Dufenhof Swissies

I don’t know if it was because I worked so hard to keep her alive when she was a puppy or because she was Sean’s daughter, but whatever the reason, Laverne was so incredibly special to me that it is hard to put it into words. She was my very best friend.

Laverne came into the world as one of nine girls. Although things went well at first, when the puppies were just over a week old we lost most of the puppies in less than 48 hrs to toxic milk. Only Laverne and her sister  Shirley survived. With their mother ill and their littermates dead, I worked round the clock to keep the two little girls alive. Shirley was weak enough that she almost died more than once, but Laverne held steady and as the antibiotics kicked in both girls started to thrive and increased their ability and desire to take a bottle. As exhausted as I was, I was so happy to have two puppies strong enough to demand to be fed at 3 AM.   

As Laverne grew up she got prettier and prettier, but I honestly think I would have kept her even if she’d been homely as a toad because she was just so… well, she was just so Laverne.  She was loving and loved me, but she was like her grandmother Tye and more saucy than she was sweet.  She was confident and pushy and I think she knew she was destined to rule the roost.

The 1999 National Specialty ended up being Laverne’s second time at a dog show.  She was in the 6-9 month Puppy Sweepstakes class and never having shown inside before she was a little apprehensive at first, but quickly decided it was fun and strutted her stuff. I was utterly shocked when the judge motioned for me to bring Laverne into the center of the ring and awarded her Best of Opposite Sex in the National Specialty Puppy Sweepstakes. It was an incredible honor, even more so considering the caliber of the girls she was competing against. 

The following spring Laverne continued her show career tagging along wherever I was showing Leroy, and finishing at 16 months with a 4 point major. After that Laverne was shown only occasionally as a special and earned back-to-back Best of Breed wins at the CT River Working Group shows.  As a veteran Laverne returned to the show ring and was awarded an Award of Merit at the Eastern Regional Specialty as well as Best of Opposite in Veteran Sweeps. She loved to show off for the spectators, but I really think what she enjoyed most was the fact that I was the one showing her. We were always a team, in or out of the ring and she liked it that way (and so did I).

She also liked the fact that she was the undisputed queen of the house. After Sean passed away, Laverne quietly, but decidedly, took over as the top dog. Having previously opted to sleep on the guest bed, she quickly claimed Sean’s spot on my bed and she never gave it up.   She was always kind and fair, but she was a rare, true dominant dog and it was clear to the other dogs that she was my “next in command” and that was just the way it was. With rare exceptions, no one ever bothered to challenge that. 

I bred Laverne twice, and she was a great mom both times. Her first litter was a singleton, Bunny, and her second litter of four was one of the very first “dual sired” litters recorded for the breed.  To date, four of her five kids are champions. All five are spoiled rotten just as they should be.

When Laverne was eight we discovered through routine bloodwork that her kidney values were slightly elevated. Thanks to early detection, management and luck, we kept her kidneys functioning well for the next 2-½ years. In the fall of 2009, when she was  10-½, our luck ran out.

Through her daughter Bunny and son Marshall I am blessed to have several of Laverne’s grandkids and even great-grandkids around, but as special as they are, there can never be another Laverne, she was my best friend and she was one of a kind.  

To view photos of Laverne's five fabulous kids, go here

Laverne's titled offspring include:

Bunny, Ch Dufenhof Angora Deb

Penny, Ch Dufenhof Such an Angel Face

Marshall, Ch Dufenhof Make Mine Milk and Pepsi

Rupert, Ch Dufenhof Prince of the Pizza Bowl

Laverne

Ch Dufenhof A Snowball's Chance, TT

Breeders: Ellyn Signet & Frances Signet

Date of Birth: March 2, 1999

Laverne's Health Clearances

P2Y12 Status: Untested (2 offspring tested, 1 Carrier, 1 Clear)

Sire: Ch Precious Mettle v Shamrock, TT

Dam: Ch Mar-Dal Alisha, ROM

Laverne's Pedigree

Laverne's first points, at 12 months old

Laverne on the bed-- her favorite spot