I am often asked how it was I got involved with Entlebuchers. I always say it was simple – Barry wanted a dog. We already had a perfectly good cat named Buttercup, so I was doing some pretty serious ‘foot dragging’ about adding a dog to the family.
Barry isn’t really the demanding type, he would just pet other people’s dogs, and comment about how nice it would be to have a dog of his own – one that would hang out with him – go fishing, and ride in his truck with him. I would always laugh and tell him, “Honey, you don’t fish.” To which he would reply, “I would, if I had a dog.”
Finally – – – I decided I would surprise him with a dog for Father’s Day. My sister had a book about dogs, so early in May I went over to her house to look at pictures so I could find Barry the perfect ‘Father’s Day Dog’. Buttercup was a tuxedo cat, so my criteria for the perfect dog was that he was shinny black with white paws, chest, muzzle, and blaze – so he would match Buttercup and we would all look good in the family pictures together.
The Entlebucher was the winner – he had a little brown added to the package, but that just set of the white nicely, and would make it easier to tell him and the cat apart – perfect!!
I started watching the pet section of the ‘Want Ads’ so as soon as I saw some Entlebucher (funny, funny name) puppies for sale I could buy one for Barry, and that would be that!!
I soon found that Entlebucher puppies weren’t listed in the ‘Want Ads’. That not only weren’t they listed, but no had ever even heard of them.
A little over two years later (so much for the Father’s Day surprise) Barry and I were ‘pacing’ the waiting area of Delta Dash in Salt Lake City, waiting for our Entlebucher puppy to fly in from Canada, and clear customs.
Elder was beautiful – he was shiny black, with white feet, chest, muzzle and blaze – set off with a little rich brown. He was fat, snuggly, happy – and perfect!!
That was almost twenty years ago, and for thirteen and a half wonderful years Elder rarely left Barry’s side. They worked together, played together, hung out, and Elder always rode ‘shotgun’ in Barry’s truck. As that precious friendship ended Barry has made himself a bed on the floor next to Elder’s so they could snuggled together while waiting out his last peaceful hours.
Note: Barry and Elder never did go fishing – the excuse was that Elder didn’t really like water, and fish were almost always found in water??
It is impossible to explain (well maybe not) what richness has been added to our lives when we welcomed Entlebuchers into our family. Elder, Greta, Heather, Bronte, Tess, Jenne, Tali and Yosemite have not only gifted us with immeasurable love and devotion – but have led us on an odyssey of treasured friendships and experiences that have enriched our lives in countless wonderful ways.
My Kennel name comes from the classic poem Abou Ben Adhem. Good literature has always been treasured in our lives, and rather than bedtime stories my Dad would sit by our beds at night and quote poetry – I loved it!!
Abou Ben Adhem was one of my favorites – I have always liked the message.
**We pronounce it like ‘Autumn’
Abou Ben Adhem
James Henry Leigh Hunt (1784 – 1859)
Abou Ben Adhem (may your tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
An Angel writing in a book of gold:
Exceeding peace make Ben Adhem bold,
An to the presence in the room he said,
Making it light like a lily in bloom,
“What writest thou?” The Vision raised its head,
Answered, “The names of those that love the Lord.”
And with a look of sweet accord
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.”
The Angel wrote and vanished. The next night
It came again with great wakening light,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest!