Calia Simply Red, OA, OAX

Calia Simply Red, 6/14/98-7/2/09
A fighter all the way

• Photos of Red                   UPDATE: We found out at the beginning of June that Red has inoperable liver cancer, which is affecting her ability to eat.  She will not be with us                                                            much longer.  We make each day with her wonderful, and she reminds us that dogs do not spend even a moment dying, but every moment living.  Thank you,                                                              Red, for gracing our lives for 11 wonderful years. 

• Show Standings

Talk about a one-person dog-that's Red.  She fell in love with Michael Bunch from the moment she met him, decided he was hers and that's all there was about that.  The care and trainng that Carole and I had lavished upon her was immaterial-she had met her soulmate and knew exactly what her purpose was in life-to acquire him.  Her universe consists of him-he is the center, the purpose, and the total of it, all the rest of humanity is immaterial to her, unless they get between her and her objective-which is usually Michael.  She could be the poster child for unswerving devotion and loyalty, almost to an obsessive degree, but she is fiercly independent with a strong stubborn streak, so she doesn't suffer seperation anxiety without him, but rather acts as though she is merely impatiently waiting until the love of her life (Michael) returns again.

Physically the most beautiful of the litter, it was always our intention to move Red forward into Conformation and Performance events. But we had not consulted with her.  It was not what she wanted, and she let it be known; always miserable without Michael's presence, and increasingly unwilling and reluctant to participate without him, she was a truculent and insipid partner in Agility whenever I tried to run her at a show (practice, she was brilliant!), and Conformation was a disaster, no matter who handled her. It wasn't until Michael could join her as a handler in Agility that she began to relax and enjoy going to shows, and the first time they ran a course together, I remember how thrilling it was to see the formerly miserable Malinois, now bright and animated as she sprang into his arms after their blazingly fast run. Together, Michael and Red have accomplished great feats in Agility, and I've no doubt she would walk on water for him if he asked, but they are happiest just hanging out together, where she has appointed herself guardian of the boarders and protector of the realm. She is our most stubborn and toughest dog-willing to take an incredible amount of pain to attain what she wants, and rarely willing to be redirected off of a goal unless someone can convince her something else is really more valuable. Yet she is frequently silly, and amazingly tender with Michael, and has won our love through her own stubborn insistence that she be allowed to be solely herself-nothing more nor less.  She is...Simply Red.

Red's Photos

Red's Photo Album

Show Stats:

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