Duke can definitely be described as an "Original". The mold was broken the day that he was born. He was one of a kind and touched the lives of everyone that had the priviledge of knowing him. There was not one person that didn't have some wonderful words to say about our "King". The way that he would want you to pet him and as soon as you did he would roll over and make you rub his belly. Or when you are sitting down he would come and nudge your arm and stick his head under your elbow. Then there was his love for the outdoors; how he loved to be outside laying in the grass with freedom around him and chewing on his bone, or the way he swam ~ you would never know that he was a dog just because he swam like a fish. Anyone that watched him in the water was amazed that he would stay in there for hours sometimes all day! He would chase balls in the water or sticks and bring them right back to you and if there wasn't anyone around to do that he would just swim in circles like his tail was a propeller :0) When he had enough of the water he then would purposely come up beside you and shake ~ that was probably his way of saying "that's what you get for not coming in with me!" He had a zest for life and a love so unconditional for his family for his entire life right up to his last breath. He will be missed every day for many years to come but will never be forgotten. He will just be watching over us now with the same love.