Kirby

The year was 1998, and we had Kirby for about four years. I'll never forget when my sixteen year old son, Jason came home and told me that he had the chance to buy a dog who was half black Irish Setter and half black Lab. However, he only had enough to pay for half of him. So I told him I would pay for the Irish Setter part.  Jason just laughed and went to pick up our new puppy. I loved that since he picked him up that day, Kirby never left our home again in his lifetime.

We named him Kirby for one of our 1987 and 1991 World Series champions, Minnesota Twins Baseball player, Kirby Puckett. When the announcer announced that he was up to bat, he would say, "Kirrbby Pucckkeettt." So we named our new puppy, Kirrrbby Puppppy. It seemed fitting at the time. After all, they were both black.

My son taught him many tricks. He would put steak or any food on his nose, and Kirby would sit so still until you said, "Okay." Of course the drool would always drip down his mouth so fiercely and there would be a puddle of slobber all over the cement. 

That is a little about our Kirby. He was a good dog, but never a house dog until Fourth of July, 1998. 

That was the night we were enjoying the fireworks on the patio with our friends. They were shooting them off across the lake. But Kirby was barking at every one of them. We thought he was excited about the sparks flying in the air. After all, it was across the lake and not that loud at all. We didn't realize that he was upset about them until the next drama unfolded. 

My friend needed to go into the house to use the bathroom. Kirby must have had enough, so just as they were about to send off one more, he jumped on the steps, ahead of my friend. When she opened the door, he ran into the house, and he peed all over my kitchen floor.

I felt so bad that my friend and I stayed in the house with him the rest of the night. Kirby officially became a house dog that night. I never made him sleep in the garage ever again. In fact, I made sure he slept next to my bed the remainder of his years.