Standard Poodles

A Dog’s Life with Me

by Kathryn Diefenbach

From a time before I can remember there has been a dog in my life. My first loyal and devoted companion was Jinx, a Kerry Blue Terrier. At a very young age I learned from Jinx the secret of the canine golden rule: “wither thou goest there goest I.”

Later, as I embarked on my life’s journey a black miniature poodle, named Georgy Girl, was my constant companion. Georgy had a lot of traveling to do as she applied the canine golden rule. We attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore and New England Conservatory in Boston where I pursued studies in classical music and the French horn. All that tooting makes a dog want to howl!

My career as an orchestral musician took Georgy and me on travels all over North America performing with Broadway show tours and the Canadian Opera Company Tour. Georgy was happily conscripted to participate in silly charades at parties of the show’s company.

Georgy was not the least perturbed when she found herself at Dalhousie Medical School in Halifax, Nova Scotia where I was studying to be a doctor. Oh the long lonely hours she put in as a medical student’s loyal companion; now that’s a boring job for a dog!

Getting a bit senile at the age of eighteen, Georgy was content to sleep away the long shifts I spent working in the Emergency Room at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. The most important thing I learned during those memorable years with Georgy was that I never want to be without a poodle in my life.

Senta, a beautiful big apricot, was the first standard poodle to take me on. We pursued obedience training and competition seriously. She earned the esteemed title of Utility Dog winning numerous High in Trial ribbons in the process. Senta was also successful in conformation competition and obtained Champion status.

In 1985, Senta and I established a home in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Situated on 150 acres of fields and woods on the slope of the South Mountain, our venture was aptly named Fairhill Farm. Senta was a natural as a farm dog and even attempted the challenge of tractor work.

The first litter of standard poodle puppies was born at Fairhill Farm in 1988. Senta was as proud as she was prolific.

Over the ensuing years I have had many wonderful standard poodles to share my joys and frustrations as Fairhill Farm has grown and evolved. The poodles seem to think that there is always room for one more in my bed. Sometimes four or five poodles snuggle with me on a cold Canadian winter night. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Working as an emergency physician, breeding horses and taking care of all the big and little poodles keeps me busy, but wherever I am or whatever I am doing there is always a poodle by my side who is a shining example of the canine golden rule.

“Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Book of Ruth 1:16)

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