Shadow - CH Instar's Shadow Dancer CGN

Last night we lost Shadow very suddenly. In true Shadow style, she went on her own terms as we were preparing to ease her suffering, in the company of myself and Dad, at the vet's office.

She was my first dog and my first Weimaraner (even though my Dad was always her person). The last several years she lived with my Dad and lived the best possible life a dog could have. She was opinionated, stubborn and the sweetest, snuggliest girl. She was the first dog I almost completely finished myself, and my real introduction into this crazy world of dog showing - I had dabbled a bit with some other dogs, including her mother. She was a cross of my two favourite dogs at that time, Aero and Tyco.

I adored Shadow even though she was an epic brat, who at the age of 2.5 decided she no longer deigned to be crated and destroyed every crate or pen I attempted to put her in. She would not touch anything once she had freed herself, except occasional kleenex boxes and remotes, and one time, a brand new unopened bag of flour from the cupboard - she held grudges like nobody's business and even though you never knew when she was going to reward you for whatever indignity she felt she had suffered, you sure knew when she had.

She was the first dog that I knew to smile at me, and she had so much character. Shadow and I got her Canine Good Neighbour and she started me wanting to do more with my dogs.

She raised Molson for his formative first year - and did a wonderful job - before she went to live with Dad and Titan and keep Titan in line, when I had to move back home with Mum - Shadow and Ripley were not each other's favourites, even though they were half sisters.

She went through many tough times with me and my family, and she was brave and loving and stubborn and smart.

Rest in peace my dear girl, Do-Do, Dozer, Dozie. Love you to the ends of the earth and we will meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.

CH Instar's Shadow Dancer CGN, November 20, 2006 - September 26, 2017.

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