Clooney - The Very Best Dog in the World

This is a painting of Clooney.   His owner described him below as the very best dog in the world.   Isn't that how we all feel about our beloved dogs?   Isn't that what we want for each dog - to know that dog is thought of as the very best dog in the world?   Clooney was a wonderful dog and had a wonderful life.   I can vouch, to his family, he was undoubtedly the very best dog in the world.  

I remember the first time I saw a photo of baby Clooney like it was yesterday.  What I remember was seeing a stacked photo of this pup in front of a gorgeous boat.   All I saw was the most breathtaking puppy ever.   Here we are years later and I've had the honor to paint him.  I've asked his owner to share a little bit about Clooney.  Following is her story about Clooney:

Clooney went on his first boating vacation at the tender age of 10 weeks.  It was so rough crossing the Straits into Canada that I donned my life jacket and sat on the salon floor with him while Patrick took the helm and shook his fist at Mother Nature.  Cloo slept through it all.  I remember cautioning Patrick, “You don’t spit into the wind and you don’t let the puppy walk on the inflated tubes of the skiff when you’re underway unless you’re prepared to go in after him.”  PJ’s wallet and its contents spent the awhile spread out on the dining table – drying. 

Cloo blossomed into a lovely adult who finished his Championship quickly and easily.  Peter Kubacz handled him to his first huge win, a BOS at the 2010 National.  There is simply no way to describe what it was like to be having Thanksgiving Day dinner with the family the following November, celebrating our 43^rd Anniversary and watching our dog go Best In Show on national TV!  Peter took Cloo to #1 All-Breed points, #2 Breed points in 2011. 

That following spring we moved to a waterfront home and it was perfect except for one thing - It was time to bring Clooney home to enjoy it with us.  Cloo spent the ensuing years working with our son, Michael in the field, trialing with me in Obedience and Rally, running the beaches, swimming, boating and riding around in the skiff with Patrick.  We were fortunate to have him in excellent health to the end.  Sometimes I would hide so Cloo had to find me, then he would trot away ahead of me, down the long hallway to the cookie jar in the kitchen.  It always made me smile as I watched him going away – dead true to the last.  How I wish I could follow him down the hall one more time and tell him again that he was the very best dog in the whole world! 

Where do I begin?? It is all about the love from a dog....Maggie's story

Where do I begin?   I guess it starts back when I was showing Monet (GCH Rusticwood Spellbound CGC) - Bling's mama dog.   Monet was gorgeous.   She just didn't enjoy showing.   At one show in Palm Springs, a well known judge (whom I'd never shown to before) said to me quietly, "She is gorgeous, can you get her to move out for me?"   I shook my head no.  "Not today,"  I replied.  I understood Monet and loved her with every breath I had.  I loved her independence.  I laughed at her "I only do what I want" attitude.   I shrugged my shoulders the time she was excused from the ring when she tried to fake limping.   She was a smart dog; as beautiful as the day was long.   She was one unique and special girl.

Back to my story....I was showing Monet at a specialty at the Irish Setter Club of Southern California's summer show.  In our class, standing behind us, was a woman with the most fabulous mane of blonde hair and a beautiful Irish Setter named Maggie.  I thought to myself, that is a beautiful dog.   I am not sure we can defeat her in this show.   If Monet wanted to show, we had a chance.   What caught my attention the most was how much fun Maggie was having - how much she loved her mom.   They were a special team with a special bond.   Years later, the two were standing in my front yard so I could photograph Maggie for her painting.

On that day, taking the pictures, the vibrant Maggie with a white speckled sugar face still looked up at her mom glowing.   We were laughing and having a grand time taking the photos.   Maggie was healthy given her age.   Both her mom and I knew that her days were fleeting as time will rob us of memories the future could hold.  They say with an Irish Setter, or any large dog for that matter, any time past their 10th year is a gift.   We were in Maggie's gift time.   

Maggie would pass a year later.   We sat outside the home while the vet went inside to help Maggie on to rest.   We were there for Maggie's mom.   After Maggie passed, it took Maggie's mom a few years to be able to look at the photos again for the painting.  There was no rush.   It would happen when the time was right.    A few months ago it was time.    We had gone through the photos while Maggie was still with us and made notes of favorites.   When it came time to choose the primary reference photo, though there were many wonderful candidates, one jumped out.   The one that jumped out was Maggie looking up at her mom...that look of love I'd seen so many years ago when Maggie and Monet were youngsters.

I hope Maggie and Monet are once again young; I hope they are jumping around chasing butterflies and waiting for their moms to play with them again when those days come.  You see our love for our dogs never dies.   Our love is always in our hearts and when we close our eyes, we see those priceless memories that will keep us together until we meet at the rainbow bridge.

Bling takes us on a tour of her property in Texas - Happy Thanksgiving

A great GIFT this holiday season!

A great gift idea.  No Ghoulish Green Monsters Here is a picture book written and illustrated by Dawn Secord.   Join the main charater, Bling (an Irish Setter) as she learns about facing fears, building self esteem and teamwork.  The book is available on the book's website:   ADogBling.com