Dufenhof Swissies

Opie was apparently destined to be my boy. When he was 8 weeks old his breeder called to offer me Opie because he was a Seany grandson and was just so handsome she felt he should be shown. As much as I wanted him, I just couldn’t manage another puppy at the time so he went to another Swissy owner who lived a few hours away from me.

As it turned out when Opie was about 6 months old the other owner decided she didn’t want him anymore telling the breeder  he wasn’t turning out and should go to a pet home. A series of phone calls ensued between the breeder, the owner & me and it was arranged that I would meet Opie (not his name at the time) at a dog show. He was a typical happy, goofy puppy all feet and ears, but I could see a lot of potential, and he was Sean’s grandson,  so I agreed to buy him. Two weeks later I picked him up and by the time we arrived home he’d been renamed Opie -- his registered name was one I’d suggested to the breeder when he was a baby and I just couldn’t think of anything more fitting for his everyday name than ‘Opie‘.

His first time in the ring with me was at the CT River Working Group shows where he was Best in Puppy Sweepstakes both days and also garnered his first points toward his championship.  Opie continued his winning ways and earned his AKC Championship shortly before his first birthday.  Not too shabby for a dog who “wasn’t turning out”.

Although he always managed to look quite dignified in the show ring, in real life he was a complete & utter goofball. A big, happy, lovable goof. Although he never meant to be bad, he was forever getting himself into little bits of mischief. And he had the size to create quite a bit of mischief if he wanted to. More than once I would walk into the kitchen to find that Opie had decided to help himself to something I’d placed on top of the fridge for safe keeping. And if caught in the act, he’d immediately stop whatever he was doing and happily greet me with tail wagging madly.

As much as Opie loved me, he was totally a guy’s dog and just adored any time spent with my brothers or other men.  Knowing this, a few months after Opie’s son Ponder died unexpectedly, I arranged to Opie to spend a short visit with the Ponder's owners, Tom & Diane Lillard while I travelled to NYC to attend Westminster. I knew he’d be a happy distraction for them and Opie would enjoy the time hanging out with Tom doing “guy stuff” much more than going to a boarding kennel. What was supposed to be a 2 week visit ended up with Opie staying permanently with the Lillard family and being as happy as a clam for the remainder of his life. 

Opie sired a total of five litters during his lifetime. He might have sired more, but he had a tendency to produce “blue” puppies. He was a pretty consistent “blue producer” with one or more blues occurring in 4 of his 5 litters and a total of 7 blue puppies surviving whelping.

Opie passed away shortly after his 10th birthday.  His goofiness and happy spirit live on in his offspring, grand puppies and even great-grand puppies.

To see some of Opie's youngun's go here.

Opie's titled offspring include:

Darla, Ch Dufenhof Simple Serendipity

Midas, Dufenhof A Simple Shade of Blue, CGC, TDI

Payton, Ch Dufenhof SL The Devil Ya Know

T'Adak, Ch Tymeles Chilkoot T'Adak, CD

River, Ch Tymeles Carbon River Ice, CD

Ryder, Dufenhof It's a Long Way to Tipperary, CGC, TDI

Charlene, Ch Dufenhof Guadalajara Won't Do

Opie

Ch Hamilton's Gone Fishin'

Breeder: Nancy Miller, Hamilton GSMD

Date of Birth: June 27, 2001

Opie's Health Clearances

Sire: Ch Shadetree's Oktoberfest, ROM

Dam: Ch Hamilton's Crystal Bouquet

Opie's Pedigree

Opie at 4 months old

Opie at 11 months with Junior handler Josehine Kenney & Me

Opie relaxing in the kitchen with his frog