Today is Darling Greta’s 14th Birthday. She is the oldest doggy I have ever had. It’s been one heck of a ride. Two beautiful litters of puppies, 5 puppies in each litter (10), the mother of our Arnie and Anneliese, and the Matron of our four dog crew.

Greta is fierce, gentle, funny, warm and bossy. She was so dark when we got her, and now her fur is nearly white, as she has aged.

It’s funny, when I wake in the night, I always know which dachshund is Greta. Her whiteness stands out in the dark.

I know her time on earth is coming to a close, and as painful as this is for me, I am grateful, beyond words, to have had this wonderful doggy as my constant companion these last 14 years. She truly has been, such a blessing.

These pictures are from the first year of Greta’s life in the USA. In many ways I was like a little kid and I dressed her up in funny costumes. Here she is in her raincoat! (She didn’t like it!)

Her sun visor for those sunny days! This one she actually did like and allowed me not only to put it on, but she actually wore it a while!

And the last picture is of her at about 10 months old. She had a beautiful full beard and wonderful eye brows. It was very funny, we were at a camp ground and I was walking her and a little girl came riding up on her bike, and she stopped to pat Greta. Then she smiled and looked up at me and said, “I like your dogs bangs!” Even all these years later, that makes me smile and laugh.

My girl Greta is quite an amazing pup. I remember when we drove with Uschi to Rheden, German to pick her up at The Vom Geestmoor Kennels. When we arrived we were greeted by a whole bunch of wire-haired dackel puppies and several Mama pups. The owner met us at the gate and invited us in for coffee and cakes. As we sat enjoying our coffee, the owner left us with his wife and then came back with a squirming little bundle. My darling Greta!

Later when we left, I feared she might be sad to leave her brothers and sisters and her Mama, but she never looked back. She was a girl on the go!

We spent several days with Uschi and Volker before flying back to the USA with Greta. Every time we went out to explore a new place we brought baby Greta with us. She was all for new experiences and meeting new people.

In the airport in Frankfurt, and old woman stopped me to admire the puppy and asked her name. “Oh, her name is Greta!” I said proudly. “Oh, like the famous actress, Greta Garbo!” she exclaimed, and patted Greta again. And the nickname stuck! I often call out the door, “Miss Garbo! Paging Miss Garbo!” And Greta comes running.

Greta was always up for anything. She hiked and swam and ran so fast, one was amazed that those short little legs could move at such a fast pace. She loved to play in the snow, or run around the yard playing with her red ball. (She knew the red ball from any other color and she knew that the red ball was hers!)

Why am I writing all of this now? Well, Greta will be 14 in a month and a half. Her eyes show signs that she probably is nearly blind. Her hearing is not good either and in a 24 hour period, Greta spends 22 of them sleeping.

It’s hard to watch your beloved companion getting old. She is still as sweet as ever, but that spunk, that “I’m up for anything” attitude that she once had is gone. The other day I took her for a ride and she actually slept on the car seat instead of standing on the armrest to look out the window. And after that when I asked if she wanted to go for a ride, she didn’t even leave her bed.

So for now, I cuddle with her all the time, day and night, and I enjoy her as much as I can. But there is a sadness in my heart and my mind, as I know that we have started the long goodbye.

Yesterday I had lunch with a dear friend, Barbie. We met in a sort of strange way. I was looking for a German boyfriend for Greta back in 2006. I had been calling around asking for a German registered boy, with a good rating, and low and behold, the perfect suitor lived just down the road in Concord, NH.

I remember calling Barbie the first time, and arranging a date to bring Greta down, so they could look her over. We brought Greta in and the two dogs eyed each other, and then began to play around. We knew it would be a good match. We just had to get Greta rated by a German judge before the breeding.

After the first meeting we signed up for an NATC Show.(North American Teckel Club. A branch of the DTK the Deutscher Teckelklub)  A German Judge would come, to rate the dogs. Jack and I were a little nervous, as we drove Greta to the event. She could have cared less. Bernie already had his rating, but Barbie was there as well, with Bernie. And the breeder of Bernie was there with Bernie’s sister.

The event was so much fun, and at the end of the day, Bernie’s sister won the Best Dog in Show and Greta came in Second. She was thrilled, as their casual prizes were stuffed toys!

Now Bernie is gone, and Greta is in her dotage. Two of their children reside here with us, and we just adore Arnie and Anneliese. How lucky we are!

Anyway, yesterday, Barbie and I sat and talked and talked and reminisced about our two dogs and the 10 puppies that they had together. Two beautiful litters of sweet, perfect, puppies!

Barbie now lives in another state and we don’t get to see each other. However, she was up here judging an Earth Dog Show and we were lucky enough to get together. I hope we can get together again soon!

My dear little Greta is having continued health problems. I called the Vet again today and brought her in. She is back on antibiotics and will need to be crated at night for a while.

It really hurts. I know she is 12 years old, and I know that doggies don’t live forever, but I just hate it when their health starts on that darn slippery slope. Then you know, it is just a matter of time.

I am hoping I can take such good care of her that she will live happily and healthfully for a few more years.

Fingers crossed!

December 5, 2006. Greta, pregnant with her first litter of pups. She was HUGE! A few days later on December 10, 2006, she gave birth to one boy (Arnie) and four girls (Anja, Anita, Angelicka and Anneliese).

Here she is with her babies right after her delivery. Greta was an incredible mother to the 10 pups she gave birth to, before I retired her.

A while back I noticed that at night, Greta was having a problem with minor leaking incontinence. I called my Vet to ask if I could do anything. She told me about some pills to use to help strengthen her sphincter.

I went and got a prescription from her and came home and gave Greta her first dose. A few hours later, I thought I might lose my dog.

Greta began to cry and to pace back and forth. She could not sit still, and her cries became louder and more pathetic. I tried to hold her to comfort her, but nothing I did helped. I got no sleep that night as I was too busy praying for my little dog to be okay.

In the morning, I read all I could about Proin and found out that this is really a nasty medication, that is no longer available for people (Dexatrim) and many pet owners wrote in about the ill effects on their pets.

I swear by all that is holy, I will not give Greta another one of these tablets! I got out her old seasonal (estrus) panties and a Kotex pad and I put these on her at night. I put a plastic sheet under her doggy bed, and she now lies in her bed, on my bed and everyone is happy.

Today is our dear dackel, Greta’s 12th Birthday.

Greta was born in Rehden, Germany. Hubby and I flew over in May of that year, and on the 5th of May, we drove with Uschi out to meet the owner of the Vom Geestmoor Kennels. It was so much fun. The 4th was Hubby’s Birthday and it was also Herr Hollmann’s wife’s birthday. A grand party was planned with cakes and coffee and the best present of all. Greta!

It seems like just yesterday. And now, here we are celebrating Greta turning twelve years old!

I had gotten her because our girl, Shubi was very ill, and I was suffering with the anticipation of the loss. Greta, was like a bright ray of sunshine! And over the last 12 years, she has become my sweetest girl, and of course Mama to both Arnie and Anneliese.

Happy Birthday, Dearest Greta!

Greta's Birthday Video from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

The week came to an end, so I took Hubby and headed to the store to stock up on dog chow and food, so while I am gone I don’t have to worry about Hubby feeding the beasts.

The two lady dackels are feeling so much better and have returned to their energetic selves. Both have another 5-6 days on the medication, and we have actually found a way to get these big capsules down their throats. Hot dogs. You cut about a 1/2 inch piece, then put an X in the top of the hot dog. Place the pill in the middle and have another small piece ready. Now give the dog the pill/hot dog and follow it up immediately with the other piece of hot dog. Trust me, there is no spitting out of the capsule.

Have I mentioned lately that Lili is becoming a real delight? Oh it was such a rough start with that girl! Now we have her on grain free food and she feels good, and we have worked with her. She will now go out in the yard, and run around in the field while Hubby is working on the fruit trees. But she is always keeping her eyes on him. When he comes into the house, she follows.

If we let her out to do her business, I will put on my jacket and hat, and I talk to her and when she is done, she follows me too. The biggest thing for me, is that I cannot have her pulling me on a leash. I’ve noticed that since we have started working with her off leash, when we do use one she behaves herself!

And at the bottom of our list is Mr. Arnie Man. There is nothing wrong with him, he is perfect, comes when he is called, is in perfect health and is just a joy.

Well their all joys, but some days one is more of a joy than on others!

In a few short weeks our old lady, Greta will celebrate her 12th birthday. It seems like just the other day that Hubby and I flew to Germany and picked up our little girl. She was spunky and adorable and I fell in love with her as soon as my eyes fell on that little face!