Welsh Terrier Withdrawal

Getting a Welsh fix at brunch.

When traveling without my two Welsh pups, I get a terrible case of Welsh Terrier withdrawal.  Perhaps you know the feeling?

Since Maisie and Winston are not with me on this short trip to Palm Desert, I am furiously planning several trips and meetups with other Welsh families.  I have been here for a week and my Welsh Terrier withdrawal is ramping up.

This past Saturday, Brian and I drove to Palm Springs to have brunch at Spencer’s with Julie, Mike and their year old Welsh girl, Riley.  I had never met Julie before but we are fairly long time Facebook friends.

The weather was cool and sunny when we arrived at Spencer’s and I saw Julie right away.  “Better run back, they are here,” Julie told Mike, who was trying to wear our Riley before we sat down to brunch.

“There’s Mike Fernanda, running with Riley.”  I looked around the cars and saw a tall man being pulled along by a black and tan machine.

Small in stature but full of energy, Riley has that unmistakable serious Welsh face.  I find the girls tend to have the serious Welsh face more often than the boys do.

The level stare from Riley.

Riley’s eyes were laser focused on me for a second and then she saw her mom and made a mad pull to be with her.  Long introductions with Mike would have to wait until we sat down.  I had started to get my Welsh fix.

As we sat and chatted, getting to know each other I just couldn’t help reaching out to touch and pat Riley.  She has the most beautifully thick wiry coat with gentle ripples of black fur along her back.  Her head and legs are a gorgeous dark honey color and those eyes stared into and through me when we made eye contact. I was smitten.

I love a Welsh that means business.  Riley exuded a no-nonsense attitude, no matter the situation.  During lunch it was scoping out for other dogs.  Poor Julie was justifiably worried that Riley would bark if she caught sight of the fluffy white dog three tables over sitting politely in a dog bag.

Riley is laser focused on Julie during brunch,.

No Barking! the laminated card on the table said, oh dear, we were in trouble if she saw that ball of white fluff.  But Riley was beautifully behaved for a young Welsh girl.  Yes, she paced back and forth between us, but she never barked.

And the people to thank for the good behavior?  Julie and Mike of course.  They are skilled owners who pay strict attention to their girl and know her triggers.  Yes, I am sure it was a nerve-racking meal for them as I cooed over Riley and chatted away about all things Welsh.  But they did an excellent job introducing her to lunching in a busy restaurant with many distractions.

The end of a successful brunch.

It wasn’t until we were leaving the restaurant that a large white Labrador barked and caused a scene as Riley was exiting.  Of course after we left the building Riley let out a series of very high pitched barks to tell off the badly behaved Lab.  "Never let another dog get the last word in" should be a Welsh motto.

Charlie one of the my recent placements going to his furrever home.

If you read this blog, you know I help to re-home Welsh Terriers in California and Virginia.  I have been rather busy re-homing in California this past winter.  So, I plan to do a North/South California drive to meet some of the ones I have placed, say hello to at least one Foster family and maybe find a new home for my current dog in need.

A Welsh looking for a new home.

Before that drive, I hope to have another local visit with a family this week here in the Coachella Valley before we head towards San Francisco.

My Welsh battery still needs a few more charges, so I need a couple more fixes before I no longer have withdrawal symptoms.

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