I was 5 years old when I first met Hashi. My stepfather brought him home from someone associated with the Navy, who couldn't take him with them.
I had never before seen such a well groomed and beautifully cared for dog, and wouldn't again until going with my schoolmate Kimberly to an International Dog Show in Hawaii several years later.
Angel of Hashimoto was his title, although the complete title was much longer.
As if he completely understood every word of English, he sat next to my dad and waited for me to get home.
We were living in a Japanese Diplomat's summer cottage, at the end of a long gravel road. The very last house on the road that only had homes every so often on the left. The right side of the road was wild forest so thick you couldn't see more than a few feet in.
Hashi was so excited, he could hardly contain himself! He was warned by my dad to take it easy, but in his excitement (up on his hindquarters he stood taller than me) of wagging, whimpering and licking, he knocked me down. This happened repeatedly and I would end up crying as Hashi would lick me face continuously while standing over me. Initially it was funny, cute, and playful but I soon realized that I had no experience at being even a bit forceful or commanding and much like being tickled until you cried...the same would happen every time I saw him.
He was soft, warm, had a flowing white and caramel colored coat, and a very large,...