She was born in Ohio, and given the name Kayde. I didn’t know her way back then, but I soon would. I watched the litter of puppies as they grew and contacted the breeder. I was ready for a puppy and the breeder seemed to be a good one. I had known of her for a very long time but never spoken to her. I picked up the phone and asked if there was a possibility that she would let me have one of her puppies. She said “yes” she would be thrilled for us to add one of her puppies to our family.
She knew of me and my dogs from my Facebook Group “The Standard Poodle.” While on the phone she said “just to let you know, they have full tails,” sort of as a heads up. Perhaps she thought maybe I’d mind if her tail was not docked (cut off), but I could not have been happier. She was to be our first full tailed standard poodle. And this would be the beginning of supporting good, ethical breeders who don’t dock tails. As well as taking a hard stance and being an advocate for the dogs. Elsa really started it all.
The puppies were to be temperament tested at the age of 7 weeks and then the placement would be done. Everything the breeder said to me about how she tested and placed sounded great. Like it was yesterday, I remember my husband watching the puppy videos and saying “I want that one.” I told him, “that’s not how it works.” She will give us a choice of maybe 2 or 3 or there might be a very clear placement of one. “But, I want that one” he said. “Well, maybe it will be that one,” I replied to him.
After the temperament tests were done, there were 2 puppies that would be a fit for us. But one had a uti (if I remember correctly,) so she wanted to hold her back and be sure that it cleared up before letting her go. That left Miss Kadye, who as it turned out; was the puppy that my husband was determined that we had to have. It was meant to be from the start, the universe had seen to it.
She arrived on September 08, 2011 and life was never, ever the same. It took several days for us to come up with her new name. My husband and I went back and forth with many names. He liked one that I didn’t, I liked one that he didn’t; until we landed on Elsa. We looked at each other knowing, that’s it. She was named after Elsa from the book Born Free by Joy Adams written in 1960 and made into a movie in 1966. I’d seen the movie and wished as a child that I had a lion named Elsa.
Just to clear with the inevitable question that we often get. Our Elsa came before the Disney Elsa. The movie Frozen with a very famous Elsa came out November 27, 2013. Our Elsa was born July 10, 2011. So obviously Disney stole our dog’s name. Clearly. Being named after the Lioness Elsa; she had a big name to live up to and she surpassed it easily. No she wasn’t a lion but she was lion hearted, like no other.
Elsa adored everyone, every dog and especially puppies and babies. Babies were by far her favorite and she was lucky to have 7 little babies to watch grow in her lifetime. I remember with our first Grandchild, she just wanted us to put him on the floor so she could tend to him. She was over excited in his presence but within a few days she learned about human baby things and boundaries were all about.
She was often seen sneaking a lick of little toes sticking out of a blanket. And as they grew into toddlers, she loved them even more. When they learned to throw a ball, she was in heaven as were they. Watching their little faces light up as she caught their throws was priceless. With each new addition to the family she wanted to be the “Nanny Dog” of all. Just weeks ago I saw her licking the toes of our newest 6 month old Grandson. She just wanted to love every single one of them. As they grew into toddlers and kids; she loved to be in the middle of all the fun; often having to be put in the house because she kept getting the ball or puck during their game. In recent years she found it a little difficult when they all came together; and, cherished the moments when they would come to her for a special quiet moment.
Elsa was my constant companion for 14 years and 9 months. I called her Sporty Spice her whole life because of her love of the game. And when I say game, I mean any game. She was up for absolutely anything that was being played and was an athletic superstar until being hit with a spinal stroke at the young age of 8. But even then she kept going with the same drive; with just a little handicap. She was and is an inspiration to keep going in life. No matter what you are hit with; you just muscle through it to the best of your ability.
This blog was to celebrate Elsa turning 15, but it is now a celebration of her life. Caring for her over the last few months; I thought she just might just make her 16th birthday through sheer determination. I am honored that our girl touched so many and changed how many people think of “poodles.” I can’t tell you how many people have said to me over the years “that’s a poodle?” Followed by “I didn’t know that I liked poodles.” This came from mostly men who were smitten by her “Hi my name is Elsa, who are you?” attitude and sleek pom pom less beauty.
I will never stop feeling like the luckiest person to have been given the chance to live with such a dog. To be able to say that I was and will always be Elsa’s Mom. She was a gift like no other. Today I celebrate her life; cherish the life we shared and thank Vicki (her breeder, Autumn Shades Standard Poodles) always for allowing us to share our life with such an amazing girl.
Always in my heart.
