Monday, December 20, 2010

Keeping Watch

In the midst of a romp in the highland snows with his friend Emma this weekend, our boy Spencer heard a pack of coyotes singing merrily across the hills and stopped in his tracks.

Gone was the madcap lad with snow on his nose, and in the place of that lad, a fierce and noble paladin on duty and keeping watch over his realm. He and Emma (another German Shorthair), stood side by side on the brow of the eastern hill, and they made an impressive pair of guardian spirits. At the end of the coyote song, they added a few resonant notes of their own and then returned to tunneling through the drifts, scattering newly fallen snow in all directions.

We are (of course) a wee bit prejudiced, but we think our furry son is the most beautiful boy ever, and what a magnificent profile.

10 comments:

Melanie said...

He is such a stunning lad

Laura said...

He is gorgeous, clearly a prince of his realm!

Cindy said...

Beautiful boy....full of wisdom.

Gingerspark said...

He is a beautiful boy!


I have a photography question for you as your pictures are always so stunning.

Do you have problems when you take your camera out in the winter?

Anonymous said...

Yes, he is definitely noble. I think that I remember you relating a similar experience not long after he came to stay with you. I love the way these spirits communicate. I wonder what Spencer heard? Thank you for the beautiful picture.

the wild magnolia said...

He is so handsome and now a guardian of his realm! I love it!

sending love and a hug for Spencer, magnolia

Jaliya said...

He is exquisite ... The focus of a canine in full alert is beautiful and arresting to witness. Your boy definitely is your guardian ... and your silly goofball playmate. Don't you love knowing that?

One of my brothers told me, several winters ago: "There's nothing like a dog to get you through the winter, sis ... You can't help but come to enjoy it -- I mean, look at him [his big mutt, Mr. Bobo] with snow all over his nose -- He loves it, the cold, the snow, the mess of it, the wild white of it --"

... OK, I admit I took a bit of literary license there ... the last phrase is mine ;-D

I've never had a dog like Spencer in my family, but I know and love several such beauties amongst my kin. One big boy, my cousin's rescue mutt Jake, healed me of my big-dog phobia. I was attacked by a bull mastiff when I was ten ... and Jake had lots of mastiff in him. That dog was Love personified and I could wrap myself all around him, snuffle all kinds of silliness into him, and play growly tug-o-war with his favourite ropes. This dog went apeshit whenever Don Cherry (of Hockey NIght in Canada fame) came on the TV, and babies could crawl all over him and he'd just stretch out onto his side, sighing, and let the little goofballs have at his tummy, just like a mama-dog would. Kids would fall all over Jakey, toddlers would grab at his tail and he *never* showed aggression to them. If you were a predator, on the other hand ... Look out. That dog was fiercely in love with his tribe.

He was the great canine love of my life.

Unknown said...

Another amazing pic!

Nan said...

Wonderful. What a beautiful picture of a beautiful boy.

Anonymous said...

I love the photo, his reaction, and especially the knowing watch of his adoring friend.