Silver the Watchdog

Thank you so much to everyone who has offered their condolences on the loss of our German Shepherd, Silver. She was a wonderful dog, a loyal companion, and a protector of our family for many years. I can't think of a time that she ever showed aggression toward a person, save one. For several years, Kirk and I lived in a loft apartment that overlooked our veterinary clinic. As Silver only had three legs, stairs were a challenge, and ours were too much for her. So she basically had the run of the clinic at night, along with a love seat in the waiting room that she claimed (and destroyed by chewing on the arms.) One night, the local sheriff's department was checking doors, just as they always did, and found that we had forgotten to lock the back one. We never really had trouble with break-ins, I think mainly due to the fact that if you walked up to the curtained front doors, Silver would immediately push them aside and look out at you!
Finding the back door unlocked, the deputies came into the building through the back, not realizing that we were sleeping upstairs...or that Silver was downstairs. She met them at the swinging door that led to the waiting room, and made it clear that they were not welcome to come any farther. In a sort of odd turn, they went next door and enlisted the help of our neighbor, who assured them that Silver "knew him" and would let him in. She let him come through the door, but no farther. She had retreated to her love seat, but she was lying there showing every tooth in her head.
How on Earth we slept through all that, I'm not sure. Finally someone decided to just yell until they woke us up. Honestly, I was shocked to find out that our sweet, loving puppy was also one heck of a watchdog...when she needed to be.
She had three tricks, "give me five," "speak," and "Bang! Dead dog!" She loved to perform them for anyone and everyone. Silver loved kids, and she entertained at local schools and libraries on a regular basis, even letting my husband the veterinarian tag along.
After yesterday, it is apparent that a lot of people remember her, and remember her fondly! My poor husband was a bit disappointed that after I posted about the dogs one day they got more "likes" on FB than a post about him! Sorry, Babe.