The puppy was brought to replace our farm's guard dog, herding dog, and longtime cherished pet. Living in upstate New York, rottweilers had a bad reputation, and most people viewed them as fighting dogs or vicious guard dogs for car dealerships and junkyards, which was my Grandfather's opinion. He was worried for us three children he was raising. Worried that this dog would grow up vicious and dangerous, he refused the gift. But farmers needed a herding dog even in today's farm world. Grandfather gave in, seeing how happy he made us kids. He could not say no in front of us. Come to think of it, he rarely said no to us.
This is a true story of my childhood dog named Spark Plug, a baby rottweiler who loved life and every living thing--animal, human, and bug--that lived on his dairy farm. He was the farm's guard dog, herding dog, and cherished pet. He astonished the family many times with his keen senses, preventing unforeseen tragedies that he knew were going to happen. He saved the day over and over through his life out of love and devotion. He was a comic book at times and truly an endearing dog. One day, he brought Grandmother a rock with a caterpillar on it. The caterpillar was colored like him. He loved everything; maybe he thought it was his relative. I kept the caterpillar in a quart jar and fed it every day with fresh leaves. Soon it made a cocoon, and out came a butterfly. Spark Plug was like that caterpillar up against a rock with decisions for his life being made for him with no knowledge of his significant abilities bred into rottweilers and never even considering his big loving heart. He thrived and fulfilled his true calling, also proving not everything you hear is set in truth. Spark Plug could and eventually would prove himself trustworthy.