Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The Story Of Apple

I have been getting requests for photos and information about Edward’s best friend and housemate, the illustrious Apple. Fellow dog-lover, Susan, over at 29blackstreet was especially enthusiastic in her desire to make Apple's acquaintance and wondered if we were keeping her under wraps for a reason! Actually, truth be told, Apple is more my husband’s furry shadow plus, being black as night and always on the go, she is more than a bit difficult to photograph. But rest assured, she is a sweet and beautiful girl, and we are fiercely proud of her.

When Edward came to live with us, he was just under one year old. We enrolled him in a training class, mainly for socialization purposes, and noticed immediately how much he loved the off-leash playtime with all the other dogs. He would run around this big indoor arena, batting dogs with his front paws, jumping and rolling with utter glee. We had always been a one dog household, but seeing this we knew what we would have to do. Get Edward a friend. So, the search began. We found Apple at the same rescue shelter as Edward. She had been born at animal control and the shelter had rescued her mother and siblings from there, fostering the puppies until they were old enough to be adopted out. We arrived at the shelter just before closing on a cold adoption day in March. Apple was the last of the puppies left from her family, and I was allowed to hold her. Cashmere soft fur, extravagant ears, and jumbo sized paws, with a snow white bit of fur on her chest and chin. I ask, what would you have done? We brought Edward in to meet her and Apple was totally enthralled by him. She bonded immediately with Edward, who rode home with her as if he’d known her all his young life. While cooking dinner that night, I turned around to see both dogs asleep on the kitchen floor, Apple’s little ebony head on Edward’s big white paw. They have been the best of friends ever since.




The photo above was taken when she was four months old and enjoying sitting in my lap at my rather messy desk. Now that she is grown, Apple appears to be some sort of amalgamation of sheepdog materials with a soupcon of terrier added to the mix. She has a copious, glorious coat and has conveniently grown to be the same size as Edward. She is a dog that is always curious, always cheerful. She never goes anywhere at a stroll, she is always moving at a trot, or running full out, with something definite on her mind. She sleeps on her back and loves green beans. We adore her. It is such a treat to watch Edward and Apple play together, nap together, eat together, go on trips with us together, and challenge the garden squirrels together.
We will never be a one dog household again.

43 comments:

  1. This is a heartwarming story! I love Apple, she's adorable. Thanks for sharing her and her story with us.

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  2. What gorgeous doggies you have!!!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog :)

    Love,
    Bogart

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  3. She is beautiful ... and what a great story about how she came to live with you & Edward. She does remind me, just the tiniest bit of my Miss Winnie Dixon. We're thrilled to meet her. xo, S, Winn & Les Darn Chats

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  4. Awww. I loved this. We went from a two large dog (yellow labs) household to none over the course of the last few years and I do miss them so.

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  5. "She sleeps on her back and loves green beans", that's sweet. Your dogs are delightful.

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  6. I didn't even know Edward had a sister! She is darling. My kids want another dog..... I would love to have one, but it is hard enough to find a babysitter for just one.
    It was very nice to meet Apple.

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  7. Great story!

    My favorite family pet was a dog we had for about sixteen years: Rocky, a German Shepherd-collie mix, smart and funny and easygoing, unless he was protecting us. Though there have been other dogs since--Jock the intelligent and hyperactive golden retriever, Paco the massive and friendly Shepherd-Chow mix, Fluffie the Shih Tzu with personality to spare--there have been none like him.

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  8. Apple is just darling...what a beautiful story....I love your descriptions of each of your fine furry friends...Almost makes me want to rush out and adopt a couple of fluffy little guys myself....almost....well...maybe not :)

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  9. Apple & Edward are absolutely precious! Wonderful story of how she came to be part of your family.

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  10. Oh but she is sooooo adorable - I can't believe you have not one but two gorgeous, gentle doggies! Now I want to see a picture of them together...

    (It was lovely to escape the studio- a puffball, normal or giant, is a spherical fungus/mushroom which grows on the ground. Lovely sliced and fried in butter).

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  11. They are both such beauties!! Loved the story of how they met :-)

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  12. oh, apple is such a cutie! i enjoyed hearing the story of her long time friendship with edmund. thanks so much for all the wonderful comments you've been leaving on my blog about my art. i am way behind on my blog reading and enjoying my visit to your blog so much!

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  13. Thank you for your sweet comments about my Newfie Blog. I'm glad you visited because it gave me a chance to find your blog which is absolutely lovely. I read quite a bit of it at lunch today and noticed that we seem to have similar taste...especially in reading material. I am a huge Bronte and Austin fan. Edward and Apple are precious dogs. I'm so glad you all have each other. Katie and Louis send Newfie kisses to E & A.

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  14. I also meant to say that I know what you mean about always having two dogs. Katie and Louis would be lost without each other. Their meeting was very similar to that of Edward and Apple...love at first sniff.

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  15. Pamela,
    I think you made an excellent choice at the shelter....Apple is her photogenic.....Edward also....Betty

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  16. What a beautiful girl she is! What inspired her name?

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  17. I feel a new blog in Cyberland!
    works!!
    The Land of Apple!
    ;-)
    You are a Very fortunate person to have two such wondrous dogs in your life!
    I think I've said this before, but I like dogs more than people.
    Have fun with your pupsters today!

    xo
    Constance

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  18. I just discovered your blog via Mrs. Blandings. What a nice start to my morning. I agree whole-heatedly about the Bronte/Austen dilemma. I do think one appreciates Austen as one ages but I have never read a book as many times as Jane Eyre. And what a lovely story about four-leaf clovers. But, of course, it's that Peter Pan book that makes it perfect. An illustration to capture our hearts.

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  19. Pamela, Apple is as beautiful as Edward is handsome!...Oh, I concur about our lovely canine friends. We are down to 1 dog, a Shetland Sheepdog named Lizzie who was also a rescue...We would adopt another immediately but the stress on the old girl's nerves might prove a bit much for her. She's 14. I need to blog about her very soon...

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  20. Apple looks very wonderful indeed.
    Our rescue dog Skippy lasted until her was 16.
    I'm jealous. I was looking at a rescue site for Wirehaired German Pointers yesterday.(my son 'needs' as second dog)
    Some of the descriptions were hilarious: as in "inquisitive, energetic etc etc"
    which gave me the idea the said animal would demolish the house if left alone for an instant.
    Sadly we are currently dog-less as I don't want to start a dog without a garden to play in.

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  21. lovely story.

    gosh, i think i might be developing a crush on apple; )

    cheers.

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  22. apple looks very huggable like a teddy bear. Glad edward has a chum.

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  23. She's gorgeous, and how lovely that they get on so well!

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  24. That is a lovely tale, I mean tail... To think they were both rescue doggies too. My animals are always rescued ones aswell, and I guess that's another way decent folk come to be seen as angels? By their dogs anyway. Warmed my heart, thank you

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  25. What a great story and thank you for sharing. It is so inspiring to read it.

    The children have been taking care of our friend's dog every time she travels abroad. The children have fallen in love with a dog and want one of their own. I hear and read a lot of stories about rescued dogs and I am leaning on getting a dog from a shelter instead of a breeder.

    What a beautiful healthy dog you have, such blessing!

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  26. What a lovely story. I must confess I have a few tears in my eyes. So lovely they are the best of friends. x

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  27. What a charming pair of pooches you have. I could not have turned my back on Apple either. It's wonderful that Edward was receptive to her and they are the best of friends.

    I love your blog. Consider me a regular.

    Kat

    P.S. My feline, Blanche loves portobello mushrooms. I love how you mention that Apple loves green beans!

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  28. Apple is adorable!
    I had to get all three of my kids to see that cute as can be photo of you two and we all think she looks like a big fun teddy bear!
    How lucky to have two sweetheart doggies!
    Becky

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  29. Thank you for this adorable biography of Apple, and the story of Apple and Edward together. What good friends they are and such good company for each other (and for you!).

    Apple is very cute and sounds like an absolute sweetheart.

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  30. Oh, Apple is gorgeous! Glad to read about your furry friends and companions!

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  31. Lovely cuddly looking dog. Both of our dogs are from the pound/kennels too. Good choice!

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  32. what a darling story!!!! you're such a great writer!!

    thanks for the comment!
    joni

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  33. AWWWWWWWW! I love puppies, especially ones with gigantic paws :) Great story!!!

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  34. Apple is adorable! Edward is lucky to have found his soul mate.
    A house is not a home without our amazing wonderful animal companions.

    I can never respond directly back to your email when you leave a comment on my blog. I always get an error saying that your server has blocked my email address.

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  35. What a lovely introduction to your beautiful Apple. And they go on trips with you?! A pair of fortunate puppies, indeed.

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  36. Oh my goodness! I have just read the stories of how you adopted Apple and Edward. They are just "big Love" and too cute.
    One of my daughters wants a dog and I am now convinced we have to look at a shelter when the time is right. Thank you for sharing the wonderful, touching stories!
    : )

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  37. Apple looks just like my dog Kali who I had as my best friend growing up. Just a ball of black fur and bright eyes.

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  38. Well, I just read the story of Apple, and am enamoured just as much as I am with Edward.
    Never have I seen 2 such photogenic dogs, who look like teddy bears, and wonderful magical creatures wearing fur suits!

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  39. I am enjoying some of your older posts...what an amazing story of Apple....I love your descriptions of her personality! Even more incredible that they are both rescues..? They were meant for you. I too have two dogs, Honey & Biscuit, and I will never have just one dog again.

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  40. We're a four dog household and can't imagine life without any of them. Love your Edward and Apple; AAAdorable both!

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  41. I just read this and now I sit here weeping. My sweet Pup died one month ago today, at the age of 12. He was a Standard Poodle and as sweet and loving as any dog I have ever met. He left this huge hole in our lives and our hearts.
    So your sweet story of Edward and Apple made me cry but I am smiling too :)
    besitos, C

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  42. I AM IN LOVE WITH THE STORY OF APPLE . IM GOING TO READ ABOUT BEAUTIFUL EDWARD ITS JUST WONDERFUL!!!SO UPLIFTING.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!