“Johnson”

The degree to which Johnson delighted us cannot be overstated.  Originally, we were attracted to Johnson's rather rare markings.  He was a blue fawn with a blue mask which is an uncommon and relatively unfavored color combination in the show world. But we love it.  And Johnson grew into a beautiful dog.  He was an excellent representation of the whippet form.

Johnson was a truly delightful dog.  He was the ultimate example of a laid back, go-with-the-flow hound dog.  He showed no inclination to lead.  Johnson was a happy follower.  Johnson looked at the world with innocent, child-like wonder, but at the core he believed the world was benign.  The result is  that all the other dogs in the house really liked Johnson.

With us, he was the consummate snuggler.  Johnson openly solicited tenderness, his favored method being to put his elbows up on our laps and lean his head and body into us.  When hugged and scratched he closed his eyes in an expression of extreme contentedness and pleasure and soaked it in for as long as we care to dish it out.  He made us feel as though our love for him was truly a special gift and that made us feel good.  

On the flip side of his personality, Johnson was crazy for the lure. His zeal when running speaks to the European racing lines in his pedigree, and he never ceased to amaze us with his level of enthusiasm for running.

Johnson was always quite open minded to what the world had for him in terms in fun.  He enjoyed romping and rough housing with the other dogs.  If the other dogs seemed to enjoy meeting a new person, he would join in.  If there were tug-of war, he would join-in.  If it were time to do obedience work, that was good, too.  Joining in was his specialty. He loved toys and was not above trying to pilfer and collect them, a relatively mild vice.  

Overall, Johnson was an utterly predictable dog.  His responses to situations are highly consistent.  He is calm and steady and fun-loving.  He was a truly easy dog to be around.