friend!

[SharonRB]

54. Happy birthday, Sheridan

We love having you in the clubhouse with us every night.

[Greylyn58]

57. and you know he loves being there

He is after all a loyal member of the KOEB!

He loves Keith. :evilgrin:

[CC]

60. Happy Birthday Sheridan!!!!!

WOOF woof WOOF woof WOOF woof woof!!!





May you have many more with your mommy. Love, Ferretessa and the Zoo Crew

[Greylyn58]

63. OMG !!! That cake is so cool!

I didn't get Sheridan a cake, but I bought him some special food, treats and a soft toy with a squeaky in it. I don't usually give him soft toys because he can tear one apart in a heartbeat--that's why I call him the Toy Killer. :rofl:

But since it is his birthday, I bought him one--he promptly tore the face off and pulled the stuffings out of it. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I've been picking up white fluff all day, but I don't care cause it made him happy. :)

[CC]

64. One day a year he can demolish a

soft toy.:rofl: My little small pups do the same while the big dog just hordes them so they don't get soft toys very often either. I figured for Sheridan I could put something special together. I did not know there were so many dog birthday cakes out there though. Mine would prefer a big bone with meat on it.


Edited to add- You did a great tribute to a special guy.

[Greylyn58]

65. Here's a couple of pics I took with my camera phone

before he killed his toy.

He was so excited when I gave it to him. I thought his tail was going to wag off his fuzzy butt!

:rofl:

[CC]

67. Looks like he was enjoying it.

And just for Sheridan, tonights Countdown looks like it will be Keith's Special Comments. Much better than Oddball for the year.:bounce: :bounce:

[GreenPartyVoter]

61. Love the baby pics!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

62. Happy Birthday Sheridan!!!

What a beautiful doggie! :loveya:

[Berry Cool]

66. Happy Birthday, Sheridan!

from one of the "EDVs of the KOEB"

We love having you for a mascot!



Here's to many, many more!!!!

[Greylyn58]

68. Thanks Berry

Ooooooo, Sheridan thinks those treats look yummy!

[Patsy Stone]

71. Best.Doggie.Ever!

:loveya:, Sheridan! Happy Birthday!

[Greylyn58]

74. Oh that is so very cute

I love the doggy boxes. :)

[Wcross]

72. Whoooos a good boy! Sheridan is! Happy birthday boy, you are a lucky dog!

Thanks for sharing him with us. Beautiful guy you have there.

[Greylyn58]

75. Thanks

Is that a picture of your baby?

What a cutie. I love all dogs. I admit it. :)

[Wcross]

77. Yep, one of six dogs.

I use "Larry" as my sig line. He's a good yellow dog.

[ralps]

73. Happy Birthday Sheridan!!

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[Greylyn58]

76. Thank you

Love the new kitty pic. You always find the best ones.

[RevCheesehead]

79. Sheridan!!!

woof-woof woof woof woof woof,
woof-woof woof woof woof woof,
woof-woof woof woof woof Woofidan,
woof-woof woof woof woof woof!!! :party:

:loveya::loveya::loveya:
Aunt Ruth & the kitties

[Greylyn58]

81. Hey Rev..

Sheridan says hi to you and all your babies and thanks you for the woofy birthday song. :rofl:

[Rowdyboy]

80. Happy birthday Sheridan! We share our lives with Champ, a 9 year old English springer spaniel....

He's a 75 lb teddy bear and the love of our lives so I know how you feel. Congratulations on finding such a good friend.