As the da Vinci pups are nearing the end of their time with us, and going to be heading out to their new homes and real lives soon, I thought it might be fun for everyone to see some of the special dogs behind them:
Great Grandma Penelope:
(03/22/2007 - 11/17/2022)
https://www.horsetoothwhippets.com/penelope
She came to us a bundle of energy, sassy smarts, and independence that challenged even my seasoned-dog-trainer mentality and skills. She was the smartest dog either of us has ever known (and that is saying a lot, given that between the two of us, we've owned German shepherds, collies, Dobermanns - breeds renowned for their high IQ's).
(Dec. 16, 2006 - Dec. 4, 2019)
So far, the da Vinci pups seem to have already inherited the beginnings of the 'snuggle gene' - going utterly limp and collapsing into you when you pick them up.
There you have it - the Horsetooth whippets behind the da Vinci litter on mama Brie's side. Daddy Baxter has some interesting lines as well (his dad is from Russia), but they don't live with us, so we don't know them as well. :)