Savvy
January 29, 2019 - November 3, 2025

Savvy was whelped in the early morning hours of January 29, 2019. The first of nine pups in her litter, she was a rare lemon - a dog with light pigment around her eyes, a pale nose, and pale yellow patches. She stayed with her breeder, Laura Harmon, for the first three years of her life before we brought her home on February 16, 2022. You could say Savvy was the start of our unexpected journey into the Llewellin breeding world. We had no intention of breeding her, but a month later Laura called asking if we might consider purchasing her two breeding females - Skylar and Shelby - and continuing her line. It wasn’t an instant decision, but we eventually agreed to give it a try.

Fast forward three-and-a-half years: Savvy unexpectedly became sick. We weren’t sure what was wrong at first. She had been stung by something about a week prior and her face had swelled. A few days later the dogs had gotten into a bag of snickerdoodles, and thought maybe she had an upset stomach as her mood was just off. With her condition deteriorating, the tipping point came when she woke on a Sunday morning seeming very confused, not recognizing her surroundings. We took her in to Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Center (K-State) that day and the doctors observed her behavior, uncertain what might be the cause, but recognizing it was likely something neurological as her symptoms progressed. Early Monday morning, on November 3, K-State called and said she had had three seizures and they weren’t sure she would make it much longer. Jeff and I got dressed, drove in, and did what every dog-loving parent would do. We said our final goodbyes and watched her fall asleep. No final diagnosis was reached, but K-State suspected meningoencephalitis.

With seven other dogs, you might think losing one would go unnoticed or be a relief. This isn’t the case. Like everything with a mind of it’s own, they all have personalities we’ve come to love. Savvy’s exuberance in the field, or in the anticipation of going anywhere, could be overwhelming at times. She had an uncanny ability to overestimate distances or heights and would overshoot her landing. Her ambition regularly exceeded the space she was in. But we loved that about her. In my mind’s eye, I will always picture her intense eye contact and striking features. She was a beauty. It took the other Llewellins a couple of weeks after Savvy did not come home for things to return to normal in our house. The customary early-morning wrestling routines paused, and there was a general stillness among them until they accepted Savvy wasn’t coming home. While the wrestling matches have returned, they are less frequent and are not nearly as rambunctious.

None of our dogs are just one of our dogs. We know their time with us will end sooner than we want. Savvy, you gave us more than we knew to ask for and left us far sooner than we were ready for. You lived boldly and nearly defied the laws of gravity, always leaping first and figuring out the landing later. We miss you, Savvy. Run free, sweet girl.