The Life & Times: Lady Kiera Von Pooh (2)

And so it was, the selection process had been made.  I was now the proud owner of a six week old German Shorthaired Pointer.  I knew what her name would be, even before I got to the kennel that day in June.  It was Kiera Von Pooh.  You see, Von Pooh was the kennel name.  Kiera had a nice melodic ring to it and it meant "strong, brave, warrior-like."  Here's a picture of her the day we picked her up at the kennel. 

However, her name changed when Linda, a long time close friend of mine (who has since passed away from breast cancer) came over to visit the first week I had Kiera home.  As we sat on the screen porch and she watched Kiera prancing around, Linda said, "JP, she is so regal looking!"  Hence, Lady Kiera Von Pooh, it was.

(Just an aside...if you want to read a little about our experiences in dog school, click on the following links: 

http://www.jp-homeinthehollow.com/2010/09/i-got-it-mom.html
http://www.jp-homeinthehollow.com/2010/10/lady-kiera-von-pooh-intermediate-part-1.html

They give you a brief picture of how dog school went and the perils we faced!!)

 On with the story at hand.  It was September and Kiera was probably about 4 months old because we were still in Intermediate Training Class.  We'd been walking the trail every weekend and we were up to 5 miles.  Shorthairs are built for stamina and endurance.  So, there we were walking along and there up ahead I saw and a man and woman walking a full grown Weimaraner.  He was magnificent.  As they approached Kiera and I, the woman said, "What a beautiful

Pointer.  Can we pet her?"

In dog school, we had learned to "sit/stay" your dog before someone was allowed to pet them.  I instructed Kiera to do just that.  The woman approached.  Meanwhile, her husband was on the opposite side of the trail five-six feet away, holding the leash of their dog.  The woman had crouched down to pet Kiera.  

It all happened so quickly.  In an instant, that Weimaraner had Kiera's head in it's jaws.  The woman was screaming, flailing her arms in the air.  The husband stood motionless.  Kiera was crying agonizingly.  I grabbed the Weimaraner's upper and lower jowls and spread them open.  The husband bent over, grabbed the leash and took the dog far to our right.  There was a nick in Kiera's muzzle. She was traumatized.  I could tell.

The man and woman apologized and walked hurriedly away.  They probably thought I was going to sue.  Kiera and I headed home.  

to be continued...