View Full Version : Rufus and the Avon Lady
bubbatd
04-20-2005, 10:34 AM
Back in the '60s I had a great big male golden retriever, Rufus. He loved to lead people to something he wanted to show them by very gently taking their arm and guiding the spot. When ever he was carrying anything (from news papers, to anything we asked him to fetch) he would do a deep happy growl One day, the door bell rang and there was Rufus, tail wagging and growling, with the arm of the Avon Lady in his mouth. She looked scared to death (first and last visit)..she said she drove up, was greeted by Rufus and lead to the door. She didn't want to pull away (he did tighten his mouth when you did) and could only ring the bell. When I openned the door, he went on his merry way.No, I didn'y buy anything!
Rose's Gal
04-20-2005, 10:41 AM
LOL that is sooooo funny. Poor lady....lol She must have been scared to death! lol :D
Renee750il
04-20-2005, 10:42 AM
ROFL! I wonder what was going through Rufus' mind?
smkie
04-20-2005, 10:57 AM
what a gentleman....he gave her a courtly escort!
bubbatd
04-20-2005, 11:04 AM
He was a gentleman...lived passed his 15th birthday. He was the sire that started my Hawthorn Hill line.
gapeach
04-20-2005, 01:24 PM
That is hilarious! Did you teach him that?
EliNHunter
04-20-2005, 03:54 PM
She went shopping so I'll answer :D
NO! We didn't teach him any of his funny things he did! He would lead me everywhere to take me and show me something. If he knew we were going to get the paper, he would try and lead me to the paper box (about 1/8 mile away!). Then of course you'd have to give him the paper to carry all the way home. When I went to school in the morning, I had to walk 1/4 mile to the bustop (yea yea yea, and go up and down hills and through 3 feet of snow). Anyway, I'd take Rufus because I'd pass the paper box on the way to the bus stop. I'd give Rufus the paper in his mouth and he'd go home all the way by himself to give it to mom and dad. (all our goldens did that though. Sometimes you'd have to divide up the paper amongst FOUR DOGS to take it home).
Rufus got his picture in the paper once for catching 65 huge carp and putting them all in a pile when the creek flooded! I'll have to scan and send that pic in if I remember when I get home!
Barb04
04-20-2005, 04:24 PM
Oh I love to see that pic. Not only does Rufus bring you the Avon lady, he brings you carp for dinner. How lucky can you be!
gapeach
04-21-2005, 12:40 PM
Rufus sounds like he was an amazing dog! Ya'll were very lucky to have him, I'd love to see the pics too. He would have made a great special needs dog.
EliNHunter
04-22-2005, 04:17 PM
Oh I love to see that pic. Not only does Rufus bring you the Avon lady, he brings you carp for dinner. How lucky can you be!
I think I have it at home! I'll scan and post it tonight!
Gustav
04-22-2005, 04:45 PM
Awww, what a wonderful boy Rufus was!! Gus's girlfriend Faline always drags me by the sleeve to her bed when I go round!! :D
EliNHunter
04-22-2005, 05:48 PM
I don't have the picture, like I thought! It was so cool, though. They took a front shot as he was walking towards the camera. It was real close-up and he was soaking wet holding up his paw with a HUGE carp in his mouth! :D
EliNHunter
04-22-2005, 06:06 PM
Ok, I couldn't find THE picture that the newspaper photographer took -- I think my Mom has the whole article and if she does, I'll scan the whole thing. BUT, I went thru some old photos and found this pic we took of him when he started pulling the carp out! If it comes out ok, if you can see, he's coming out of the creek and has a carp in his mouth. In the lower left and right hand corners you can see a couple of carp he already got on the bank!
http://tinypic.com/4kxz0l
EliNHunter
04-22-2005, 06:07 PM
Ooooh... and there's one in front of him on the bank and one swimming in the background, too! :p
Barb04
04-22-2005, 06:39 PM
Wow, great pic! I can't believe he actually was getting the carp out of the water and making a pile of them! How much smarter can you get. He must of inherited those genes from you!
EliNHunter
04-22-2005, 07:05 PM
Awwww, Barb (blushing). I actually think I got my genes from HIM! We were buds. The same age, and he died when we were 15... he was so cool... he piled up 65 carp!! :eek:
bubbatd
04-22-2005, 09:18 PM
Don't forget his sister, Penny, was the one who caught them and held them under her feet until he'd get them !!! Yes I do have article....will share.
gapeach
04-22-2005, 11:02 PM
So Penny did most of the work and none of the credit, poor girl :)
bubbatd
04-22-2005, 11:15 PM
Yep!! That seems like the female's place back in the stone age!!! LOL!!!!
gapeach
04-22-2005, 11:20 PM
And he got his pic in the paper! Poor poor Penny.
Those dogs are better at fishing than me.