Konstanz (Connie) came into my life as a three year old German Shepherd rescue.  Being a rescue, being three, knowing no commands, and me being her 5th "person" meant a lot of work.  We saw trainers one-on-one, went to classes, and even saw a behaviorist who specialized in german shepherds to tackle some of her more complex issues.  She learned quick, but still had a lot of anxiety.

 

Then one day we went for a walk in the woods.  

 

Her eyes, wide with wonder, seemed to smile more than her tail wagged. Her tail never wagged more, in larger, excited circles than when she was in the woods.  She became a different dog on the trail.  So, I made sure we returned to the woods and mountains as much as possible. Through her eyes, I saw the beauty of nature, and I fell in love with the trail, all thanks to her.

 

The day after she passed away, I hit the trails, hoping to find her again on the trail, yet afraid of feeling her absence.

 

While she had only completed three of the 48 4000 footers, I put her collar on the back of my pack and decided to show her the rest.  The hole I expected to find did not exist as I listened to her tags jingle on the back of my pack.  

As long as I didn't turn around, it was as though she was right behind me.  

 

As I hiked back to my car, I realized the desire to continue hiking with her was just about the only thing that got me back out on the trails. There's no reason to stop peak bagging their lists.  

 

After all, our pets never really stop hiking with us.  

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Welcome to Connie's Collar

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~Kimberly Doe