Guine was my first Field Spaniel, and for that fact alone she would be special. I had waited so long for her and then she changed my outlook radically when she finally came into my life, because all I wanted to do was be with her instead of keeping my nose to the grindstone and going off to work a zillion hours every week.
Guine was sweet and affectionate, but also clever and manipulative. She was particularly great at fooling the other dogs. Her favorite trick, which they fell for every time, was to run to the window and bark, as if something important was occurring outside. As soon the other dogs ran up to take a look, she would back off and steal the bone, toy or food one of them had just abandoned.
One of my other favorite memories of Guine is the image of her, a smallish bitch, rolling big boy Lincoln and standing there, with her foot on his chest while he lay submissively on his back, awaiting her command to rise. Guine was the boss of our household for many years, and no dog ever questioned her authority, nor did she ever have to do anything more violent than the occasional rolling of one of the boys to assert herself.
She and I trained extensively for her therapy dog certification, and she learned to cope with noises, surfaces, gestures and equipment that was initially alien and often frightening to her. At 2 years old, when she was certified and we received our regular weekly assignment working with preschoolers, she was remarkably tolerant, self-possessed and well controlled, despite the frequently dangerous and violent behavior of the children, who were really too young to understand the difference between a stuffed animal and a live one. She was the therapy dog featured at the end of the official AKC Field Spaniel breed video.
She retired young from regular therapy dog work because she had some serious orthopedic problems. In spite of having difficulty getting around and keeping up with the other dogs, she was always sweet tempered and affectionate.
Wicksford's Lady Guinevere, TDI
"Guine"
Whelped August 8, 1987
| Parents | GrandParents | G-GrandParents | G-G-GParents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BISS Ch Lydemoor Leslie ROM | Sh SA Ch Dayhouse Bruce | Ch Adam of Elmbury | Gormac Teal | |
| Juno of Elmbury | ||||
| Mittina Bonnie | Ch Little Corporal of Mittina | |||
| Sh Ch Mittina Ridware Samantha | ||||
| Sh Ch Lydemoor Bethany Leigh | Sh Ch Elmbury Edward | Ch Little Corporal of Mittina | ||
| Ch Alice of Elmbury | ||||
| Sh Ch Dayhouse Bonny Belinda of Lydemoor | Templetrine Michael | |||
| Ch Anna of Elmbury | ||||
| Ch Wicksfords Primadonna | Ch Gunhills Stiffkey Bink | Ch Mittina Whimbrel | Mittina Shamus | |
| Lise of Mittina | ||||
| Gunhill's Rosamunda | Ch Brigadier of Mittina | |||
| Ch Joanne of Mittina | ||||
| Ch Gunhill's Mowbra of Wicksford | Ch Mittina Whimbrel | Mittina Shamus | ||
| Lise of Mittina | ||||
| Ch Gunhills Binky Blasingame | Gunhill's Buckingham | |||
| Mittina Pheasant | ||||
Whelped August 8, 1987
Whelped August 8, 1987