“Polliwog”

Polli came to us in January of 2010 as a diminutive puppy with a big personality. Her small size and ability to make the archetypal Whippet “Round Head” (This is a crucial Whippet trait, the ability to pin their ears and look at you with round eyes that expresses the sentiment, “You killed my Momma. How could you do it?”) would make one think the dog is delicate and soft. But you couldn't judge this book by its cover.

Polli was a miracle dog. At 10 months old, she got spooked at a straight track racing event and slipped through a fence. She was lost on the eastern plains of Colorado in the heat of summer. Somehow, she survived hail storms, heat, coyotes, rattlesnakes, and other perils of the plains and made her way back to our car (which Ken thought to park and leave in the field she'd disappeared from). After 8 days, she was home - hungry, dehydrated - but safe and sound.

Even before she got lost, Polli loved to eat. Often. And she would let us know in clear terms when it was feeding time.

Polli was a proud dog that took pride in mastering routines and she had a predisposition to prance like a Lipizzaner (or a Monty Python player from the “ministry of Silly Walks”). She had an independent streak, as well, and had to be convinced that things were her idea before she would buy in. Polliwog was the queen of making "stink eye" (looking at you sideways, with a doubtful expression), if she wasn't interested in doing things your way.

Polli loved to be picked up and held where she would immediately go limp and make heart melting “round head.” She also liked to get her day going early where she greeted each new day with great enthusiasm. We all looked upon her with dismay for that trait.

Polli loved puppies. With our very first litter in 2010, she was the first to climb right into the whelping box with Penelope and her pups and she took to being an 'aunt' naturally. Even much later as a little old granny, she helped clean pups and their messes and was constantly snuggled up with puppies any time there was a litter in the house. She continued this 'mothering' trait by grooming the other dogs in the pack diligently - both pups and adults.

Overall, Polli was a sweet, quirky, smart, independent little soul. In spite of her tiny size, she was hard to miss, as she was always nearby, ready to be held, talked to, or patted.