(2nd in a series of articles about how our club members became Welshie Slaves)
White Spots Forever by Christie Jelen, Mexico City
What do white spots, breeder stalking, jumping out of car windows, and sitting in the sunshine have in common? For me it is Welsh Terriers. I became a Welshie Slave over 50+ years ago, and so far my journey is divided into three Acts — all revolving around three female black and tan furrbutts in my life named Scratch, Maggie and Milou.
Act I — Scratch
My childhood Welsh Terrier Scratch was my best friend while growing up in the 1950s in Syracuse, NY. She always slept with me, and to this day I must have my animals with me in bed or I can’t go to sleep. Scratch had the “old-fashioned” look for a Welshie with her square jaw and a small white spot on her chest (where an angel kissed her). Completely fuzzy-wuzzy, she was never clipped or stripped. The reason my family had a Welshie was because my dad discovered the breed as a bachelor when he looked at all the dogs in a show and then picked out the Welsh Terrier as his favorite.
Scratch hated the mailman and lived for the moment each day when she could attack the mail as it fell through the mail slot in the door. In those days dogs ran loose and there were no fences. Her doggie pal Timmy, a gorgeous Irish Red Setter, came every day to get her and together they would head out for an adventure. During winter Scratch and I played in the snow together spending hours outside, and then we would defrost ourselves indoors by both sitting on top of the heating vent on the floor. Scratch lived to be 15+ years old, and when it came time to put her to sleep, my family was devastated. Literally, after Scratch died, my family was never the same.
Act II — Maggie
In 1985 as a newly divorced woman in San Antonio with three cats, I went on a “mission” to find a Welsh Terrier to add to my life. It was NOT easy to find one. Attending dog shows all over Texas, I finally found breeder Mary Seck who told me to forget my dream of having a female with a white spot and a square jaw. She was nice, but firm with me because she knew of no females that would be available anywhere in the country for the next two years. Being a determined woman, I listened politely and then basically stalked her for the next YEAR! I called and wrote her often to remind her I was still looking and went to several Texas dog shows where I was her “shadow” and never let her out of my sight. I’m lucky Mary didn’t report me as a deranged person!
My determination paid off 18 months later when “Maggie” grew crooked adult teeth and couldn’t be shown. I drove 9 hours straight and got her that same day. Maggie even had a white spot so it was meant to be!!!! My beloved, sweet, blonde, fluffy Maggie lived to be almost 15. Moving to Mexico City was heaven for her. We spent hours and hours sitting in the sunshine together and exploring the smells on the sidewalk.
Act III — Milou
By the year 2001, I knew many Welshie slaves and breeders through the Welsh List and the annual TxWAG party. Soon the word went out that Christie was looking for a female Welshie with a white spot, of course. This time I found my furrbutt in Nova Scotia, Canada, at the WWWG — World Wide Welshie Gathering. Puppy Milou (with a perfect white spot) came from Regalridge Kennels. I had never had a puppy before because all my other dogs were adults when they entered my life, so I was puppy clueless! Puppy Milou spent all of 22 seconds in her X-pen before she climbed out of it. No one told me that some pups are climbers! In addition, my 24-paw family (3 cats and 3 dogs) had to adjust to Milou’s ice-pick barking.
The day I knew Milou was truly blessed by an angel was when she suddenly jumped completely out of the window of the car (which was going about 30 mph) and she was hanging by her neck with me holding on to her leash for dear life. Believe it or not, this event was déjá vu for me — because the exact same thing had happened to me 17 years earlier with Maggie in the car! So, now you know it is true — Welshies with white spots are kissed by angels.
All in all, I plan to be a Welshie Slave forever, in this world and the hereafter at the Rainbow Bridge. So Scratch and Maggie — and all my beloved pets — save a place for me in the sunshine, OK?
I love this story. I also like the idea of a welshie slave. I got a beagle while I was in high school from my folks whiched turned out to be half airedale the breeder of beagles was not happy he had to replace several pups he only sold hunting beagles. I had the greatest untrained birddog in the county and yes he found birds! this started the search for away to own an airedale. Life being what it is and the yard I have the trips to the dog shows introduced me to a couple that run agility with welsh terriers they owned 7 welsh and at the show the wife was trying to get two in the internation title and one novice this was early agilty. The husban explained welsh terriers to me in between helping his wife do runs. I had to have one I now have two and I am training the second welsh to be my second agility dog. I am a slave to Chani my 4 year old female and Nagano my 6 month old male. Turns out with more history research that male welsh do better in agility than the female a little less independent. My chani does not let this slacker forget the road work to stay in shape for the match and at 5 miles a night this is some serious road work. One of the stories the husban told about the welsh was his being called to lunch only to find out one of their male welsh had been following him in the seakayak for about 2 hours which he did not know until his wife told him to look behind him as the dog was coming out of the water. He had been close to 2 miles offshore in that two hours. He said it took him about a year to get the dog to climb on the kayka to rest the dog just would not get out of the water. Must be some of the otterhound from the airedale breeding from way back. The other stories he related have been spot on. The day they needed to train one dog to not eat his wife’s reading glasses ended with the dog showing that NO involes 6 sides the the cube that is the space around the coffee table which involved a brown paw coming out from under the couch patting around for the table and glasses.
Gary the welshie clown slave
For Gary Smith — the Welshie clown slave. Thank you so much for writing about your two Welshies! Our Texas club is planning a party for all Welshie slaves like you this April 2010, so please contact me so we can invite you to come and meet other crazy folks with more wonderful stories to share. And, of course, we want to meet Chani and Nagano! I am the contact for the club so to send an email to me (Christie) you need to use this website and click on “contacts” and then go to my name which is the vice president and click on my name — Christie Jelen. The website will send your email to me. For privacy reasons the site does not automatically show any email addresses.
No matter where you are on the planet there is a welshie group for you and we also have many welshie internet groups to keep in touch. I can explain more in detail in a private email. Sorry to delay writing you until 2010…Christie Jelen and WT Milou. (Hope to hear from you soon — please don’t follow my example).
A welshie swimming for two hours — unbelievable — mine is definitely an “earth” dog as she cannot be dragged into water, and even hates to go outside when its raining – no matter how bad she has to go relieve herself.
Christie- can see you telling this story with your hands flapping up and down. Such a sweet tale- have written several articles myself- sorry that I missed you at the reunion. My youngest daughter had just gotten married. Hope to see you eventually- Email me if you get this at lhtyndall@gmail.com- Are you still in Mexico City?
Love your pics of Scratch and your stories of both Scratch and Maggie. I had an airdale (Duke) and welsh (Divot lived to be 16+) growing up, therefore when I had children I wanted another welsh to add to our familly. 2 years ago we got Hazel and she is a gem. They make such wonderful pets, but not only that she is such a big part of our family. When we are on vacation (usually far away) we can’t take her, and we long for her the whole time we are gone. We did take a trip to Disneyworld and thank goodness they have a wonderful kennel so that we could take her and visit her everyday after our park adventures. They are the sweetest, loyal and playful dogs! Our lives will never be the same and we are so thankful for our little HAZEL!
Bobbie — thanks for your kind words about my Welshie Scratch. I am so glad you have Hazel for your children.
Where do you live? Welsh terrier owners are all over the world and we get together often and have a yahoo group we all share stories on… Many of the welsh terrier owners had Airedales like you.
If you want to know more about welsh terrier owners and clubs we have in the USA and Canada…send me a reply. I can get you started on meeting other welshie owners…we are a loyal bunch and act like family no matter where we live. Christie.
Hi, we have a 4 yr old welsh named Prince. We are looking for another one or an airedale. I was hoping to find a breeder on the wags site, but no luck. Can you help?
Thanks
Lynn S.
Lynn — a breeder in Texas will be replying to you. Thanks for writing. Christie.
Christie, we are in FL and are always looking for other Welsh crazies to talk about the joy of the breed. Our little girl Callie is 4 years old and the absolute love of our lives. Can’t imagine life without one of these little loves.
Patrish and WT Callie — there are lots of Welshie slaves in Florida and around the world. We all talk together on a big welsh list. If you are interested in joining the group,(it’s free) let me know. I will explain how to do it in a private email. Send a message to me at my personal email: respect51@yahoo.co.uk
Christie and her current Welshie Milou