Uschi Grewe

HOW WE CAME TO GET LADY….. with paintings by Dagmar Herhoffer

We always had a dog in our family! Before the Basenjis we had a longhaired Dachshound. He had a lot of health troubles with his back and that was the reason why we decided “we must have a dog with longer legs”! To get him on his couch, we build him stairs, to make life for him easier.

To be honest, we tried to keep him off the sofa because of his back. But he was clever. Whenever we came home we could feel the warm spot where he had been on the sofa.  As soon as he heard the key in the door, he quickly got down.

Because of all this, Friedhelm told me “…when Tommy dies, we will not have another dog soon!”

One day I had an appointment at the dentist with Lars, our son, and we had to wait. He was just able to read a litte, as a newcomer to school. When we where called in, he was not finished with the article he was reading. The nice lady at the reception allowed us to take the magazine home, so we could all read it. Lars was so happy about taking home the magazine “Ein Herz für Tiere”. Of course we all read the magazine then. The cover showed a litter with Basenji puppies at 8 weeks of age. Additionally there was a picture of Queen Mom Julianne from the Netherlands who also owned a Basenji. My husband said….."come, get some information about this breed!”  But as we still had Tommy and he told me a while ago “no other dog so quick!" I did nothing.

But Friedhelm did not forget about the breed and asked me weeks later…”have you found out something?” No, I did not do anything!!!

But then I tried to get as much information I could. I found the breeder of the litter from the cover and called her. I had the feeling that she was not so keen on me wanting information. May be I was too young, having a child, ….do not know. She wanted to send me information material which never arrived. I called again and then I got what I wanted also she invited us to come over to see her and the dogs! Of course we did that!

First thing what happened was that one of her male bit Lars in his popo. Oh, he was furious but quickly forgot about it. He wanted such a dog and it should be HIS dog!  He was already saving all his money. The afternoon was very nice and we where put on a waiting list. We waited and waited….for 2 years and then I told my husband “if we do not get a Basenji puppy until autumn we will buy another dachshound. In the meantime we had no dog anymore, as Tommy had died.

Then, on a Saturday evening, we got a call from the breeder telling us that she did not breed anymore but we can have a puppy from Switzerland, a girl puppy. She gave us 2 hours to think about it, saying that if she does not hear from us she will pass on the address to other interested people.

WE WANTED A MALE AND NOT A FEMALE!! BUT WE ALSO WANTED A BASENJI!!!

We agreed to buy the Basenji female. Shortly after we agreed, I doubted if we were right. What is we don’t like her? We have not seen her! Well, but as dog lovers you don’t need to bother about that…you will love any puppy!

So, we drove to Switzerland to get Lady. That’s what we called her.

The breeder of course wanted to see her, as one of her males was the father of the puppy. Again we drove to Munich and showed Lady. She liked her so much that she convinced us to show her the coming year in Munich.

Before the show she gave us tips how to act and advised me also to “look nice”. For Lady she gave me a leather show leash as a gift. 

Well, me in a Miniskirt (I was really slim that time) and pumps, and Lady wearing the new and unused show coller/leash– here we go into the show ring!

 

Lady found everything interesting – especially the dogs in the neighbor rings. She pulled once – short and strong – and I found myself on the ground in my Miniskirt and my Pumps, very elegant….oh my, I was so embarressed!

And Lady was gone….to the neighboring rings and thought it is funny to disturb everything  there. But guess what…..we won the Bavaria Youth Champion. Don’t know if it was because of me or Lady!

There are so many anecdotes to tell, maybe next time how Susan and I came to meet?


Lady - Ch. Alexia Gordita del Restelberg (Hadshar d’Casa Regina x APU Taxi)) 

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