I got Skye not realizing what I was in for and the first few months were really rough. I even wanted to give up at one point, she was so stubborn… but I knew I couldn't. I should have guessed, being that she is a Border Collie. She took forever to potty train and for the longest time splashed her water bowl every time we filled it. She was a very picky eater and she was a huge talker.

As she was growing older I started to teach her new tricks and the basics. She always had them down quickly and is a very smart dog (only when she wants to be). I guess it took me a while to realize that I was creating such a strong bond with her teaching her tricks, hiking and spending time together. I was slowly feeling better every day and each day was becoming less of a fight to get up in the morning.

It wasn’t so hard to go places by myself, well as long as she was with me. But even so, I was talking more to strangers and smiling more. It took me about a year to realize she was helping me overcome my depression. I didn’t feel so alone anymore when I was with her and when I was about to have an anxiety attack she was always right there licking my face and cuddling up to me. If I was having a bad day, I would quickly grab my camera, some water, a toy and out the door we went, going wherever I felt like.

It’s crazy for some people but it’s true that a dog helped me cope with my depression and anxiety. She opened my world up to new things, such as hiking around new places and meeting new people. Finding the good in every situation, she was the main inspiration for me to expand my love for photography.

I do still get the dirty looks and the side comments all the time when I call her baby or tell her how much I love her. But they simply don’t understand, she saved me in my time of need. Her need to be by my side at all times, following me around everywhere I go, her need to constantly hand you toy after toy. Those are the moments that although drive me crazy, I love so much. Sometimes she will run into walls because she gets so excited over a toy.

If I could bring her everywhere with me, I would. Life is so much better with her in it. If anyone asked me if they should get a dog, unless I know they wouldn’t be a good fit for one, I would say yes right away because they will change your life like Skye did for me. She will be my flower girl in my upcoming wedding and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about that!