Farewell to a great old friend…

‘til we meet again…when we will both romp and play…

Just like yesterday.

Multiple BIS Ch. Shalako's Simply Simon C.D. H.O.F. R.O.M.

My son said it best:

Mom, so sorry.  He was a great dog.

To Simon, who did it all…thanks, from the bottom of my heart.

Everyone has that one special dog they bond to, and for me, that dog is Simon.

Simon took the part of the standard that says "reserved towards strangers" to heart.  He didn't like anyone he didn't know to look at him, much less think about touching him.  He proved to be quite a challenge to train and show, and owes his specials career to his Auntie Ann (Ann Grosser, Kenbe Schipperkes) who later, after paying the grand sum of 25 cents, became his co-owner.  Ann thought it was a bargain, but I knew better...no one else was interested in a crazy dog that wouldn't show!

So, off to Arizona Simon went for obedience training with Auntie Ann.  Eight short weeks later, she brought him back to Atlanta Georgia for the Schipperke Club of America National Specialty.  I must admit, I went into the ring, not expecting much.  To my great delight, the dog showed...most of the time...and he won the 1st Award of Merit.    Ann was ecstatic....that's when I hit her up for the quarter and the co-ownership....provided he went back home with her to finish his obedience training.

When Simon finally came back home, he and I had some major adjustments to make.  Seems he was on Arizona time...and his Uncle Ken always played with him first thing in the morning before he went to work.  For months, Simon started in at 2 a.m. Alabama time, wanting to play!  Finally I taught him to sleep in...and being Simon, he took it to heart.  I spent the next couple of months trying to get him out of bed...where he would be sleeping, on his back, with all 4 feet straight up in the air!  Slowly but surely our routine changed.  Little did I know how important "routine" was to Simon!  He was to teach me the importance of it in the show ring...and when I learned to take it to heart, his show career clicked.

The year Simon was seriously campaigned, he won 8 Group 1's and 2 All Breed Best in Shows.  We had countless Group 2's to Dennis McCoys gorgeous white Standard Poodle who had more BIS's than I care to count!  Simon also won several Schipperke Specialty Award of Merits and his Companion Dog degree and was High in Trial at the Arizona Schipperke Specialty.

He was a wonderful producer for us, having produced 18 champions including a BIS son (Ch. Shalako's Bartered at BarSu...also the sire of 25 champions) and a BIS grandson (Ch. Shalako's RockN' Whisper who currently has 8 BIS's) and a group winning daughter, Ch. Kenbe's Night Moves.

One rainy day, sitting in the car in Michigan, waiting on the group I taught him to speak.  He could do "little woof's and big woof's" on command.  Little did I know then what a monster I was creating.  Now, at 15 and a half, Simon is still king of the kennel...and no one had better forget it.   He now has cataracts, and doesn't see as well as he once did, his hearing is selective (only what he wants to hear!...like "cookie"....) and he limps a little during rainy cold weather...let anyone walk into the kennel and stand with their hands anywhere near their pockets, and he immediately walks up to them, strikes a show pose and barks until he gets his cookie!

He says if you want to hear the "best Simon story" to ask Auntie Ann about the pink pig!