How much is that doggie in the window?

[Codger_64]

Many years ago I had a very special dog with an oh-so-common name, Jake. It was early spring of 1979 when he was given to me. My mother-in-law was PO'd at her husband because he had left her to care for his bird dogs while he went out tomcatting. So Jake was a "spite gift". But he was that one dog we all seem to remember who gave us his all.

Jake was a special breed, a Llewellin Setter from old stocks bred in England (Mr. Humphrey) and Ireland (Friar Brannon) who inherited Mr. Llewellin's breeding stocks. The breed is pure and distinct from other setter breeds, even English Setters.

Jake was self-housebroken, gentle with my infant son, would do anything I asked of him as long as he understood what I wanted. I could tell him to go lay down and he would. I could point to a different spot and he would cheerfully move to that spot. In the field, hunting quail, he would watch me and follow hand signals for directions, left or right, far or near. He even tagged along on a squirrel hunt. After noticing me looking up in the trees, he began to, and ran around scenting trunks until he located a squirrel. I almost wished I hadn't shot that squirrel. Jake retrieved it and sat whimpering at my feet begging me to take the "bird" that had clamped it's teeth on his lip!

Time goes on and so did my Jake. But I remember him well, the most faithful, eager to please dog I ever owned. In fact, thinking of him reminds me of the epitaph to his dog written by the great playwright, Eugene O'Neill:

I, Silverdene Emblem O'Neill (familiarly known to my family, friends and acquaintances as Blemie), because the burden of my years is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my last will and
testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it is there until I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him then to inscribe it as a memorial to me.

I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their time hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about objects they
have, and to obtain the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to those who have loved me, to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me most, to Freeman who has been so good to me, to Cyn and Roy and Willie and Naomi and - but if I should list all those who have loved me it would force my Master to write a book. Perhaps it is in vain of me to boast when I am so
near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely lovable dog.

I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even my sense of
smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having over lingered my welcome. It is time I said good-by,
before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me.

It will be sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life. What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe with those of my fellow Dalmatians Llewellins who are devout Mohammedans, that there is a Paradise where one is always young and full-bladdered; here all the day one dillies and dallies with an amorous multitude of houris, beautifully spotted; where jack-rabbits that run fast but not too fast (like the houris) are as the sands of the desert; where each blissful hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning and one curls oneself up and blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth, and the love of one's Master and Mistress.

I am afraid this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and long rest for weary old heart and head and limbs, and eternal sleeps in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best.

One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, 'When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one.' Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again.
What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow jealous spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good (and one cat, the black one I have
permitted to share the living-room rug during the evenings, whose affection I have tolerated in a kindly spirit, and in rare sentimental moods, even reciprocated a trifle). Some dogs, of course, are better than others.
Dalmatians Llewellins, naturally, as everyone knows, are best.

So I suggest a Dalmatian Llewellin as my successor. He can hardly be as well bred, or as well mannered or as distinguished
and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green. To him I
bequeath my collar and leash and my overcoat and raincoat, made to order in 1929 at Hermes in Paris. He can never wear them with the distinction I did, walking around the Place Vendome, or later along Park Avenue, all eyes fixed on me in admiration; but again I am sure he will do his utmost not to appear a mere gauche provincial dog. Here on the ranch, he may prove himself quite worthy of comparison, in some respects. He will, I presume, come closer to jackrabbits than I have been able to in recent years. And, for all his faults, I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.

One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: 'here lies one who loved us and whom we loved.' No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

Ah me... So this brings me to the point of this post. It is time for another dog... another "Jake". All of my children are grown and gone. My first wife is deceased and I have departed from my second wife. I live alone. And I am deaf/HOH. So I need both a companion and a hearing service dog.

I've been looking at breeders and rescues. The rescues are disapointing in their rules and requirements, especially for what they offer. And the breeders are quite expensive so far. I never dreamed that the breed would be so highly valued. Prices I have found range from $500 up for a pup. But compared with the usual $250 fee from a rescue for an older dog with questionable breeding and history, I suppose that isn't so bad.

Oh well... on with the search.

 

[KnifeKnut66]

Very eloquent post brother. I wish you well on your quest for a loyal loving companion.....

 

[Codger_64]

Does this pup look like a good candidate for $500? It has both Bomber and Bondhu bloodlines (both pure Llewellin). Bondhu was Mr. Llewellin's original line and King's Bomber line is parallel, the two most pure genetic strains.

 

[bluecrow76]

Great post!

Almost five years ago my wife found my first dog at the city pound. Shelby is a Basset/Catahoula mix (we call her a bassahoula), and is just what I needed for a first dog. When she went to the pound she didn't even notice Shelby at first, mainly because all the other dogs were begging for the attention of the new prospect. After looking at all the other kennels my wife was about to walk out when she met eyes with Shelby, who simply placed her paw against the kennel and gave her that look that we have come to love so much.

I can't imagine life without her. It was definitely meant to be!

Good luck in your search!

 

[Codger_64]

Thanks bluecrow76!

Interesting factoid about Llewellin setters? Since you insist...

They are one of the few breeds of dogs (and the only setter breed) in which the dewclaws are still complete and functional... "thumbs"! ...with tendons and bones and can be used for climbing and grasping!

 

[BigDude]

Great post. Good luck with your search.

I highly recommend a book titled "Merle's Door".

 

[Codger_64]

Great post. Good luck with your search.

I highly recommend a book titled "Merle's Door".

I found the book and an excerpt. I'll check it out. It sounds interesting.

It was for this reason—smell—that I think he trotted directly to my door, leaned his head forward cautiously, and sniffed at my bare thigh. What mix of aromas went up his long snout at that very first moment of our meeting? What atavistic memories, what possibilities were triggered in his canine worldview as he untangled the mysteries of my sweat?

The big dog—now appearing reddish in the interior light of the truck and without a collar—took another reflective breath and studied me with excited consideration. Might it have been what I ate, and the subtle residue it left in my pores, that made him so interested in me? It was the only thing I could see (note my human use of “see” even while describing an olfactory phenomenon) that differentiated me from my friends. Like them, I skied, biked, and climbed, and was single. I had just turned forty-one, a compact man with chestnut hair and bright brown eyes. But when I ate meat, it was that of wild animals, not domestic ones—mostly elk and antelope along with the occasional grouse, duck, goose, and trout mixed in.

Was it their metabolized essence that intrigued him—some whiff of what our Paleolithic ancestors had shared? Smell is our oldest sense. It was the olfactory tissue at the top of our primeval nerve cords that evolved into our cerebral hemispheres, where thought is lodged. Perhaps the dog—a being who lived by his nose—knew a lot more about our connection than I could possibly imagine.

His deep brown eyes looked at me with luminous appreciation and said, “You need a dog, and I’m it.”

Unsettled by his uncanny read of me—I had been looking for a dog for over a year—I gave him a cordial pat and replied, “Good dog.”

His tail beat steadily, and he didn’t move, his eyes still saying, “You need a dog.”

As we got out of the cars and began to unpack our gear, I lost track of him. There was his head, now a tail, there a rufous flank moving among bare legs and sandals.

I threw my pad and bag down on the sand under a cottonwood, slipped into its silky warmth, turned over, and found him digging a nest by my side. Industriously, he scooped out the sand with his front paws, casting it between his hind legs before turning, turning, turning, and settling to face me. In the starlight, I could see one brow go up, the other down.

Of course, “brows” isn’t really the correct term, since dogs sweat only through their paws and have no need of brows to keep perspiration out of their eyes, as we do. Yet, certain breeds of dogs have darker hair over their eyes, what might be called “brow markings,” and he had them.

The Hidatsa, a Native American tribe of the northern Great Plains, believe that these sorts of dogs, whom they call “Four-Eyes,” are especially gentle and have magical powers. Stanley Coren, the astute canine psychologist from the University of British Columbia, has also noted that these “four-eyed” dogs obtained their reputation for psychic powers “because their expressions were easier to read than those of other dogs. The contrasting-colored spots make the movements of the muscles over the eye much more visible.”

In the starlight, the dog lying next to me raised one brow while lowering the other, implying curiosity mixed with concern over whether I’d let him stay.

“Night,” I said, giving him a pat. Then I closed my eyes.

When I opened them in the morning, he was still curled in his nest, looking directly at me.

“Hey,” I said.

Up went one brow, down went the other.

“I am yours,” his eyes said.

I let out a breath, unprepared for how his sweet, faintly hound-dog face—going from happiness to concern—left a cut under my heart. I had been looking at litters of Samoyeds, balls of white fur with bright black mischievous eyes. The perfect breed for a winter person like myself, I thought. But I couldn’t quite make myself bring one home. I had also seriously considered Labrador Retrievers, taken by their exuberant personalities and knowing that such a robust, energetic dog could easily share my life in the outdoors as well as be the bird dog I believed I wanted. But no Lab pup had given me that undeniable heart tug that said, “We are a team.”

The right brow of the dog lying by me went down as he held my eye. His left brow went up, implying, “You delayed with good reason.”

“Maybe,” I said, feeling my desire for a pedigree dog giving way. “Maybe,” I said once more to the dog whose eyes coasted across mine, returned, and lingered. He did have the looks of a reddish yellow Lab, I thought, at least from certain angles.

 

[dttomcat]

Hey Codger, I remember you posting a while back about wanting another Llewellin. I think it's great that you are ready to take the plunge! I myself am considering a new puppy ( a Vizsla). People have actually suggested that I carry it around in a baby harness for the first several months to encourage the bond. I think I'd feel kind of silly but the bond between a man and his dog is priceless. Great story about Jake and I wish you the best of luck!

 

[beau5278]

It is unbelievable,the prices that breeders are getting for dogs these days,I bred Dobermans and Labs for awhile back in the 1980s and '90s,I wish I would have stayed in it.Keep up your search Codger,I have a JRT now that I found from a private breeder back about 7yrs ago that has been a really great dog,I considered rescues but like you,the rules and regulations were pretty unbelievable.Best dog that I ever had was a Chessy mix,great hunter and a very calm easy handling dog,I got her in 1975 and only had her for about 7yrs,lost her to cancer,she's still the one that I look back at and wish I could find another like her.Maybe one of these days I'll start looking at the Chessy rescues again,I never minded having more than one dog around,they're easier to deal with than women.

 

[Codger_64]

Hey Codger, I remember you posting a while back about wanting another Llewellin. I think it's great that you are ready to take the plunge! I myself am considering a new puppy ( a Vizsla). People have actually suggested that I carry it around in a baby harness for the first several months to encourage the bond. I think I'd feel kind of silly but the bond between a man and his dog is priceless. Great story about Jake and I wish you the best of luck!

Nah, I wouldn't think the baby harness would be a good idea at all. Bonding comes naturally enough with feeding, care and attention. And training of course.

I did read a discourse by one knowledgable breeder who weans his pups early, removing them from the dame before they bond too strongly. He suggests as early as five weeks, as he feels 7-8 weeks is a crucial bonding/maturing age.

I have, of course, a lot of stories about Jake, as you might imagine. I was afraid he might be gunshy as a pup so I bought a pot-load of fireworks. He went nuts... with excitement! He actually chased them, and lept into the air sniffing the smoke! I had to put up all of the ground works as he would try to catch them in his mouth or trap them with his paws! Gunshy? Not a chance!

It is unbelievable,the prices that breeders are getting for dogs these days,I bred Dobermans and Labs for awhile back in the 1980s and '90s,I wish I would have stayed in it.Keep up your search Codger,I have a JRT now that I found from a private breeder back about 7yrs ago that has been a really great dog,I considered rescues but like you,the rules and regulations were pretty unbelievable.Best dog that I ever had was a Chessy mix,great hunter and a very calm easy handling dog,I got her in 1975 and only had her for about 7yrs,lost her to cancer,she's still the one that I look back at and wish I could find another like her.Maybe one of these days I'll start looking at the Chessy rescues again,I never minded having more than one dog around,they're easier to deal with than women.

Prices, yes. Back when I was training bloodhounds for SAR, I gave an average of $500 for a little male pup. That was twenty years ago. But just remember what it costs a breeder now for shots (distemper, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus-2, and rabies), worm and heartworm meds, and other starter vet fees. In the case of the Llewellins, it includes CHD cert (hip displasia) and Baer test (hearing), often registration in the FDSB and AVID microchip (+ registration) and tattoo.

I am getting closer in my search. A couple of breeders (highly recommended ones) have answered my emails and have prospective pups available. One has even offered to meet me halfway to deliver a pup. I can afford a higher dollar pup if I can negotiate with an in-state breeder to accept a stainless Smith and Wesson K-frame in partial trade.

 

[dttomcat]

The voice of experience rings aloud. I will definitly touch base with you, sir, before I buy my dog.

 

[Codger_64]

The voice of experience rings aloud. I will definitely touch base with you, sir, before I buy my dog.

Experience doesn't always equal wisdom! I still defer to known experts among the top breeders of whatever breed I am looking for. Yes, a rescue can make a great pet, and I have owned several both mixed and pure bred. But... in this case, I am looking for an exact breed, and strain of that breed because of the traits carefully bred into the strain. These particular dogs are known as "gentleman" dogs and have a predisposition for good companionship as well as their "birdyness". As one example, they are naturally "clean" dogs and often self-housebreak rather than soil their beds. Another example is that they are bred to stay close to their master when off the lead, and to keep checking the master for cues and whereabouts. Jake would, when hunting tall grass, bounce straight up in the air to see me over the grass.

Here is a good resource to find breeders of gundogs such as the Vizsla. This is one of the resources I am using to search for my pup. Heck, a lot of the kennels have great information and links about the breed, even if they are too far from you to consider.
http://www.gundogbreeders.com/viewClassifieds.html?breed=vizsla&submit=SEARCH&state=0

 

[dttomcat]

Does this pup look like a good candidate for $500? It has both Bomber and Bondhu bloodlines (both pure Llewellin). Bondhu was Mr. Llewellin's original line and King's Bomber line is parallel, the two most pure genetic strains.

Experience doesn't always equal wisdom! I still defer to known experts among the top breeders of whatever breed I am looking for. Yes, a rescue can make a great pet, and I have owned several both mixed and pure bred. But... in this case, I am looking for an exact breed, and strain of that breed because of the traits carefully bred into the strain. These particular dogs are known as "gentleman" dogs and have a predisposition for good companionship as well as their "birdyness". As one example, they are naturally "clean" dogs and often self-housebreak rather than soil their beds. Another example is that they are bred to stay close to their master when off the lead, and to keep checking the master for cues and whereabouts. Jake would, when hunting tall grass, bounce straight up in the air to see me over the grass.

Here is a good resource to find breeders of gundogs such as the Vizsla. This is one of the resources I am using to search for my pup. Heck, a lot of the kennels have great information and links about the breed, even if they are too far from you to consider.
http://www.gundogbreeders.com/viewClassifieds.html?breed=vizsla&submit=SEARCH&state=0

Thanks for the info and the photos Codger. That Llewein's puppy is cute as can be. So is the Vizsla pup. Keep us posted here, if you would.

 

[Codger_64]

Well, I've narrowed the search somewhat to this pup bred in Kentucky by Bill Phelps. It has the Dashing Bondhu and Kings Bomber bloodlines, and both dam and sire are FDSB registered (DNA testing required to prove Llewellin strain).

This is the dam, Hidden Creek Ringer:

The sire is a tri-color which means there will be a bit of orange show up later in the pup's face. They don't get all of their ticking and full coloration until nine months of age or so.

The only sticking point left is the distance to drive, 4 1/2 hours each way.

 

[dttomcat]

The only sticking point left is the distance to drive, 4 1/2 hours each way.

A hop, skip, and a jump. If you need me to, I'd be happy to take a road trip.

 

[Codger_64]

A hop, skip, and a jump. If you need me to, I'd be happy to take a road trip.

Gaaaa! Be careful what you offer bud! From Rockville, MD., the pup in Somerset, KY. is 612 miles away from you! I am another 275 miles further Southwest! That would be a thirteen to fourteen hour drive each way! Like almost a 1,800 mile round trip!

I do appreciate the offer, but I'll work it out somehow.

Meanwhile, I am researching the latest training methods "crazes". Everyone wants me to buy their book or CD, of course. But still, I am getting some excellent reminders of what I have already known (but forgotten) on how to be a good trainer. Some of the geekiest training methods have some good salient points, even if their overall programs are trash. It never hurts to review methods, if only to argue with yourself and the author about the poor ones and remember the good, important ones.

While I don't take any trainer or his/her methods as gospel, some of them have salient points that are 'spot-on', such as "The Dog Whisperer", Cesar Millan. I tend to disagree with all of them on some points, but find gold nuggets scattered among many of them. Cesar has nailed the basics, IMHO. Dogs are not people and many trainers (and owners) fail in their methods because they try to relate to their dogs as people (humanize them). A successful trainer uses the natural psychology of the dog and, rather than try to develop a "friend", works to be the pack leader. All dogs need a leader, not a peer. Karen Prior is another one with some excellent points. She substitutes a handheld 'clicker' for food treats in her method. Associating reward for proper behavior with food is o.k. as far as it goes, but then the dog will either expect a food reward for every command obeyed, and lose interest when the food isn't forthcoming, or simply chose not to obey if he isn't hungry for a scooby-snack.

 

[dttomcat]

I've got a week off, dude! My offer was sincere. But, if you have other options, I'd urge you to consider them. I want to see you get that pup.

 

[Codger_64]

I never doubted your sincerity, friend. Your generous offer is just one more example of the amazingly unselfish people that I have been coming to Bladeforums to rub electronic elbows with for more than six years.

I'll get this pup somehow, or if not, another one just as appropriate later. Truth be told, as important as this is to me (and it is very important), I have other more pressing issues to attend to, competing for both my time and my limited funds.

Again, thank you for your kind offer. :thumbup:

 

[dttomcat]

You got it, dude. :thumbup:Let me know.

 

[Bob W]

Just wanted to say a few words about the adoption fees charged by breed-specific rescues. Yes, $250 may sound like a lot of money. And yes, you can get a dog at the city pound for $30. But the rescues often spend a tremendous amount of money making sure their dogs are ready for adoption - grooming; check ups and blood tests; rabies shots; treating for worms, fleas, heartworm; dental work; everyday care and feeding; and often even surgery.

If that $30 dog from the pound tests positive for heartworm the "savings" disappears real fast.

The breed rescues sometimes have 'discounts' for senior dogs, if that would interest you, since the older dogs have a harder time getting adopted. Other times the rescues can't afford to offer "senior discounts" since older dogs often need more vet care prior to adoption.

I've done both, rescue and pound, with no regrets and would do either again. I probably wouldn't buy from a breeder though, since there are so many dogs already needing homes. Bloodlines and pedigrees don't interest me much; as long as the dog is a "good boy" or "pretty girl" we're going to get along fine.

In the meantime, have you considered volunteering to foster a rescue dog?

Good luck in your quest, Codger.