By Edith Beale the Bouvier
Hello, I’m Edith a Bouvier des Flandres, born on Sept. 9, 2001 in Las Vegas. Let’s face it, no one names a dog Edith, but my companions thought it was real cute when they named their first Bouvier after Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Then they named their next Bouvier after Jacqueline’s sister, Caroline Lee. When I came along, Edith Bouvier Beale, Jacqueline’s aunt, was the only other Bouvier woman they could come up with. Someone made a documentary movie called “Grey Gardens” about Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter, “Little Edie.” Edith even made it to Broadway and television. I won’t let it go to my head, really I won’t, really.
Here I am in the parking lot of some cheap motel in Las Vegas. The people I was to go to live with had just given me a bath. It was Nov. 16. My shadow is a lot bigger than I am. I don’t remember exactly, but I think I weighed about 14 lb. That bath thing was a shock. Then these two people packed me into a crate in their car and we drove away. I didn’t know what to expect. More baths? Ugh.
At the right, there’s a picture of me on the way to my new home in San Francisco. We stopped for a rest and water break at Panamint Springs on the western side of Death Valley. I was still a little uncertain about what was going on.
Maybe this would be a good time to tell you a little more about me. Here’s a picture of me with my Mom, a beautiful Bouvier named Tilly (Ch. Tilly Reine Dela Des Mers). I was in a litter of three females and five males. I understand I was the puppy who was always the last to go to sleep and the first to wake up and get my litter mates roiled. That’s a characteristic I’m determined to maintain.
Isn’t Mom beautiful? My father is Gus (Ch. Fear Is Not An Option At Rigstown). I’ve been told he is the grandson of a Bouvier named Ironeyes (Ch. Galbraith’s Ironeyes) who was named best of the herding group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York — whatever that is. Sadly, like too many kids these days, I don’t know my father.
Not long after we arrived at my new home in San Francisco, we took another trip. We visited the Hansbrows at Lake Wildwood. They call me their Granddoggie. Folks better not get used to picking me up like this ’cause I’m not planning to be this small for long, but honestly, I am a cute little rascal that you just want to cuddle (and no one knows that better than I do!).
Read about Miss Bouvier’s school days as my life continues on the next page.
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Please visit Edith’s Web page again to find out what she has been up to, meet her friends, see where she has been walking and places she’s visited. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to Ol’ What’s-his-name. He will probably answer you. He’s got too much time on his hands.
Want to find out more about Bouviers? Read this tongue-in-cheek article, written by a breeder, who says you probably shouldn’t have one.