This is the last picture I ever took of her.
When I was nine I wanted a puppy more than anything. My sheltie, Rosie, had died a few months before and I missed having a dog. I so happened to look through the classified ads in the newspaper and stumbled on one for four 6 week old sable sheltie puppies that was nearby. So I showed it to my mother and asked if we could just go out to see them. My parents said we could but by no means were we bringing one home. Well, we got there and saw there were only three pups left- 2 males and the runt girl. I looked in the box and the smallest pup jumped up at me. So I pulled her out and took her into the yard. The first thing I realized was she was mean and feisty. My parents were playing with a boy pup they liked, but I would have none of it. I just kept wrestling the little girl. The owners told me she was the meanest dog there, but still, I wanted her. So we ended up taking her home. Less than a mile away she was already named- Nikki. And it stuck.
She and I grew up together. She sure was feisty and sneaky just like I had been warned. But she was smart and very active. She was my sister and my best friend for a long time. Later that year we picked up an older pup named Trey. He idolized Nikki and Nik just bossed him around all the time. The two quickly became inseparable. When she was one or so I started teaching her lots of tricks. We’d put on shows for my parents and my friends. She’d jump through hoops and catch balls and frisbees. She could stay and speak and all that stuff. I was so proud that I could teach her.
She was a very quirky little dog. She hated bubblegum over any thing. She got this look like it was an alien coming out of your mouth. There was a stupid cartoon my sister watched named Road Rovers and if she heard you say that for some reason she would mimic the words ‘road rovers’. Even when she was twelve you could still say that and she’d reply back every time. She would ‘sing’ along to the paino, the clarinet, the flute, and most importantly the song ‘A Very Merry Unbirthday’ in Alice in Wonderland. Her favorite thing in the world was our rodents. She’d baby them and obsess over them- especially Scout. We’d call Scout her baby and she would often be found upstairs, sitting next to her cage.
When Josie was born, Nikki took it upon herself to become a Nanny. When Josie would cry, Nikki would howl. If Josie was playing, Nik was sitting right next to her. She was a good mommy.
As she got sick, we’d keep in good spirits. Her pills she had to take everyday were her ‘Princess Pills’ to her. She thought she was special because they were chewables and she got treats when no one else did. She was always the queen of the house. Every dog we have gotten since Trey has taken it upon themselves to be her official harasser. She would growl at them and they all seemed to have so much fun just bugging her. She was all bark and no bite though. And she wasn’t afraid to tell you how she felt! If she didn’t want to do something, you could count on her to grumble and growl the entire time she was doing it. So many times my sisters or my friends would be shocked at the way she’d grump me and I’d be unfazed, grumping her back. We had that kind of relationship and it worked.
She and I were best friends and we grew up together. I miss her already but I am so grateful that I had that time with such a remarkable animal. She was a great dog, but by no means a good one lol. I’m sure there will never be another remotely like her and I don’t think we want there to be. She was very special. She’s got some great company at the bridge. She can finally meet Rosie and Shack and can get back to her love-hate relationship with Harry. Now that she’s not crippled, he’d better run.
My favorite picture of her.
As a youngster
And with her best friend.
Oh, btw, her full name was Nikita Joanne.
Run free little girl.
