Gryffyn
You know how people talk about losing something & something or someone comes into your life and it makes the loss seem less painful?
That’s how I got Gryffyn.
My first Border Collie, Meechi, was diagnosed with OsteoSarcoma. To say I was devastated would be to minimize his roll in my life. I watched him go from being a vibrant independent alpha dog to a dog that depended solely on me for every need. It seemed so cruel to watch my once proud dog slip away. I made the painful decision to let him go. I will be forever grateful to have known and shared my life with such a wonderful dog.
Shortly after Meechi’s departure, I was building a website for a client and she told me that her Border Collie, Patsy, was expecting a litter. When Patsy gave birth, the puppy photos were posted on my clients website. As anyone who loves Border Collies will tell you, puppy pictures melt hearts. Since my heart was still broken over Meechi I was unaffected by the puppy pictures. Well, that was….. until I saw Gryffyn.
Among the pictures was one particular puppy looking so much like my Meechi, my heart gave way. I telephoned my new friend as soon as I saw his little face. She knew how much I missed Meechi , with much pleading, begging & downright threats, agreed to let me have the puppy. She tried to talk me into waiting until she could evaluate the puppy’s personality. She wanted to be sure this was the right puppy for me. Being the mule that I am, I was having none of that. ‘No, my mind is made up’, I told her, ‘I really want this puppy’. If I were not an experienced Border Collie owner she wouldn’t have let me choose this puppy. She knew that once I commit to a dog, that dog is with me for the rest of the dog’s life.
As time went by, she kept me informed on the progress of the puppies. It seemed the puppy I was so intent on was a ‘laid back’ sort of puppy with not much of a personality. She said this puppy would never be the Alpha dog, which was fine by me, considering I already had 4 alpha dogs and did not want another. I was pretty happy with the idea of a little couch potato that would be content to just sit beside me & veg out.
As the puppy grew older, and time to pick him up grew nearer, we made arrangements to meet midway between Indiana and Florida. Conveniently, another friend wanted one of his littermates. We would travel together to pick up the puppies. She brought her well-behaved Border Collie along with her on the trip. I took two of my little female Border Collies with me. My husband refuses to let me leave these two at home if I’m to be gone more than one night. They have a tendency to climb onto his bed in the middle of the night & howl for me. I admit they are a little spoiled. I also admit I love them with all of my heart and love the idea of them missing me as much as I miss them when apart.
The trip was pleasant, the weather was nice. The three dogs traveled together nicely. We met our friend in Townsend, Tennessee, a nice, relaxed, resort town. The puppies were exactly what we expected, beautiful, fat little babies. We visited for a bit, crated up the puppies & headed back to our hotel. The plan was to leave early the next morning. We fed the puppies, fed our older dogs & thought we might get some sleep before heading home. The puppies were wonderful. We couldn’t believe our luck to have gotten two such perfect puppies. Or so we thought. Those little dogs were only waiting until we got far enough away to where we couldn’t turn back. They snarled, yipped, peed & wrestled the entire way home. We finally arrived home, pulled the puppies apart, checked to make sure they both had all their limbs entact & parted ways.
I called my friend the other day to inform her of Gryffyn’s progress. The little ‘laid back, couch potato puppy hasn’t stopped long enough for me to catch him. I believe Gryffyn would be riding on the ceiling fans if he could reach them. Laid back and Border Collie is an oxymoron. Turns out, I was right. He is a lot like my Meechi was as a puppy. It’s all coming back to me now. The chewed ankles, the little running body slams, the bite marks & bruises on my hands & legs, the feedings 3 times a day, the potty training, the constant attention that is needed. But on the other hand, I know what I’ll get in return – unconditional love.
Gryffyn has all the characteristics of Meechi, quiet one minute and exuberant the next. Already, at 9 weeks, he goes into the Border Collie crouch. He is a delight and a challenge. He is busy filling some of the emptiness left by Meechi.
I think Meechi must be looking down from Puppy Heaven and smiling at Gryffyn’s antics.
When I think about this, I really didn’t choose Gryffyn. I think Meechi sent him to me.
Meechi
Update on Gryffyn: AKA Babu
....... will soon be 4 years old. Everyone that meets Gryffyn loves him.
The Gryf is a sweet, laid back fellow.... except when he wants something. He loves to be touched. Whenever we have a guest, Gryffy will slyly figure out a way to become the center of attention. His usual trick is to disarmingly thrust his head between our guests legs. No one believes me when I tell them he isn't sniffing, he's only wanting them to touch him. Of course everyone pushes Gryffy's head away. He ALWAYS gets petted and pushed away. Always.
Gryffyn is now 7 years old and a master at his favorite game. That game would be 'throw it! Throw it now!! I don't care what it is, just throw something! - I'll bring it back to you.'
His favorite throw toy is a 5 pound Bocci ball that he stole from an unsuspecting relative. He drops this ball on human toes. He's very accurate with his 'drops'.
He keeps the dang thing hidden in the back yard somewhere.
.........will soon be 9 years old and he is the happiest of dogs, always has a smile on his beautiful face and is always ready to play fetch. He's a clever little guy and is forever figuring out ways to escape into the sheep's pasture. He loves working sheep as much as he loves to fetch his beloved, and still hidden, Bocci ball.