Remembering Saber the 'Office Dog'

Saber 'Office Dog' Brady
(born 6/18/91 - died 7/16/06)

I found Saber the Office Dog while searching for my 2 escaped Siberians. Bandit and Koko (both RIP) knew they were going to go for a ride in the truck and were a bit excited. Perhaps a bit too excited. As I opened the door into the garage, 120 lbs of determined Siberian muscle knocked me out of the way and bolted into the garage before I was ready. Not seeing the truck doors open, the duo exited outside, turned the corner of the fence and marched into the woods onto the trail we used for walks, figuring that "Mom will follow along shortly, let's not wait."


I didn't see Bandit for several more days and Koko never again. Bandit arrived back in our development with shotgun pellets in him and I imagine Koko, who was never more than 5 feet from his alpha, met his fate with a shotgun blast also. Meanwhile, I was canvassing the local area, searching through woods, putting up posters and calling and visiting the dog shelters looking for the lost dogs. On my first trip to the Chester County SPCA I spotted what may have been Bandit, but instead was Saber.

 Similar markings, but skinnier in build. He seemed friendly but low key, resigned to being in the cage. What's his story? I asked the workers. They couldn't offer any real info other than the owner just didn't want him and dropped him off. He's 3 years old and has been here for about 3 weeks. He's stopped eating, and nobody wants adult dogs, so his days are numbered here.

Inmates at the Landenberg Correctional Facility

Every day I visited the local dog shelters and each day stopped to say hi to Saber. He'd wag his tail and lean against the cage hoping I'd scratch him. His gentle manner captured my heart and with the shelter clock ticking I spoke to Maggie and she agreed to welcome him into our pack.

At that time we only had Bandit, and Bandit accepted him as a member of his pack, as long as Saber recognized that Mr. B was alpha, the one true leader.              

                        
Said Saber: "Whatever"

Bandit, Nikita puppy and Saber

Soon after, Nikita joined us slotting right in as dog #2 in the pack. But Saber never really had a straight line view of the pack hierarchy. He was one of the pack when it suited him, and at other times, off on his own. He never really challenged Bandit or Shaka as pack leader, but never really acknowledged it either. This lead to some fights (and vet bills) when Shaka, feeling a bit insecure in his role as alpha, attempted to dominate Saber. Saber never went looking for a fight, but if he found one, didn't back down.

Saber marched to the sounds of different drummer. One of his nicknames was "5 Minute Saber". We'd call the dogs in for dinner and the pack would barrel through the door. Not Saber! He would continue whatever doggie activity he was currently engaged in, and studiously ignore you. Pleadings, dog biscuits, stuffed animals shaken ... all to no avail. But 5 minutes later, there would be a dog at the back door, barking and wooing, demanding "Let me in NOW!"

 Speaking of wooing, that's one thing I'm going miss. Bandit and Saber both had great big husky howls and when Bandit passed, Saber was the only left to carry on. Nikita, "The Talking Dog" had a rich vocabulary, growling, chirping and barking but no real woo. Shaka pretty much has been a silent dog, though now as he gets older, he's starting to be more talkative. But still no woo.

Woooooooo .....

Saber's woo was nice and gentle like him, starting out soft and gaining more power. Usually my ears were attuned to it, able to pick it up far away and tend to his needs, usually wanting to come in. Of course, if the soft woo's didn't work, some loud and determined husky barking was soon to come.

Another trait that wasn't shared by the rest of the pack was great desire to run. Bandit, Shaka and Nikita were, by comparison, a bunch of slackers. Saber had that great innate husky need to run and run. It didn't matter where; all that was needed was the wind whistling past his ears. A little mock fighting between Saber and the other dogs would send him off in a great gallop, around the yard, down into the woods, under the deck and back to the action. The current slacker dog under attack would bark and advance one step, and there he goes again, off on a flying lap.

EnsuredMail Office Dog: hard at work

One of the joys in the EnsuredMail office was watching Saber fly through the kitchen and into our adjoining suite, around the tables and back through the kitchen, leaping across the wooden floor in a giant bound. Back into the main offices, around the cubicles and off into the kitchen again. This was his morning ritual for 5 minutes, followed by the "Who's got the bagel" hunt, of which he excelled.

 Here in no particular order are some Saber's quirks, antics or things that I'll miss:

As he aged, he used to have panic attacks and hide in basement. Once the door was shut, and he dug through the carpet and floor to get into the basement. Another time he tore through our outside fence to get free. Never underestimate the strength of a panicked dog.

Escaped just for the joy of running: Once he jumped from my parked truck and headed down Elkton Road, a busy 4 line highway, headed for Maryland. A kindly motorist stopped him 2 miles later. He escaped while vacationing at Myrtle Beach, made the 1 block to the ocean, headed south on the beach, destination Miami Beach Florida. I ran 5 miles to catch him. On the occasions he got loose in our development, he would just run back and forth on the top of the hill of our development daring us to catch him.

Saber Loved stuffed animals and left a huge collection behind. He would carry them around and shyly show you them, and then want to be chased with them.

He loved to help Shaka and Bandit with their hole digging projects.

 Loved car rides, knew every curve, dip and bump on my twisty back road commute to work and would brace himself without complaint.

He was very gentle, we called him "Lama Sabu". No matter what you hand fed him, he was so gentle in taking it from you. Unlike Shaka where you need Kevlar gloves and still need to count your fingers.

Loved bread of all types, bagels, dog biscuits, stale rolls, pizza crusts.

Software Development is hard work, but
somebody has to do it.

He was a hard worker, and never missed a day of work.

He never counter surfed, picked up trash or was destructive.

Saber used to quietly settle down right behind my chair and sleep when I worked, so I would always roll over him. I'd get an indignant yelp and look and he would leave. However 5 minutes later, he'd be back, sneaking up behind my chair again. And the cycle continues ...

He was always leaning against something, could never sit up straight, and always wanted to slouch.

Always skinny, always picky about eating - unless it was salmon or lamb!

Loved cat food, would fight Nikita for licking the remains of the cat food bowl.

Loved to sit on my feet when watching TV, even though Shaka thought that was a bit impertinent.

Had a mysterious black spot on the tip of his tongue and one black toenail

Saber had a good life and lived to be over 15 years old. We're going to miss you buddy. Rest in Peace for us at the Rainbow Bridge.