| lisa_spyder |
03-22-2011 02:29 PM |
Looking at all the pictures in this thread of these simply stunning German Shorthaired's takes me back to when I was 5 and Dad bought his first GSP.
Dad was a keen sporting shooter (quail and rabbits mostly) and a 'dog man'. He negotiated for months to buy a very particular dog from a then world renowned breeder down here. I remember the trip to Jack Thompson's property for a demonstation of this dog's abilities...and how I fell in love with the dog immediately (so did Dad ;) ).
Norrie (I don't remember his stud name) was a Champion of Champions Stud and Competition dog. I think he was 6yo when Dad got him. For the first week, Dad slept in the garage with the dog...I kid you not. Norrie was pining so much for his old owner that he howled the neighbourhood down so Dad moved into the 'doghouse' to build a bond with him....and what a bond it was.
Mum was concerned we had a 'snow-dropper' (stealing stuff from the clotheslines) with peculiar tastes...for months and months all of Dad's underwear would go missing from the clothesline overnight. Nothing else, just Dad's stuff. One day we were doing a big garden clean up and I pulled up a pair of Dad's underpants when weeding. Turns out that Norrie loved Dad so much that anything with his smell on it would become buried treasure! When I showed Mum, she turned around looking for Norrie and he had slunk away into a corner, hiding his face with his big paw from Mum...he knew before she even said anything to him he could be in some trouble.
Things I particularly remember...Norrie's mouth. He would not ruffle a feather of a quail. His abilities were extraordinary; he would point when we thought there was absolutely nothing there and he would be right on the money every time. He would collect the bird and deliver it back to Dad and put it in his hand; never on the ground. He could climb trees like a bear. Part of keeping him in training involved a rubber duck/bird thing that Dad would hide up a tree in the neighbourhood park. When given the command he would retrieve the training duck from several feet up a tree.
He would go down the rabbit holes without hesitation. He brought a baby out one day (Dad had shot the mother) and put it in my hand, not Dad's...ever so gently and just sat by me as I cuddled it.
Protector...we were his family and no-one could get near us when he was around. He was a friendly and very well behaved dog; until his family were threatened. Mum used to drive me to school and then take Norrie for a run in the park. In the weather wasn't so great she would let Norrie take himself whilst she sat in the car watching. He would run and run around the ovals, but never took his eye off Mum. On one morning, Norrie was reluctant to go for his run. He would not leave Mum. She was getting annoyed with him and finally after many games with her he took himself off around the oval. A man approached the window of the car and started asking Mum about directions to a street she knew did not exist nearby. Mum knew something was up...but Norrie appeared out of nowhere and put himself between the man and the car. No barking (he never barked)...but a low rolling growl, hackles up and teeth bared at the guy. The guy made a lunge for the door handle and Norrie took him down...and then chased him out of the park! Mum never saw the guy again.
He would ride 'up front' with Dad in the car, sitting on the passenger seat. He would predict traffic light changes and would brace himself for the stop when the lights were starting to change. If he went to work with Dad, he would be content to stay in his bed. Once given the command to stay he would not move until told - even it that was hours. Although one day a 'salesman' came in attempting to sell some 'hot' stuff and was waving a control arm around at Dad. Norrie flew out of the bed and had the guy on the ground and by the neck in an instant. He let go when Dad told him, but wouldn't get off the guy until he said he would leave...great judge of character!
So many more stories to tell...he was simply amazing. He could go from playmate to hunting dog at the click of your fingers...we were truly lucky to have him.
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