My wife and I were looking for a new addition to our family and
a companion for our 5 year old Lab-cross bitch, Jesse. We were looking
at possibly acquiring a German Shepherd (as I had owned them in the past)
or my favourite at that time, a Whippet. As fate would have it, Trevor
Marschall turned up at Woodville Dog Obedience Club with a good natured
and handsome Welsh Springer, "Taffy."
When we learned that this striking dog was to later sire the first Laugharne
litter, and then be asked if we would like to purchase one of his offspring,
we jumped at the chance.So in early 1990 we brought home Laugharne Abby,
a beautiful 8 week old puppy who had her fathers charm and some of his
looks.
She was to become Jesse's constant companion and playmate and the two
were rarely apart. When Jesse died some 11 years later, Abby mourned her
loss greatly and it was some time before returning to her normal self.
Her obedience career started slowly. She perfected the "Claytons drop" with the wagging butt in the air, and the appropriately named "Welsheimers" were you would think she had never been trained at all. However, within eight months of gaining her Companion Dog title she had also gained CDX AD ET, with first and third placings amongst her passes and also being the first Welsh Springer to gain the Agility Dog title. She also shared a fourth placing with her litter brother and sister in the 1992 "Balmeade Team Trials."
She had a promising career in Non Slip Retrieving, that was until the guns came out, every shot fired would turn her into a quivering wreck. Time and work commitments would stop me from overcoming this problem, which was a great pity as she was eager to work and had the softest mouth, she would frequently fetch and place gently into my hand, baby birds that had fallen from their nests in the back yard.
Tracking was another discipline we had trained for, and again due to work commitments we never actually entered a trial, but she was to prove herself some years later. After a serious car accident both Jesse and Abby were thrown from the rear window of the car, Jesse came back to the scene but Abby disappeared, and after hours of searching she was nowhere to be found. After a sleepless night we were astounded to be greeted at the back door by a wiggling Abbs wanting to know where brekkie was, she had tracked her way home over 5 kilometres, crossing busy main roads and areas she had never been before, with nary a scratch on her.
She frequently flew the flag for her breed, and for all dogs,
in numerous "Pal Canine Grand Prixs," (held in Adelaide during
the Grand Prix car racing years), also "Dog Awareness" displays
and "Dog Obedience" displays in schools and shopping centres.
She attracted children like a magnet who all wanted to pat the "beautiful
dog with the soft ears."
She was well into her 14th year of life and lived in the lap of luxury,
as all Welshies should! She still loved her walks, although the distances
traveled had shortened as she aged, and she eagerly jumped into the car
for a drive, and snoozed from the time we pulled out of the gate till
the time we returned, she did'nt really see much in between except the
back of her eyelids. Most of her last days were spent snoozing, upside
down on her favourite chair.
Abby was a perfect companion for both dog and human alike, her gentle and friendly nature had endeared her to family, friends and many strangers. She is sadly missed.
I still like Whippets but we will always have a Welshie.
Andrew and Janet Robins.