Dufenhof Swissies

Katie, my beautiful, beautiful Katie.

Katie was an undeniably pretty puppy who grew up to be one of the loveliest bitches. She managed to be both drafty and feminine at the same time. And she had the prettiest eyes any Swissy could ever hope to have.  She was the Elizabeth Taylor of Swissies.

As a puppy Katie’s show career got off to an unexpectedly stellar start, defeating several specials, including the #2 and #4 ranked Swissies at the time. She earned her championship before her first birthday and made her Westminster debut at 14 months of age with Junior handler Josephine Kenney who was 14 at the time. Katie & Jo made a great team and while they didn’t get a ribbon, they did make the final cut which was rather nice considering they were the two youngest girls in the ring.

As much as it would have been nice to show Katie regularly as a Specials bitch, she really did not like to show once the novelty wore off, so showing her sporadically at specialties and other notable shows was the best option.   At the 2002 National Specialty she was awarded the Second Award of Merit being shown by friend & amateur handler Christie Sahhar. That fall Katie was Best of Opposite Sex at the 2002 Eastern Regional Specialty -- just 10 weeks after having her first litter.

Although Katie was very much a girly-girl who loved to lounge on the couch, she was also a skilled huntress. She regularly managed to catch rabbits, woodchucks and other fuzzy woodland critters who were foolish enough to get a little too close to the house. She was also a successful weight pulling dog and if the paperwork had been properly processed she would have her WWD title. But Katie’s favorite thing to do was to snuggle on the couch and have someone pet her -- that she could do for hours on end.

Katie was bred three times.  With her first litter, born when she was just 2-½, she was a loving mom, but she made it quite clear she would really have rather been doing something else instead of taking care of babies.  I waited almost two years to breed her again and thanks to her maturity Katie was a much happier mother and enjoyed her time with her puppies. 

From the moment he arrived from California, Bobby captured Katie’s attention and her heart. Love at first sight clearly is not limited to humans as never have two dogs been as in love with, or as devoted to, each other as those two were to each other. She joined Bobby in retirement at my parents’ home where they enjoyed each other’s company and snuggled together daily until her sudden death a few weeks before her 12th birthday. 



You can see photos of many of Katie's puppies here

Katie's titled offspring include:

Darla, Ch Dufenhof Simple Serendipty

Midas, Dufenhof A Simple Shade of Blue, CGC, TDI

Goldie, Ch Dufenhof Dancing in the Moonlight

Katie

Ch Dufenhof Toil-N-Trouble

Breeder: Ellyn M Signet

Date of Birth: December 3, 1999

Katie's Health Clearances

P2Y12 Status: Untested (1 offspring tested: 1 Carrier)

Sire: Precious Movin' Out v Schatz

Dam: Ch Dufenhof Precious Fat Chance, ROM

Katie's Pedigree

Second AOM at 2002 National Specialty

Katie relaxing on the front porch

Bobby & Katie at Christmas age 4