This beautiful dog lived with us as a loyal companion and protector for ten years. He died a few months after his tenth birthday of liver failure. He was beset most of his life with a nervous temperament, inconquerable dog aggression, and unresolvable skin allergies (except through keeping him on a constant regimen of steroids--which we tried once, as prescribed for six months by a university vet hospital).

We'd intended to train him as a service dog, but while he had incredible intelligence and work drive, his temperament made him socially unsuitable for any work. He was precious to us, but had in the end an unfulfilled and sad life.