mikester what a lovely thread
...
I grew up in a "doggy family". Dad was a real dog person - big dogs mainly. Mum was like the pied piper - any and every animal would gravitate to her -she would do nothing; they would just come to her.
Dad was a sporting shooter and bought himself a Champion of Champions German Shorthaired Pointer when I was about 5. What a dog! Norrie was 5 I think when Dad got him. He was a big baby around Dad - in fact Dad slept in the garage with him for a week to settle him into his new home! He never barked; growled ferociously when he felt any of us was being threatened and howled like you wouldn't believe!
Mum would let me walk Norrie at 5yo. This dog wouldn't let anyone near me. I could romp and play with him like a puppy; but when he was in "work mode" it was all "point and retrieve". He had the softest mouth - his prior owner demonstrated Norrie's abilities to us by putting a quail chick several foot up in a tree. He gave Norrie the command to "seek" and we watched in awe as Norrie found the chick (pointing first) and carried him back so gently he didn't ruffle a feather. Norrie put the bird at the feet of Jack (the breeder and prior owner). Jack said "bad dog - put it here" pointing to his hand. Norrie picked the bird up and placed it in Jack's hand.
On mornings that Dad didn't have time to exercise Norrie, Mum would take me to school and then stop at a large park nearby with Norrie. She would spend some time with him doing the training exercises and then sit in the car whilst Norrie would run around the oval. One morning Norrie would not leave the side of the car. He just sat next to Mum's door. Mum was starting to get cross with him apparently, got out of the car and threw his ball. He refused to retrieve it... finaly she managed to get him to move from the side of the car - he walked BACKWARDS away from her and never took his eyes off her. He sat in the middle of the oval watching her. A guy came over to the window of Mum's car and proceeded to ask directions for a street that Mum knew didn't exist in that area. He was attempting to open her door - quick as a flash Norrie was beside the door baring his teeth and growling at this guy. The man tried to "befriend" Norrie - no dice. The more the guy tried the more vicious Norrie got. Norrie chased the guy out of the park and raced back to Mum. Mum thinks Norrie got a good bite or two in as well - he was fleet footed and we don't think the guy could have outrun him; Norrie would have given up to come back to Mum.
Dad used to take him almost everywhere with him; he had a bed in the workshop and would spend most of his time mooching around the shop with the guys. He did cause Dad some trouble with a few people though - one guy came in with a suspension arm and brandished it up high at Dad asking if Dad thought it was repairable - Norrie flew out of his bed and jumped the guy - had him flat on his back in an instant and had grabbed him around the throat. Dad had a bit of an effort calling him off - but this man had threatened Dad in Norrie's mind - turns out the guy was as bent as his suspension arm too. Norrie was a good judge of character that time.
Dad's parents loved dogs too so he would sometimes leave Norrie with them for a few hours. One day my grandfather was carving some meat with a very large knife. He was talking to Dad and waved the knife at him - bad move. Luckily Dad had Norrie on a leash, but nevertheless my grandfather never raised the knife to make a point again. Norrie would still go to visit, but he would stay by my grandmother and never entirely trusted my grandfather again.
Norrie was a fabulous dog - he was amazingly loyal and loving with his family and was an incredible hunting dog. His only real vice was the "silent but deadly" wind he produced. He was save it all up for car rides - he used to sit at Mum's feet in the Benz and then let 'em rip! God they were bad! At least he would always look at Mum apologetically after letting one go, but sulphur had nothing on these!
The next dog came years later - my Border Collie X. That's a whole other story - she was my best friend for 13 years; smart as a whip, gentle and beautiful. She was "all girl" this one and was happiest when she was with me no matter what I was doing. She was a fabulous car traveller and loved going on trips. I had to put her down when Charlotte (now nearly 10) was 4 months old. I still miss her like hell...
Now we have the toy schnoodle who is a scream. She is proving to have the diligence of a schnauzer and the arrogance, smarts and attitude of a poodle. Nothing gets past her and she considers herself a little queen. She is not my dog, but the family's dog. She is simply wonderful and we all love her. But I could never, ever replace the Border Collie; she was one in a million.