In 1977, I had gotten a divorce and was living with my mother in Maine. A good friend was living in Dallas and I decided to visit her, and then go see my grandparents in Vernon. My German Shepherd, Jamie, (now called Haus) was in relatively good health, though he was 11 years old by then. I was very nervous about seeing him after 8 years. Would he remember me? Did I want him to? In a way, I didn't. It would be easier for both of us if he didn't.
When I arrived, Haus was sitting on the back porch. My uncle Bill met me at the car and told me that when I entered the gate, Jamie would come barking and he would be ferocious. Haus had quite a reputation as a guard dog. Once someone had been verbally abusive to my Grandma King and when Haus heard the raised voices, he actually grabbed one of the men by the arm and started pulling him. Bill said to just stand my ground and he would be right behind me in case Haus got aggressive.
I opened the gate and Haus came running (as fast as he could, though he was obviously showing his age). He was intimidating, with his hackles up and his deep bark. But then, when he was a couple of feet from me, I forgot what Bill told me and just knelt down and said "Jamie, Jamie!"
He stopped and looked at me and I could almost see the recognition in his eyes. He looked blank, then all of a sudden he was all over me, licking me and almost knocking me down. Later, Bill said he was scared to death when he saw Jamie stop, because he thought he was about to attack me. But I saw his eyes and I knew he wasn't.
I spent 2 days there, and it almost broke my heart. Jamie was torn between his job of guarding Becky and wanting to be by my side. I remember how his breeder, Mrs. Lochner, had told me one of the reasons she decided to let me have him so young was that puppies create their strongest bond at around 5 weeks. That bond was deep enough to last 7 years and still be true.
Jamie died less than a year later. He is buried on what used to be my grandparents' farm that he protected so well.
I opened the gate and Haus came running (as fast as he could, though he was obviously showing his age). He was intimidating, with his hackles up and his deep bark. But then, when he was a couple of feet from me, I forgot what Bill told me and just knelt down and said "Jamie, Jamie!" 
