I wanted to share with all of you that last Sunday, on a beautiful fall day, I had my lovely Portia put to sleep. She was 15 ½ years old and had been a wonderful companion in my life. She retained her health and vigor until the last few months, and even this summer she could still move across the backyard with that proud gait that marked her in the show ring. She was the perfect example of good breeding---good structure lasts. And she could still chase her granddaughter, Faith, to teach her some manners. She never could stand an unruly pup, even if that “pup” was four years old. She brought so much to my family’s life…her show career, her two litters that produced some Manchesters we are very proud of: Tuxedo, who with Joy Henderson’s handling was the top Manchester in Canada for years.; Mercedes, who was invited to the first AKC Eukanuba show in Florida with Randy and Regina Osborne; Bessie, who became the AMTC Hall of Fame dog I always wanted to breed; Josie, who had a good career in the show ring but who went on to produce Ethan, the first TDX Manchester in the country and Tyrone, who sired Scorch and Faith, who will be my own HOF Manchester. And the other puppies who may not have become champions except where it really matters—in the hearts of their families.
Portia and I traveled so many miles together and had so many adventures. We traveled by car, by motor home. We traveled to California, to Oregon, to Iowa; we visited The Little Big Horn and Mt Rushmore. We saw a wild turkey mother with her chicks at the Milk River. We went to National specialties and we went to Puyallup. We stood in show rings, and obedience rings and rally rings. We got ribbons, we got medallions, we got skunked. We had so much fun and learned so much together. She never really warmed up to Neil, unless he was suffering. And then she would stand with her head on his leg, a silent offering of peace to him. But until two years ago, she would always try and sometimes succeed in biting him when he came to bed.
Some of the most fun we had was later, when we joined our trainer, Larry Babb, in a crazy project called “FIDO”. What a great time we had, practicing “dress and cover”, learning how to be part of a team of handlers and dogs who set out to put on a show. We didn’t miss very many practices---Portia wouldn’t stand for it. She loved being part of FIDO and that crazy pack. She adored Larry, even if sometimes she thought he was kind of crazy. And she really loved to perform. That gait always kicked in when the music started. And she proved that small dogs could keep up just fine with the big dogs.
She was bred by Myrtle and Fred Klensch. She was given to me on a co-ownership and when I finisher her and bred a litter, she was signed over to me in total. We never signed anything, it was a verbal agreement that was followed to the letter. The day Myrtle came to my home and picked her two puppies from Portia’s litter is the day she signed Portia over to me. It was the most beautiful gift I was ever given. On the day she died, Portia was still beautiful. I want to thank all of you for being part of her life.
She was Ch Salutaire As You Like It CD, RN, CGC and I will always miss her.
Veda, Neil, Byron, Laurel and Danny Viles
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