This little guy is 4 months old. Yes, you read that right...
4 months. But still a lap dog, apparently. Trying to crawl into Sara's lap.
Lisa and I started the process to find a little studly dog in December, and when this guy came available, we got busy! He's from near Dublin, Ireland.
He came with the name "Jackson" which didn't feel very special at all. And since Jake and Sara and I are all Tolkien Nerds... well, what do you call a HUGE beastie with a heart of gold?
Yes, that's right.
Meet Beorn.
... Maggie Rose is pictured here on her first day at Cooper Hollow Farms in May 2007 (at about 11 weeks old). Not quite six years later, and Maggie Rose is gone. Cancer. She'd been off her feed since late November, but every time I got close to calling for a vet appointment, she'd start eating well again. She lost weight, maybe 10 or 15 pounds. Then suddenly, in the last week, she lost a lot of weight.
Now I know why.
I fell in love with Irish Wolfhounds when I was 18 and went to a dog show (my first) with a friend, Holly. Holly had an Akita, and I ended up with two Akitas in my 20s. I will be owned by Akitas again.
But, at this show, I watched a gimongous male Irish Wolfhound being shown by an 8 year old girl. At one point, the girl tripped and dropped the lead. The dog continued on his path around the show ring. When he realized that he had lost his girl he slowed down and looked over his shoulder. When she had picked up the lead and was by his side, he nodded (!) and continued on the circle.
I met several other Irish Wolfhounds over the years, always searching them out when I was at a show with my Akitas or later with the Jack Russells.
Then Dave and I met for dinner in December 2007 (I thought we were working on our "homework" from counseling, in an effort to not be divorced). And he told me he had contracted with a divorce attorney and I should, too. I will admit that my first thought was: What? What about our homework? You were supposed to tell me what you appreciated about me!! Then my second thought can't be repeated in polite company. But my third thought was NOT who will I hire for a divorce attorney. My third thought was: Good! NOW I can get an Irish Wolfhound!
I liked the look of Lisa Blanchard's dogs from Washington. When she had a litter in March, I visited. Once to the puppy home in eastern Oregon, and twice to her farm in Washington. And chose Maggie Rose. When Sara and I went up to collect Maggie Rose in May, Sara liked the looks of another puppy too. And Lisa kindly (and against her long-standing tradition), allowed us to take two puppies. So Maggie Rose and Miss Molly came home with us.
Thirty years after I first saw an Irish Wolfhound, I finally had... TWO!
I knew going into this adventure that I would adore these dogs. And that their short life-span (about 8 to 10 years) would mean that I wouldn't have much time with them. But I am a farm girl; Life and Death are just the same thing really. And if one believes that one can only have X number of dogs at a time (a silly thought), then a shorter life span would mean the opportunity to meet more dogs during MY life span.
But oh wow. Maggie Rose was such an amazing animal. Smart and kind and silly and loving and goofy and ... and wonderful. I miss her. Already. RIP Maggie-doodles.
