Piper Smith (age 3) showing Wynonah WSSCA Regional Specialty- Autumn 1992 - Georgia (USA)
Piper's first show win - First place, costume class :-)
Piper's first show win - First place, costume class :-)
A tribute to a wonderful Welsh.....
MEASURING TIME IN DOG YEARS
This morning was one of those mornings. We didn't have to get up before we
wanted to. There was no school, no jobs, no shows to rush off to; I got to
sleep until 7:45. When I woke up, there was Wynonah, slow to stand up, but
there to greet me as she has done for over 13 years. She wasn't my first
Welsh Springer, nor is she my last. She wagged her tail, and sidled over
to the edge of our bed. On impulse, rather than simply pet her, say good
morning, which she may or may not hear, and let her and the other dogs out,
as I do each morning; I lifted her onto our bed. She promptly burrowed
into the pillows, like all the Welsh I have ever had the opportunity to
share my home with. She rolled from side to side, nuzzling the pillows,
and sliding her nose endlessly into their feathery softness. Rich woke up
and rolled over to snuggle and pet her. I had to ask him to move her over
to allow me enough room to lie back down in my own bed. As I watched, I
began to cry.
All right, I am one heck of an emotional person. But it made me think,
think about 13 years and more. Wynonah is older than either of my
children. She was there before we bought our first house, long before this
one burned down and we re-built. She watched our daughter learn to walk,
and followed her closely, no matter where we were, to make sure she was not
in harms way. I remember a day, soon after our second child learned to
walk. We were at a dog show, I don't recall where. Piper went in one
direction, and Ethan in another, and Wynonah looked at me, with a totally
perplexed expression which clearly said "OK, I do my part, but which one
do I follow NOW?!?" These days those same two children watch carefully to
see that Wynonah has a clear path to the door, and a chance to wander
around the back yard without too many other dogs there to overwhelm her.
Yesterday, I watched as two of Wynonah's great grandpuppies made their
debut in the show ring: two six-month-old Welsh that would not be here
without her. Two puppies that I am the breeder of, as are their mother, and
grandmother before them. The night these puppies were born, there were four
generations of Welsh in my bedroom. This morning I thought of Wynonah, and
the other Welsh that I have shared my life with, too. I cried some more.
I don't want to wait until she is gone to tell everyone how wonderful she
is, how much I love her. To use this moment with her as a chance to remind
everyone how much these dogs mean to all of us. To say to everyone,
appreciate your old dogs, and your puppies, the people you know, and the
richness added to your lives, because of these red and white canines.
Enough. There are my Welsh that came before her, and those afterwards to
think about yet today. I hope I've made each of you think, and remember,
and hug your dogs. Now I must go feed mine, and take myself back to
reality; I must go launder the throw rug in our bathroom, the result of the
weakened bladder of a 13 year old Welsh.
Rysan's Wynonah of Briallu
(Ch. Tydaky's Wildfire X Ch. Statesman's Charming Kismet UD)
6/20/88 - 2/06/03
Breeders: Sandra & Richard Rohrbacher
Owners: Barbara Shuklis Smith & Richard E. Smith, Jr.
You would think the fact that she was 14 1/2 years old and that we have eight other dogs at home would make it easier, but it does not. It was a decision I had to make for her; it was clearly time. Each of us took the chance to say goodbye. I held, petted and kissed her as she went quickly and peacefully, cradled in the fleece blanket that her daughter Mazie won as a veteran at a WSS specialty.
She was a great dog, we loved her, and we will miss her forever.
Her legacy lives on at BRIALLU in her daughters, sons, grandpups, and great-grandpups;
Ch. Briallu Quick Crimson CGC
Ch. Briallu Attitude Dancing
Ch. Briallu Simple Twist of Fate
Ch. Briallu Quik Rise
Briallu Rubicon's Special K CDX
Ch. Briallu Shotgunner's Sam MH
Ch. Briallu Swing Dance
Ch. Briallu Just That Simple
Along with others who have gone on to enrich the lives of the people who love them.
Sleep well Nonah, we will always remember your smile!
BRIALLU
Welsh Springer Spaniels since 1979
Tibetan Spaniels since 2008
In the foothills of the Pocono MountainsPennsylvania, USA
[email protected]