Shetland Sheepdog/Sheltie

Skye was quite reserved when he first came to the ranch. I wasn't sure how he would fit in with the family, or if he would be the working dog that I wanted. He just showed no interest in working with the cattle. In fact, he was terrified of getting too close to them.

Though he had been through obedience training, come from a long line of herding dogs and had even worked with his breeder's livestock, he ignored my commands and showed no interest in working, period.

I gave him a chance, but it began to seem that he just wasn't going to be worth keeping. I started looking for a replacement; even made arrangements to get another Collie from the breeder as soon as possible. But Skye showed a particular interest in my little boy, Gage, who became disabled about the time he turned six. He'd lost most of his left leg to a resistant infection. Luckily, he survived, but unable to run and play after his recovery, Gage became introverted was often depressed. Since we'd gotten Skye, Gage's spirits seemed to improve daily thanks to the dog's attention, so I wasn't in any rush to send him back to the breeder. And while he was staying and hanging around cheering up Gage, I thought that maybe Skye could learn something from watching a real cattle dog.

One day we were all sitting around out on the front porch, Gage and Skye together as usual, when Gage looked up at me as said, "Pop, why can't Skye hear?" I was floored, staring at Gage and Skye as the light bulb went off in my head. Well, turns out that the pup was totally deaf in one ear and 70 percent deaf in the other. Everything that had happened suddenly made sense and guilt began to set in as I recalled how I'd yelled at that dog for being so 'stupid'.

While he would never become a cattle dog because of the hearing disability, what Skye does for my son will always be worth more than I'll be able to repay. There's a lot to be said for someone who can be a loyal friend to those with special challenges. Somehow, Skye knew that he and Gage as each could give something special to the other that no one else could.