Big Daddy was a stray Great Dane that we took in when I was 19. He had a rough start before we found him, but since then, he has been the most amazing dog I have ever known. He had a love for me that was beyond words. It was like he worshipped the ground I walked on. Every time I walked by, he would reach out and lick at my feet. In 2008, when Kelley and I got married, he had the privilege of getting a mommy that would love him more than any mom should when she was not around from the beginning. We could tell that she was loved back as well. The love between us all was more than just for a dog. It was like that first child type of love…it was deep. He was so much fun and was very funny. He was scared of little noises, which was funny considering he was so big, but even little rumblings from a coffee maker would scare him to wandering away in the house as far as he could get from it. He loved rope toys and loved to play tug of war. We will never forget the time we got him a squeaker toy. He wanted to play with it so bad, but the squeak scared him. He would be so gentle with it to make it not squeak and would look at you like you were nuts if you made it squeak. Then within months, he couldn’t make it squeak enough and was going through squeaker balls right and left because he would squeak them until they were falling apart. That we got to share in his life was somewhat by chance, but it feels like it was 100% meant to be. There was something there that was not just chance. We loved going on walks almost daily, and every night around walk time, he would let you know what time it was and would watch your every move just waiting to see you put shoes on or a jacket, and he would jump up and be ready to go even if that’s not what you were doing. I will never forget how he would not let you leave him once you stopped petting him. He would nudge you until you pet him again, and he would lean on you so that you couldn’t just walk away. You would have to make him let you quit or you would be there for days. My friend, I will love you forever and ever and will never forget how awesome you were.
From momma–Big Daddy made me feel so protected every night and day; especially, when his daddy was gone. He was scared of little noises, but he growled any time he heard anything suspicious. I know he would have protected me if anything ever happened. He was also such a lover though. He loved people so much and would let anyone pet him for days. Anybody that knew him, fell in love with him. Thank you for sharing your daddy with me, buddy. Your love for him was so special. I will miss you forever. Tell Liza hi for me up there, and I can’t wait to get kisses from you again some day. I love you.