Publisher’s column: Ryan has crossed the rainbow bridge

On Aug. 22, at the ripe old age of 13.4 years, I made the heart-breaking decision to help Ryan cross the rainbow bridge.

Here’s the column I wrote about him when he turned 13 in April. I was so happy to have a teenager in the house, but at the same time, I knew it would probably be his last birthday with me because of his life-long myriad of recurring health issues.

I posted his passing on my personal Facebook page and hundreds of people sent condolences from not only all over the country but also from Canada and Europe as well.

I think he touched more people in his lifetime than I ever will.

Ryan came into my life during a very sad time – I’d suddenly and unexpectedly lost my first Toller, Widgeon, who epitomized exactly what I’d envisioned as a pet and show dog. He’d set a very high bar.

On paper, I hoped for the same from Ryan. He, however, had a very different plan for our future, and in true Ryan style, he was far from subtle about “showing me” this.

Unlike so many people’s reasons for owning a dog, I carefully choose mine because I want to live with a wonderful pet and train and compete with my dogs in performance events. They are pets first, of course, but show dogs second. My joy is finding the perfect combination of both and nurturing both. I can’t help it, I’m competitive by nature.

But Ryan just wanted to have fun. Think of the little kid who’d rather watch a butterfly flit by his head in the outfield than hit a home run. Meanwhile, his dad is in the stands shouting at the umpire about balls and strikes and disappointed when his kid’s team loses.  

Ryan made it quite obvious his fun wasn’t exactly what I’d planned it would be. His greatest joys in life included rolling in the freshly mowed grass or digging up a mole from the dog yard or snatching up a mouse he’d find racing across the basement floor. And cheese. His world was always better when cheese was involved.

It took me a bit to figure it out, but eventually I did. Ryan wanted to be my pet, was happy to learn new things and train with me when cheese was involved, and that was extent of it.

So, that became our life together for many years. I learned to laugh at him when he’d come in the house covered in yard debris and I allowed him to torture the mice he found in the basement. And he got lots and lots of cheese.

So, seven years ago, Buzz joined the household to fulfill my dual dog hopes. Ryan let him know he was king of the household, showed him the ropes and enjoyed accompanying Buzz when he showed. Ryan got lots of treats, happily held court with people who asked to meet and greet him and we took long leisurely walkabouts exploring the show grounds.

A handsome and charming ambassador for his breed, Ryan was chosen to participate in seminars where judges working on breed certifications learned about Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. And Ryan won their praise and their hearts because he loved to show.

Just not with me.

In his older years, he decided he adored showing for my friend, Nancy Jennings, who has a much more happy-go-lucky and relaxed attitude about dog show competitions. And I settled into my new role as their trainer and biggest cheerleader standing on the sidelines, watching and clapping. Those two made quite a winning team – not just in the conformation ring but also in the Rally ring.

Ryan was neutered at a very early age because of a health issue, so most of his conformation show dog winning took place at United Kennel Club shows that allow altered animals to enter conformation classes. And not at AKC shows. He won several Best in Shows and several Reserve Best in Shows with Nancy.

In fact, one of the biggest ribbons I’ve ever seen hung at Lane Animal Hospital for a year as a thank you to the staff there who kept his health issues at bay.

Ryan only showed twice in AKC conformation shows, once with me when he was 6 months old and he took Best of Breed. The judge loved him. The second time was several years ago at 11-plus years old at the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever National Specialty in Syracuse, NY in a special class called Veteran’s Sweepstakes where altered dogs are allowed to compete.

It’s an emotional class for everyone – those watching and those showing these older dogs. Five old men were entered — four champions or grand champions and then there was Ryan. All I was hoping for standing outside the ring wiping away my tears was that he didn’t finish fifth – because then he wouldn’t get a ribbon.

Instead, something magical happened. Ryan’s “style” as the judge called it, pushed the old guy to the top of his class. He won the veterans sweepstakes conformation class – in quite an upset.

Ryan and Nancy also showed brilliantly in my favorite sport – Rally Obedience – and won every time they qualified. Wowing not just the judges, but also the spectators every time they stepped into the ring. Ryan never met a person he didn’t like. And, he always made sure they knew it with his signature smile and constantly wagging, magnificently plumed tail.

As longtime readers know, Ryan escaped death five maybe six times during his lifetime, but at each turn for the worse, the veterinarians at Lane Animal Hospital managed to stop him from taking that first step onto the rainbow bridge.

Saturday was different. And I made the hardest decision a pet owner has to make – putting Ryan’s quality and joy of life above my personal feelings.      

And thanks to the amazing services of Faithful Companion, Ryan was immediately cremated and returned to me in less than 24 hours in a gorgeous mahogany box.

I miss Ryan terribly, but I have many marvelous memories and hundreds of photos to bring me comfort.

And I know I’ll get used to just making one dog meal twice a day and stop waiting at the door for Ryan to emerge back up the stairs after he made his mousing rounds of the basement.

But seeing his favorite chair in the living room without him curled up in it or walking into the bedroom and not seeing him on the end of the bed keeping watch on the front yard – those are among the little things that I’ll miss the most.    

“Ryan” U-CH Altered Best in Show Skylark Rocketman, RE, TKN, CGC. 4/29/07-8/22/20. Terrific pet, wonderful companion, great mouser.

(For the living, the “show” must go on with Chelsea Update. And it has, but please be patient, it’s tough writing and editing through all the tears.)