Klaus - What a great dog.

Dell and Klaus.  Camping at the Cabin in August 2006.

Klaus was an amazing animal.  He was a rottweiler and all muscle.  He was Dell's dog, and the both of them had a singular passion - they loved camping.

I was always in awe of Klaus's skill set.  When he found a stick he liked he would carry it everywhere.  If you threw it, there was no challenge he couldn't be beat by.  Hang it from a tree (top left), he would eventually get it.  Toss it in a lake or river (bottom left) and he would swim to retrieve it eagerly.  Most impressively, in the pitch black of night, you could throw his prize into thick bush and he would disappear to search for it.  His dedication would always result in locating it, not some facsimile, and proudly return it to his master.

Stick retrieving wasn't his only strength though.  He carried a pack on his back that contained his needed supplies.  He would sit nicely in a canoe for hours on end, happily watching the world around him.  There was no trail he could not master, no slope that eluded him, and no distance to stop him.  

Klaus was also very well-behaved.  He had quite a few tricks, I was always impressed by his ability to roll over in whatever direction you told him to.  He had a "purr" which was tremendously intimidating but totally harmless; he did it on command.  His toileting skills were also unusual in that he always backed up to a bush or tree to do his business. 

Dell had a few people who he was very close to and one special dog.  After Dell passed, his good friend Jim took Klaus to live with his family.  Klause lived out his days there, but I am sure hi missed the two things he loved most in the world.  Camping, and his master Dell.  

Klaus, you were the best dog ever.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com