I was thinking all day on Monday about my darling Fritz. It was his birthday, had he still been with us. I think Fritz was, perhaps, the best dog we ever had. He was gentle and sweet and kind and loyal.
He was protective of the dackels and respectful of Greta, and her puppies, whom he loved.
And he loved everyone. He was definitely an equal opportunity lover of all people.
Gone from us now, for 6 and a half years, he will live on, forever in our hearts and our memories.
We were traveling in our motor-coach with Shubi and Fritz to a dog show, where baby Fritz debuted. He did pretty well, getting first place in his puppy category, as well as Best Puppy in Show! He loved riding in the motor-coach and one time we came in and found him sitting in the drivers seat, looking as though he belonged there!
His glory days didn’t last too long, as his beautiful, perfect, black nose grew into what is referred to as “snow-nose”, which basically means it turned a pinkish color.
Fritz was the very best and sweetest White German Shepherd that we ever had. We still miss him a great deal. I think his memory with be with us for the rest of our days.
This is a collage of our dear boy, Fritz. He was such a gem. Handsome and sweet! And actually the Grand Uncle to our Lili.
July 27, 2003-March 3, 2014
Today would have been Fritz’s eleventh birthday! Sadly, he made it to March 3 of this year and quickly passed from this life to the next.
We have said this before, we have had wonderful White Shepherds, but Fritz is in a league of his own! He was quite simply the best White Shepherd we ever had!
He was gentle and kind with all that he met, and he loved the dackels and was their body guard.
Most of all, he loved his Daddy beyond words! Following him everywhere that he went.
If I called him, he came, and was always happily wagging his tail! He loved me and I adored him too!
I cannot tell you how much you are missed, Fritz. Your little grand-niece is adorable too. She is starting to settle down and I can see that with training she will be great!
For now, Rest In Peace, Dear Fritz!
Fritz from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.
A good friend of mine came by on Saturday with this wonderful collage with poems honoring Fritz. I think I have said before, Fritz had no enemies, only friends he hadn’t met yet. His loss is being felt not just by us, but by the community we live in.
Hubby is on the Parks and Recreation Committee, and when the spring and fall would come, and the paths needed to be cleared, Fritz was always with him and the rest of the volunteers.
Arnie also has been feeling the loss. Tonight we noticed that he had dragged Fritz’s blanket out and was cuddling it.
But now, we need to let Fritz rest in peace, and move forward in our lives. I’m looking for a white shepherd puppy now and I am hopeful that this summer we will find our new family member.
Stay tuned!
I got this wonderful email today:
Maribeth & Jack,
I am heartbroken for the both of you! Only someone who has loved a pet as one of their own family members can truly appreciate the hurt and loss one feels. The similarities between Berlinn and Fritz’s passing are startling, even to the point of coming in the house and laying beside Mike as the last place he was able to get up. Fritz was so much like his dad, he had such a loving gentle spirit. He always always was my favorite of the litter. Due to my naivety of dogs reproducing the litter was unexpected, but looking back at it now I see what a blessing each puppy was, and how many lives were touched by them.
Out of all the puppies Fritz from the beginning was different, he wanted the human contact (I should say expected, lol) and always would sit on my lap and observe the other puppies like he was seeing them from our eyes. Even when they would go outside to play he stayed by my side and waited for me to interact with the puppies before he would, he was the only one that I kept inside with me only because he seemed more connected to us than he did Dottie (his mom) He even had a special spot by the fireplace he would lay at because of the cool marble, he was so mellow we never worried about him wandering or getting into trouble (but I am sure you have stories 🙂 ) I was elated when we met Jack and saw what a wonderful home he was going to, he was defiantly the lucky one of the bunch. I still remember the picture you sent of Fritz fully grown sitting on your lap as if he was a small lap dog, he didn’t care how big he was, he wanted to make sure he got his cuddle time.
I can’t thank you and Jack enough for all the updates and posts and pictures from the last 10 years, you have made us feel connected to Fritz like he was still a part of our family, thank you.
Please let me know if there is anything I could do for you, I am so very sorry for your loss.
With love,
Mike and Angie
Hubby and I are quietly grieving. We both keep expecting Fritz to come to the door or wake us in the morning. The shock of his loss is still with us.
I finally asked Hubby if he wanted to get another White German Shepherd? He said that eventually he would. But he wants to do some research so we get a nice healthy boy with good hips.
In the meantime, we are enjoying the dackels and they are going everywhere with the two of us. Why Arnie even went out today with Hubby and helped him clearing away the ice on the driveway. They were out there for nearly an hour and Arnie was a very good boy.
The three dackels are starting to recover from Fritz’s loss. The first couple of days they were so depressed. Today they were much brighter.
If it was only that easy for Hubby and me.
We took Fritz to the Vet as he went down on the floor this morning and was unable to get up. The Vet examined him, and found he had a tumor in his stomach that no one knew about. He never complained, and he never showed that he was in pain. I mentioned he had not been eating too well, and now I know that it was the tumor pressing on his belly.
This morning, the tumor ruptured and his belly was full of blood and he was bleeding inside and was dying.
We rushed him to the Vet, not knowing what was happening, only knowing he could not stand, or move. She examined him and showed us how his belly was like a water balloon it was so full of blood.
So, we got down on the floor with him and stayed as he got his injection and took his last breaths.
Our Fritz.
Fritz from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.
In memory of our beloved Fritz
July 27, 2003-March 3, 2014
FOUR FEET
I have done mostly what men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.
Day after day, the whole day through–
Wherever my road inclined–
Four-Feet said, ‘I am coming with you!’
And trotted along behind.
Now I must go by some other round–
Which I shall never find–
Some where that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind.
— Rudyard Kipling —
You will be missed my darling boy!
Today is Fritz’s tenth birthday! My how the years have flown by! We have said this before, we have had wonderful White Shepherds, but Fritz is in a league of his own! He is quite simply the best White Shepherd we have ever had!
He is gentle and kind with all that he meets, he loves the dackels and is their body guard.
Most of all, he loves his Daddy beyond words! Following him everywhere that he goes.
If I call him, he comes, and is always happily wagging his tail! He loves me and I adore him too!
So Happy Tenth Birthday, Fritz, Darling!!!
Hubby and I are unhappy to announce that the cherries on our trees all rotted! Yes, because we have had such terrible wet weather, the poor cherries didn’t stand a chance. They started to redden, and then turned soft and brown and so rotten that even the the birds didn’t want them!
Meanwhile, we picked our first cucumbers today. 2 slicers and 3 picklers. I think that Hubby should make his German Cucumber Salad.
With the vast amount of rain that we have had, the bees have not been doing their work, and the garden is not overflowing as it usually is! Hopefully the rain will subside a bit and once again I will be complaining about too much zucchini and summer squash!
After nearly ten years of life, guess who has discovered ice cream? Fritz! He absolutely loves vanilla ice cream! Since I only give him a little (people ice cream isn’t good for him), I plan to get the doggy ice cream for his birthday on July 26th! After all, a ten year old doggy deserves what ever he wants!