In March 1997 I flew to Pardeeville Wisconsin and met the nicest people – Mary and John Barth, this was the start of my journey with  little brown curly dogs.  All was good, this little fellow was an angel!  Until we got to the airport when I found out if I closed the top of his small under the seat crate he would scram his head off.  So he flew home with his head popped out of the top of the crate.  I still have the wings the flight attendant gave us.  This experience should have warned me…give him his way and he’ll be happy as a lark.  

Otto was the wildest puppy we’ve ever had!  We started obedience classes right away, but Otto had other plans, he kept dragging me over to the agility equipment.  He went on to earn the highest level agility titles in AKC and CKC shows, from the competitive 22″ class with all the border collies!  This wonderful dog opened agility doors I never dreamed of!  My only regret, is I wish I could’ve been a good a handler as he was an agility dog.  

One of Otto’s biggest accomplishments was being a St John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog.  My eyes still swell at the way the pixie dust fell on him each time he walked through the doors of the retirement/nursing home.  He just knew the right thing to do.  whether it was a cuddle with someone in bed, or showing off his antics to make everyone laugh.  Normally we’d just go into the tea room and those that wanted to see him could stop by.   He had a standing appointment  on their weekly schedule, and the room was always crowded.  They would share their stories of their lives and the dogs they loved.  If there were seniors that couldn’t make it to the tea room, they’d leave a note with the front desk for us to visit them individually.  Otto did this for 8 wonderful years. 

He was such a fun dog and always full of antics.  We competed a little in obedience, and while this wasn’t his ‘thing, he managed to make it entertaining – mostly at my expense.  One summer we were in a correction match.  I had on a cotton pair of elastic waist shorts, and because it was a correction match I was able to have a toy in my pocket so I could reward him for good work during the exercises.  He had a good nose and knew exactly where the toy was hidden.  During the first leg of the heeling exercise he decided to reward himself by grabbing at my shorts for the toy.  Right there in the middle of the ring, he and I had a tug-o-war with my shorts!!!  I did manage to keep them up, but left the building in stitches from laughter.    

My favorite though was at an AKC agility trial in Rochester, NY where he ran out of the ring to a person in a wheelchair watching in the stands.  He knew that person needed his attention.

We also competed in NAHRA tests, and he made it to the water portion!  YEAH!  We lined up for the mark, he swam out, retrieved his duck, and once out of the water kept going right past me!  He spotted his Aunt Gerda, who he loved so much, sitting in the gallery.  He hadn’t seen her for so long, he brought his duck directly to her, and gave her his butt for a scratch – but couldn’t figure out why she didn’t want to say hello.  Then he acknowledged my continuous whistles and brought the duck over to me.  He always did it – his way.  

When I think back, there was no better way.  I miss him so much and cherish the journey we had together.