I love the way Zeak would look at me and cock his head from side to side when I spoke to him.  It is a sign of intelligence when a dog pays such intense attention to your words.  The picture was taken in the late winter of his last year.

The three photographs around this caption illustrate how the dogs were in the lake, spring, summer and fall. And if they found open water in the winter, they would even go in then.

       Of all of the photographs I have of Zeak, this one is my favorite because it most reflects his spirit.  It also captures exactly the way he looked at me at that climactic moment as he was leaving.  The photo was taken by Demitrius, of Infinity8Photo.com, located in Pompton Plains, NJ  (973)256-4000.  It was taken about nine months before he passed, when he was in remission.  I will always be grateful to Demitrius for his talent and artistry, which has given me these beautiful memories of my dogs, and his generosity in allowing me to share them with all of you.  He is a gifted artist, and if you are looking for a photographer for an event or family photos or for your business, I cannot recommend him enough!

Zeak loved his job as a working therapy dog with a major therapy dog organization. He visited people of all ages at different kinds of institutions, and also did home visits. After he was in remission from lymphoma, he was able to resume his job and work another year making people smile.  Time after time, his visits would result in people saying to me, "your dog's visit made my whole day!"

When a dog lays his front end down on the ground with his back end standing up, it is called a "play bow."  This position is a dog's invitation to another dog, or even a person, to play.  It was one of Zeak's favorite poses, and in this photo, he is inviting Lakota to play with him with this treasured stick.

Photo courtesy of Laurie E. Krauss

Zeak's personality resembled a lit sparkler on the Fourth of July.  He didn't enter a room... he pranced in, and when he was with his adopted brother or his friends, it was usually filled with fun and play.

Zeak and Lakota enjoy a peaceful moment on a beautiful New Jersey winter day. Even in this restful pose, their instincts prompt them to watch in opposite directions for predators; their orange bandanas are to make them visible to hunters.

The loving bond between these two dogs was reflected in the way they slept--always touching, always cuddling, always together.

I've never had a dog who smiled at me as much as Zeakie did.  He would smile for his pictures, smile when he thought something was funny, and smile to cheer me up.  One time he even smiled at me when he was getting a water infusion with a needle sticking in his back--I must have looked worried and he wanted to lift my spirits.  For some unknown reason, he has the ability to connect with me, even now.  For that reason I know that The Zeakie Dog still smiles!