CH Eastwyn Miss Friendly  "Pookie's"  Story:

On our  "About Us" page,  we mentioned that we lost an early acquisition.  Her name was Ch Wicklewood Watersprite.  She was to be our foundation,  but now she was gone.  After we recovered from her loss, we began a search for a replacement.   Doris remembered seeing a young red bitch that impressed her, but we did not know whether she was available.  As it turned out, she was. 

Neither of us will ever forget the phone call to Bal Perry her breeder.  Bal had her litter sister Cookie, and his partner, Ernie Hines who owned Pookie was suffering from ill health which made Pookie available. 

When we made the call to Bal I remember writing a note to Doris who was anxiously sitting beside me at the kitchen table.  I scribbled.  "Can we go as high as $1,000?" 

She nodded, " Yes."

After the affirmative nod, I said to Bal, "What would you be asking for Pookie?" 

His answer was "Would $150 be okay with you?"  Needless to say he received my check with the ink still wet! 

Pookie became our greatest acquisition and, in truth became the bargain basement biggest winner of her day. Years later (out of guilt) I gave Bal a (look-alike to) Pookie a daughter named Ch. Twinroc-Eastwyn Joy,  who in her fashion won the National Sweepstakes, won BOB at the Garden, placed in the Group and in short carved out her own strong career with very limited showing.   In fact, she beat Pookie at one large entry, in effect saying, "Hey Mom, I turned out pretty well!." 

 Photo:  Paul and Pookie on right...... Bal Perry and Pookie's daughter(CH Twinroc-Eastwyn Joy) on left

 

 

Whereas Melody was always a perfect lady who never met a person or a dog she did not like, the great Pookie was a horse of a different color.  Without provocation, she would grab any bitch she thought she could reach, and she had a hatred for any and all Siberian Huskies.  Yet with people she was wonderful, greeting and playing with anyone she met.  This idiosyncrasy had serious consequences.  Although we were able to control her, she did manage to take a 1/2 an ear from Ch. Foxfyre Spirit of Sprite effectively ending a specials career that was more than promising.

 

  At the Garden one year, an event she won 4 times she was. pushed into a corner in the waiting corridor to go in the Working Group, a handler was walking her Best of Breed through this very crowded hallway and she let the SIBERIAN drift into Pookie.  Pandemonium ensued.  Blood and beer all over me, and Pookie firmly attached to the Siberian's head (above his eye) and he of course was howling in pain shaking his head first left then right.  Pookie had her jaws clenched and her eyes shut tight and she was  flying through the air with the greatest of ease and with no intention of letting him go.  I wound up unclenching her jaws and got her and myself as clean as possible, and in the Group we went where she regained her angelic show dog persona.  An unforgettable event to say the least. There were only two other altercations, both at home, and never again at a show. 
Photo: Paul with Pookie on the move in the Working Group at Westminister "The Garden."

 

Paul Slaboda
Twinroc Cardigans (since 1968)