As well as ringcraft classes she attended obedience classes from the age of four
months, making satisfyingly steady if slow (ie wolfhound pace) progress, and competing
in local obedience shows without her performance embarrassing us (much!).
For a time, her antagonism towards other dogs made us withdraw her from classes
and competition while we worked to improve her behaviour, but she made excellent
progess, and can now cope with most dog-intense situations. She is a dog of contrasts: a prodigious sleeper, she is more than happy to snooze the day away, but on walks she is tireless, and specialises in her own form of 'off-piste' walking - taking off at alarmingly regular intervals to explore pastures new. Extremely athletic, she can out-run and out-jump both the boys with ease and laughter - only in McKenna has she met her match. She's also a proficient hunter (of rabbits rather than wolves, such are the constraints of modern life) with the speed to catch her prey, the skill to dispatch it quickly and cleanly, and the good sense to know when not to waste her energy on a distant lost cause. Her other passion in life is food, something she takes very seriously indeed. Her appetite is voracious, her menu indiscriminate and her obvious distress and disappointment at the sight of her empty bowl is pitiful. She has grown steadily into the role of 'pack matriarch'. Like many natural leaders, she has no need to enforce her will and all three of her 'underlings' readily acknowledge her rank and seniority, although there are times when you could swear that Branigan is winking behind her back and just humouring her girlish whims rather than actually deferring to her. She is our beloved 'babe': intelligent, elegant, haughty and inclined to be moody, she presides over her little pack like a beautiful but capricious fairy-tale queen. Page reviewed May 2008 |
Darcy 13-1-02 |
Bred by Fran Smith-King of Bribiba Irish Wolfhounds, Darcy came to us at eight weeks old, a glorious dark brindle in colour, with a lovely,
feminine head. She has proved to be probably the most intelligent and well-behaved
dog that you could wish for around the house, and has matured into a
beautiful wolfhound, her natural elegance matched by a confident nature. |
To our great delight her litter sister, Siofra, a lovely wheaten, also came to Guernsey,
and Darcy's excitement when told that a get- ogether with Siofra is imminent
knows no bounds. The first wolfhound that we showed seriously, Darcy has taught us a lot and has performed creditably in the ring, placing highly in local shows, not disgracing us at championship level. She amazed and delighted us by eventually qualifying for Crufts for the first time at the age of five-and-a-half. |
