Maskarade's Ain't Miss Behavin'  "Tenacity"

August 1996 - October 2005

Ch. Rashaun's Radio Flyer ~ Ch. Norella's Coldspot Hanky Panky

Our first brood bitch. Like her mother, Hank (Ch. Norella's Coldspot Hankey Pankey) -- no nonsense -- and her brother, Ch. Maskarade's The Magic Man -- good for hugs after hugs after hugs.   Sweet every day of her life.

A traveler -- our neighbor who was SO AFRAID of dogs in general and of Tenacity in particular (he had a flock of geese) the first time she climbed the fence to "join his flock", he knew she was going to kill them all  -- eventually wouldn't even tell us when she climbed over -- she'd just walk with the geese, check his stuff out. Not bother a soul.  We'd put everybody away, see she was not there, know she was next door and go get her.   He left his gate unlocked for us.

She could count REALLY well.   It was her opinion that no pup in the world, especially hers, needed to be weighed, "health checked" or socialized outside of what she could do.  I'M MISSING A BABY, YOU MUST HAVE IT, PUT IT BACK. NOW.  Bless her heart.   Her children, to this day, ADORE her.

She was musical.   Had a plastic-rubber-type key ring that rattled for the babies and played some Winnie the Pooh song about the 100 Year Woods (or whatever it is) -- she eventually broke off the keys -- but would lay down, curling her paws in front of her, keeping the musical part of the toy close to her and hit it with her paw.  When the song finished, she hit it again.  Talk about thrilled -- I thought she would keep that toy with her until her last days!   Finally the battery ran out -- really ticked her off.

She was self-reliant.  Always late to whelp.  She had one litter of four -- had the first one.  The second just would not come -- and the first had been late and I was FRANTIC.   She was in no distress -- just kind of staring at me, daring me to run her to the vet for no reason!  I stayed with her -- finally, accidentally fell asleep -- woke up to the "puppy peeps" a few hours later -- there were three more new, clean, nursing, immaculate puppies in the box -- and a VERY angry new mom.  WHERE WERE YOU???  Didn't "speak" to me to for the whole day -- And really angry because I had the gall to take the pups to the vet for a check-- all in all, not a good day -- in her eyes.

She was the best mom we've ever had.  Adored her babies.  She taught them in the most amazing way -- if puppies can be well-mannered, hers were always the best.  No growling or nipping.  Just a theatrical "swoop" of the paw to "knock" the offending puppy down and hold it in place until it was very, very still and got the idea that MOM was NOT the one to try to fool or take food/toys/whatever away from (they learned that VERY early on). She did not suffer fools gladly.  And at 8 years old, her two girls (1 and 3 respectively) are in the run with her, still grooming and loving on their mom.   We would just watch her teach her babies.  It was surreal.  She was so loving, patient and vigilant.  Let the babies play with the big guys -- Fine.  Every dog in the yard knew Tenacity was watching their conduct with HER baby(ies).  Babies knew it too -- got a little cocky -- Elvira walking up to Shooter and literally taking a chewie out of his mouth while he was chewing it!   She yelped and ran to her mom (no, he didn't hurt her) -- who looked at her and said -- I can't believe you were dumb enough to try that -- and turned around and walked off.

Of all that she was, she was not a show bitch.  She tried and was the reserve queen of Southern California.  That was not her niche.  Her niche was just to love us, everyone else in the world, and to provide babies that were sound, with beautiful temperaments. She gave wonderful exemplars of the breed to beginning breeders (us) to make it look like this breeding stuff was easy (yeah, right) -- breeding Tenacity, one could not make a mistake.  That was her gift.

One of many.  Her beauty, her sweetness (sort of -- a tyrant can adored by her subjects!) -- She was like her brother; never met the person she didn't love immediately and no request was to silly for her to comply with -- she never understood how human beings think, I'm sure -- but it was okay -- she'd do it.  Whatever YOU wanted.

She sort of slowed down last week.   Didn't eat well -- was she spoiled?  She only ate treats! No, that was not her; it was a sign. My stomach sank as she refused the food.  And then drank water.  And then lay down.  Was the light in her eyes beginning to dim?  No, couldn't be. But she is her mother's child.  Okay Friday -- she walked the yard, came for her hugs -- Besides, she was so young -- only nine -- It was my imagination -- she would be okay.  She had to be.   We just lost her brother to an accident; not her too.  It simply had to be too early for her to go with him.

I looked at her -- and said -- kiddo, we have a short trip to take -- when we get back, if you don't feel better, let's go to the doctor, okay?   She licked my face.   Wagged her tail.   Sat with me.  Climbed in my lap.  Came home -- my friend said those dreaded words:  They kept a special eye out for her --

It had been one day and she could no longer stand.  It was very late.  She tried and she tried.   And I went to her, Tony went to her.   We made a special bed for her in the den -- as Tony picked her up to take her inside, he felt a quiver.  He told me we had lost her.

NO, not before we tell her how we love her and thank her for being such a gift to us, and say all those things that WE need to say -- I mean, she knew them already (everyday of her life she heard that she was beautiful and special, hardly news to her).  But I hadn't told her THAT day. Then a noise -- she startled back -- I sat down beside her crate and just hugged her and cried and thanked her for blessing us with her love and her specialness for nine wonderful years.   Told her we would so miss her and that we understood.   She tried to move.

I suppose we could have run her to the doctor -- but we knew it was too late and she needed love and comfort and a warm, special goodbye.  Having been through this and sensing fairly strongly that this was her time, our choice was to love her and stay with her.  Hopefully, it was the right one.

Everyone who reads this knows how we feel when one of our guys asks to be let to leave.   It is so crushing.  Nothing prepares you for it.   But, as we've said before, devotion and love trump (or should trump) my own selfishness -- to hang on and on.  Free their spirit -- take away the pain -- let them join their friends and laugh -- when the pup's "laugh" leaves, it is time to release them.

Her daughter's (Fury) mournful moaning and crying has made sleep difficult.   (We are trying to make sure she is okay, too.  She is going crazy trying to find her mom).

We are so thankful for Tenacity's beautiful heart and the nine years she was on loan to us.   For her love and her legacy -- For a dog that will never take a BOB or be in anyone's "show dog" Hall of Fame for anything -- she will stay in our hearts and our soul.   We are so very, very empty today.

For those that have the fortitude to read this, thank you for your patience.  It helps to be able to tell people how wonderful she was.