PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
Alisa D. Bonnette,
Plainfield NH
Many thanks need to go to the wonderful breeders that entrusted me with three wonderful Portuguese Water Dogs.
Hally and Joseph Azevedo, Keelara Portuguese Water Dogs, breeders of my first Portuguese Water Dog in 1996. "Maggie" ~ Maggie Dea Bryn Delmar, CD, CGC (Ch. Pennrico Azul Marino CGC x Keely of Herring Run Farm), was very special to me. She was my shadow, following me everywhere. We developed a great partnership while training for obedience and had just begun to dabble in agility in the spring and summer of 1999. I lost this dear, sweet dog on Christmas night 1999 to a sudden illness at the tender age of 3-1/2.
Linda Horton, Lands End Portuguese Water Dogs, breeder of my second Portuguese Water Dog, "Grace" ~ Lands End Amazing Grace (Ch. Pennrico Azul Marino CGC x Ch. Scrimshaw Brandywine, CD, WWD, Thd). Grace is my wild child, always ready to do something, whether of my choosing or her own. She's a challenging dog, but a lot of fun. We've trained and attended seminars in agility, obedience, rally obedience, tracking and water work. At the 2005 Specialty, Grace earned her third and final leg toward her CD (companion dog) title. She also passed the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test. I am very proud of this special girl.
It's been 9 months since
Grace has been in a training class or competition, but I thought we'd enter
Rally Novice B anyway.
So on July 15th we headed to Essex Junction VT for a bit of adventure.
I have no idea what smelled so interesting at the very first station, but in
spite of that minor mistake,
she did me proud with a 4th place and a score of 99 (out of 100).
Two more legs to go for her RN title. Wish us luck!
Dyanne Brewster, Patchwork Portuguese Water Dogs, breeder of "Ben" ~ Patchwork's Just the Ticket! (Ch. Reel Life Ivy League x Pennrico Sweet Dilemma), a sweetheart of a dog, loved by everyone that meets him. At two years old on August 19, 2005, Ben has grown into a very handsome dog with an outstanding temperament. While he was a bit full of himself at the 2005 Specialty, with additional training over the coming year I hope to get his CGC.
I must thank Christine Harris as well, for without her, I would not have had any of these amazing dogs in my life. Not only has Chris hooked me up with all three of these wonderful breeders, she has always been there to help, offering whatever she could when Maggie became ill, helping with Grace's and Ben's x-rays for submission to OFA - both done without anesthesia. Not to mention the wealth of knowledge she so willingly shares.
Thanks to Dr. Mary Wakeman, Dr. Joseph Stoyak, the staff of the Wickaboag Veterinary Clinic, and New England Canine Rehabilitation and Fitness Center for their skill and caring during Ben's injury, surgery and rehabilitation.
Steve Dostie, Downeast Portuguese Water Dogs, must be credited with snapping a wonderful action photo of Grace during a Portuguese Water Dogs Northeast (PWDsNE) Fun Day. Grace was 10 months old at the time and this was her first introduction to the ocean. With a bit of cutting and pasting and a bit of special effects, I was able to create the "watercolor" artwork at the top of this and subsequent pages. Thanks Steve, it was a great shot.
And last, but not least, to my family and friends for putting up with these wild and wonderful dogs, even though some of them would prefer cats.
Alisa D. Bonnette
Plainfield, NH 03781
bryndelmar at earthlink dot net
(My email address is written
to reduce farming of my address -
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