Blue Marble
A toy-size dog with a life-size heart
Is she a Havanoodle or a Havapoodle? A Havapoo or a Poovanese? Clearly, she is not a mutt, a mix of uncertain ancestry. She is a cross between two purebred breeds, a Havanese and a Toy Poodle. To her family, though, her moniker and ancestry do not matter. She is simply Blue Marble: an adorable puppy that, in a few short months, has captivated their hearts. It all started with Marianne’s 17-year old daughter, Kamilla, who doggedly pursued her parents, insisting she needed a puppy. Marianne’s 20-year old son, Brandyn, was indifferent: he was more interested in hockey than hounds. However, Kamilla was adamant: she wanted a dog. Marianne and Ed were hesitant; after all, Ed had never had a pet of any kind growing up, and Marianne, raised on a farm with chickens and goats, was accustomed to barn cats not pet dogs.
Adopting a puppy? The time never seemed right. Nevertheless, says Marianne, Kamilla kept pestering her father and she ‘finally wore him down.’ Having achieved the difficult but necessary step of getting her father’s permission, Kamilla started surfing the Internet, clicking through page after page of lovable puppies. She came across the Havapoo: a small, sturdy dog with a playful, affectionate temperament. Like its parents, a Havanese and a Toy Poodle, the Havapoo is highly intelligent and easy to train.
Kamilla and Marianne found themselves drawn to a particularly appealing website. “It was Easter, and there were photos of six adorable puppies nestled in between pink and blue eggs,” explains Marianne. One puppy in particular caught their attention. “I phoned the breeder and asked her if she would hold that puppy for us,” says Marianne. “But she said ‘no.’”
Undaunted, Marianne, Kamilla and Ed jumped into the family car and drove south for four hours—travelling 400 km from their home in Sudbury, Ontario to Oakville, Ontario where the breeder lived—not knowing if the puppy would still be available when they arrived.
After arriving in Oakville, they discovered to their relief that all six of the endearing, eight-week old fluff balls were still there. Marianne wanted to see how they would interact with her daughter. “All of the puppies came over, said ‘hello,’ and left,” explains Marianne. Except for one—the puppy who had caught their attention earlier, the one they had driven over 400 km to see. “She came and sat beside my daughter,” says Marianne, adding excitedly, “She was the one!” They made the decision in an instant: Marianne and Kamilla were taking the puppy home. Kamilla named her ‘Blue’ after her distinctive coloring: the puppy was a patchwork of blues, greys and black. Since the puppy was unique—a Blue Merle—Kamilla thought she should have a middle name and added ‘Marble.’ “She does have quite a few names,” admits Marianne. “I call her Blueberry, and when she gets into trouble, I use the middle name.”
Blue Marble had effortlessly won the hearts of Marianne and Kamilla the second they saw her ever-so-cute photograph on the Havapoo website. “But the big surprise was that my husband went from not wanting a dog to feeling the complete opposite,” Marianne laughs. “We have a large fenced yard and they play for hours.”
Blue’s goofy, playful antics were no surprise to Marianne since the Havapoo is known for its pleasant disposition. In fact, the diminutive dog is often called an entertainer, a natural clown. However, she was pleasantly surprised to discover the blue ball of fluff had another side. A kind and caring spirit, Blue seems to tune into the feelings of those around her. “She is so empathetic,” exclaims Marianne describing a telling incident that occurred when her husband, Ed, recently took the puppy for a walk in the park. For no apparent reason, in the middle of the walk, the puppy suddenly decided to sit down. Moreover, she stayed there. “This was so unusual for her,” says Marianne, adding, “she was always eager to go, go, go.” Then the puppy, still firmly parked with her butt on the ground, looked behind her. A woman was walking alone in the park. She approached the unmoving pup and started to pet her. Then the lady opened her heart to Ed and Blue, confiding sadly that she had just lost her own beloved pet dog the week before. “Blue seemed to sense her loss and wanted to give her comfort,” affirms Marianne.
Blue is only 10 months old. She only weighs a paltry 16 pounds but she plays a hefty role in the lives of her family and those she meets. To them, she is not a Havanoodle, a Havapoodle, or a Havapoo. She is, quite simply, Blue Marble.