My Newfs
Lord Byron Said It Perfectly....
......Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.
Six months old
One year old
First regional specialty at 18 months old
Jumping for mom at 2 years old
2008 Water training at the pond
New Champion at Brooksville, FL 2010
Lucky shot from photographer
Water training at Devil's Cove
More jumps!
New Draft Dog and new VN!!!!!! Such a special day!
One week later, Henry requalifies for another DD!
Henry also like to chill on HIS spot on the couch.
VN class at the 2011 National at Frankenmuth. Henry took 4rth out of an entry of seven very nice dogs.
Henry's stride.
Henry's Story
VN AKC UKC CH Golden Oaks Moon Chaser, CGC, CD, DD(3)WRD, RE
August 29, 2006
I thought Henry would be the easiest newf to write about. We've accomplished so much and have had so much fun doing it. But I'm very humbled by this experience with this very special boy. Some people wait an entire lifetime to have that one special dog. I've been so very fortunate to have shared my life with two exceptional newfies. After I said goodbye to Benson I didn't think I could ever experience that harmony with another again. Little did I know how wrong I was.
The first time I saw Henry was in the fall of 2006. I followed my breeder home after a dog show to get a much needed puppy fix from her newest litter that was 8 weeks old. They all were just as cute as could be but this one little landseer kept returning to my feet to nibble on my hands and my shoelaces. I loved his full black head and the bright white markings.
I had preferred the all black newfoundlands until I started doing some water rescue training with a friend of mine who had a landseer. He stole my heart and I thought it would be fun to be owned some day by one of these white and black newfies.
While driving home from the my breeder's home, my thoughts lingered on that handsome baby boy. We had our hands full with our aging lab, Sadie and our two newfies, Benson and Glory. I just couldn’t see adding a puppy to the mix. I continued to tell myself that this was good logic. We did not need a puppy!
Four months later, my breeder included a picture of a very handsome Landseer puppy in one of her frequent emails. He had a full black head, heart piercing eyes and beautiful clear white markings. I immediately wrote her back wanting to know who this puppy was. It was that same sweet puppy I was so taken with that previous fall. His name was Henry.
Circumstances were such that my breeder needed to place him in a home. She wanted to put him in a show home. Although I only had experience in working events, I convinced her that he would do well coming to our home. And thus started our journey together.
I didn’t have to worry about introductions to the pack. Henry was accepted into the fold as though he had always been there.
Glory seemed to take a shine with him and they became close playmates. If he got rough in his puppy exuberance, she quickly corrected him and taught him manners.
Benson begrudgingly shared his favorite bumpers with the new kid. That spring, when we opened the pool, I was anxious to see how Henry would do in the water. I tossed his favorite bumper into the pool and was ready to guide him in by the steps.
He saw the bumper, ran to the side of the pool and leaped in. OMG...could this boy swim! We spent the rest of the summer just having fun in the water. He needed to build his muscles and confidence up. I learned from past mistakes not to rush these things.
Shortly after Henry joined our family, Benson started experiencing problems with his right cruciate. Over the course of the next two years, I was mostly focused on getting Benson better. I kept up training with Henry and we accomplished a few things but my heart wasn't really into it as I was so worried about Benson.
In 2009, Benson lost his battle with cancer. The day before we had to say our final goodbyes, Benson and Henry spent some time together laying close to one another on the dining room floor. Their paws were touching one another. I believe Benson had something to share with his younger half brother.
It’s difficult to get back into a training routine after losing a newf that was so totally connected to your soul. Every training exercise is a poignant painful reminder of the one you are missing. That year my training was mechanical but Henry kept his spirit and enthusiasm and even earned a couple of titles in spite of me.
2010 brought a new depth to our relationship. While we were accomplishing goals and earning more titles, Henry taught me how to communicate with him. Training is a dance between two souls and when understanding comes with unspoken words, you become a team. I had this magic with Benson. I didn’t think I could have this again with another newf. I realized at last what Benson had to tell Henry.
And in Henry's unique way, he is teaching me every day. I am so very, very fortunate.
Here is a link to Henry's five year birthday celebration slideshow. Henry fifth birthday