Maddie’s World
In her weekly column, Maddie Grigg shares tales from her life in rural Dorset . . .
IT’S quiet this morning as I take Arty out for her morning walk. There are a few vehicles about, many of which are going much too fast. One of these days I am going to kit out the entire population of Lush Places with bright fluorescent tabards bearing the 20 mph symbol.
I alternate between shaking my fist at those who drive past me at speed, and giving a cheerful thumbs-up to those who are more thoughtful. Arty just keeps on walking, close to heel.
Artemis the Korthals Griffon is coming up to four years old. She still has the kind of moustache that fans of Jimmy Edwards would adore, and she has the most wonderfully loving and loyal nature.
It’s just as well I’m a “Star Wars” fan. Arty still looks and sounds like Chewbacca.
Her manners have improved considerably in the three years we have had her, although she is still sometimes reluctant to come back when she can smell foxes or badgers in the field.
The good thing is that her night-time whining is a thing of the past. She no longer wakes our dear friends and neighbours, Champagne Charlie and Bubbles, or their B&B guests with her nocturnal crying. It seems that, at long last, Arty is growing up.
I saw my first Korthals Griffon in France just over ten years ago. The dog belonged to a friend of a friend.
The dog looked at me and I looked at the dog. I was in love. Since then, every time I saw one, my own little ears pricked up and my tail started wagging.
The Korthals Griffon is a rare and relatively new breed in the grand scheme of pedigree dogs. In America, they’re called the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. In France, they’re “Griffon d’arrêt à poil dur Korthals”.
Most owners in this country just calls them Griffs. It’s also often the word I get when I mistype “Grigg”.
The breed was developed by Dutchman Eduard Karel Korthals in 1873. According to my research, his dream was to create the ideal versatile gundog; one with extreme resilience, vigour, and devotion to its master.
The dog would also have to work close to its master, and be open to training.
German pointers, continental spaniels and French and English waterdogs are said to have gone into the mix.
Korthals Griffon puppies are expensive, but Arty wasn’t. She was eleven months old when we got her and her previous owner couldn’t shut the door fast enough after the deal was struck and the dog put into the back of our car.
It wasn’t that he’d mistreated her. It was obvious she loved him and he was fond of her.
But his wife wasn’t too keen (you could tell by the scented candles, plug-ins and dog cologne on the mantelpiece) and they lived in a tiny house on the edge of a city. Arty used to wake them all up with her howling through the night.
When he decided enough was enough, he got in touch with a breeder whose puppy list I’ve been on for several years and asked her to spread the word.
We were lucky enough to have our application accepted. It wasn’t long before Arty became part of the family. She’s won the hearts of our children and grandchildren. She’s even accompanied us on a trip across Europe to Greece.
But when I watch her play with other dogs – and she still gets so excited when she sees another pooch to have fun with – there is a part of me that thinks maybe it’s time to put my name down on the list for another one.
Perhaps it’s time Arty had a playmate . . . n