We never had dogs growing up. But there were still dogs in my life. Here are two of them:
Our neighbors in NH had a poodle named Tink. Tink was my first ever pet sitting job! On occasion Don and Nancy would go away and leave Tink in my care. I also remember that Don used to take me sailing sometimes, and Tink would join us in that.

I believe Tink must have been a puppy in the above photo, because I remember him being much bigger. If memory serves correctly, he was a standard poodle, and usually sporting what I believe they call a “puppy clip”, nothing fancy.
It’s kind of funny that the other dog in my life was also a poodle! Geronimo, the little toy poodle with the big name, belonged to my oldest sister. Karen didn’t move with the family when we moved to NH, but she visited often. When she got Geronimo in 1976, from then on, he always came with her. When she got him, she decided she wanted a different name for him, and she had just watched a movie about the Indian Geronimo, and thought a big name would suit this little dog just fine!

I fondly remember Geronimo running along the back of that couch, and attacking me from behind….with his tongue of course!
This is Geronimo with his feline companions….Karen’s cat Samantha, on the left, and her roommate Heidi’s cat Caesar, on the right. I lived with Karen and Heidi for a few months, so these guys were my roomies too. Later I also lived with my sister and her husband again, so Geronimo and I spent even more time together!
Geronimo lived to be 16 years old, giving my sister many years of love and companionship. I know she was heartbroken when he passed, and he left an empty spot in all of our lives.
I remember him too. He was such a sweetie and full of personality! 🙂 Gone, but never forgotten. 🙂
Yes, I don’t remember seeing Karen during those 16 years without Geronimo-I think you were pretty much inseparable, Karen!
He was small so could go lots of places maybe bigger dogs can’t always! 🙂
Wow, so many memories. Geronimo moved with me 6 times in his 16 years. Thank you, Jan, for the pictures and for remembering him, he was such a sweet dog and it did break my heart when I lost him. I took him with me everywhere that I could. He especially loved sitting on the back of my seat and my shoulder while riding in my convertible. I still think about him and miss him.
I think our first dogs have a special place in our hearts.
Wow, so many memories. Geronimo moved with me 6 times in his 16 years. Thank you, Jan, for the pictures and for remembering him, he was such a sweet dog and it did break my heart when I lost him. I took him with me everywhere that I could. He especially loved sitting on the back of my seat and my shoulder while riding in my convertible. I still think about him and miss him.