Hickory Hollow Llewellin Setters

[Rex]

I haven't been around many Llews. I just want to try to describe how Leo moves. I've read where Llews are very athletic and I don't know if it's typical or not. The only thing at home I have to compare until Gracie matures, is our 75 pound English Setter, who is a bit coordination-impaired at times.

Leo was the smallest in the litter and is small for a male, weighing in at 45 pounds. He is just so light on his feet that I swear he barely leaves pawprints, except muddy ones on the kitchen tile . He just kinda glides and slices through the air. Sitting next to you, he will spring into your lap and you barely feel him. Very lean and springy. From a standing start, he's jumped 10 feet over a gaggle of sleeping teen-aged girls at a slumber party, touch down, whirl, and jump to the spot where he originated. Very smooth and fun to watch. I hope he doesn't try that on any nursing home visits
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Dr. Rex Williamson
"My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dogs already think I am."

[Rex]

On Tuesday, April 26, Leo accompanied me to a school event where I work. The building of 450, 5th and 6th graders sponsored a mini-relay for life with the proceeds donated to the American Cancer Society. We arrived a few minutes behind schedule, so instead of having time to get settled in, we immediately stood in front of the assembly of students and teachers. I told my experience with my cancer and tied it to the theme of building a caring community. Leo was AWESOME! He sat quietly by my side but was appropriately interested in his surroundings. Later, we walked laps then stood by the official "lap counters" where Leo greeted the students as they passed. Whether the student was in a wheel chair or walking, each hand that reached out to Leo was greeted with a wag of his tail and a nuzzle of his snout. That was a great day in the "field" for us.

_________________
Dr. Rex Williamson
"My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dogs already think I am."

[Rex]

An early Father's Day visit to Dad....Leo and I left home at 5:30AM for the trip to Springfiled to see Dad. He's a 96 year old resident in the Alzheimer's wing at a Catholic-run nursing home so the timing would put us there about when he was finishing breakfast. After 2 hours riding in a car, I was asking Leo to be on his best therapy dog behavior without benefit of running around to de-stress. The nuns and staff were impressed with his manners as well as his handsome appearance (I really never tire of hearing that )

Dad was already dozing when we reached him, and today he recognized me. Leo wagged his tail and, on command, jumped onto the bed and curled beside my dad. While dad stroked Leo with arthritic hands that used to squeeze off shots from a Smith and Wesson, Remington, Winchester, or LC Smith, he lucidly talked about the dogs of his life and how he spent his youth trapping and hunting. His spirits seemed to pick up as he talked about Betty and Lady and the rabbits and muskrats that he trapped.

It was a good day in the field.
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Dr. Rex Williamson
"My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dogs already think I am."

[Rex]

The other day we witnessed Leo letting himself outside by opening the front storm door. I don't mean he jumped up and accidentally knocked the handle.......he wrapped both paws around the lever-type handle, unlatched the door, then butted it with his head to make his dash outside

I'm sure many dogs learn this behavior so I wasn't that impressed. Nor was I that impressed when he stood outside on the porch and grabbed ahold of the door handle to try to let himself in the house!! Whenever he butted his head on the door, of course, it closed. So when he learns the difference between "push" and "pull", THEN I'll be impressed
_________________
Dr. Rex Williamson
"My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dogs already think I am."