Our sweet sweet girl who started life out so rough

French-Vanila's Peperment Cream CD CDX WC

                           Punky

Punky started life as a sickly runt that we were not sure would live. Born with Puppy Step and a stomach condition. Hand feeding and a ton of meds later. She was able to contribute to her great breed with future Champions Like Tux and Dutch and Grace.In her one and only litter at 3 1/2

You can see how small she was next to her sister and that closest sister was NOT the biggest pup another bitch pup was at 17 oz the green ribbon girl was 14 oz. The pups are one day old here 

Baby Girl Red (for her ribbon color) was the second to last born and her Registered name reflects the ribbon color and winding a red ribbon around a buff/yellow puppy. She looked like a candy cane but my friend had taken  that name already for her bitch. So Peppermint for her ribbon and Cream for her color was chosen and spelled to fit.

Her call name came from her will to live she was so small she would use a brother or sister to climb on to reach the teets to nurse. She was a Spunky Punky and it stuck! 

Parvo was brought to my kennel with that litter and we lost a nine week old boy as I said on Nelly's page. But Punky in spite of everything she was a fighter and she fought her little 10 pound rear end off! The average Lab puppy at nine weeks weighs about 15-20 pounds. The brother that died was 16 and the average weight for my bitch pups was 14 at nine weeks so you can see she was small

Punky at 7 weeks and about 6 pounds.

Punky made it through Parvo still suffered from car sickness at 4 months, but loved to go. And was taking a lot of antibiotics but had gained her weight back and more- and at 26 pounds she is catching up to her litter mates who ranged from 28-37 at that age

Punky turns one Happy Birthday Pooky!!!!!! 

The one and only dog show she was in- she won, but her tummy was still too sensitive to take her very far by car, at a year old- so her first Breed show was her last. As when she finally was able to travel by 3, and off all meds. we never took her back into the ring but did put a Working Certificate, a Companion Dog and Companion Dog Excellence on her as she was bred for those type of titles. A work/water drive I will share latter and a love of people and desire to please that every one of the nine kids she produced was blessed with 

Punky's first Halloween and then second Christmas (first she was 15 days old need to dig those pictures out) below. This girl would let you do anything to her and she was often our kennel clown or the Ambassador for my gang in making kids laugh and increasing the fun from holidays to schools from hospitals to shows she had her own fan club.    

Nelly and Punky Christmas 1997 

And when I was facing having to find her a new family in 2000 (more on that later) I had offers from her fan base as far away and the UK for everything from watching her as long as needed (something I WISH I had accepted) to a loving home to which she would never have to leave.

My girl is loved in several languages and through all age groups dog and non dog people alike.

Once you meet Punky you were/are Punked! Before Ashton Kutcher was even out of high school and once you were Punked it lasted forever. She just has that magic that pulls everyone in- WHY do you think she won the one and only breed show she was in? She was not the best bitch pup there. But she did play to the judge, the crowd and won everyone's heart. Even her competitors, not in our club (who were not already under the Punky spell) said wow she is some dog and she is STILL!

As I said Punky's water/work drive was a breeder's dream she would work until she dropped. and I will share a few of my many stories that stand out about our girl. 

The first was we used to play tennis or I should say I attempted to because my then husband liked it. I missed more than I got and tennis balls and Labs well you know that already hehehe! And every ball that went by me the Labs took off at beak neck speed to beat the others and get the prize! AND refuse until commanded sternly to return it to hand. But Punky would work until her pads bled.  I discovered Mushers Secret because of that. And if you have a dog that you work, it will keep the pads crack free and as tough as leather. But back then I did not know of it and so we treated her cracked pads all the time, but she would still not stop and she always won the race to the ball. And threw a fit if we would not let them into the court to run around and wait for that ball (remember I missed most of them so their wait was never long). They enjoyed it more than I did.

And baseball- my sons played ball my husband was coach I was team mom and my Labs well they were the ball stealers and during more than one game the kid hit (my girls did not care what team they would mess em all up) Punky leading out until she ran through the players and ran down the ball to proudly return it to red faced me. My girls were the only dogs BANNED from the ball field in Salem Oregon IN WRITING!!! Hehehehe!

Then one time we took our girls to a friend in Oregon City's farm as they have  a pond, to get ready for our WC's Working Certificate test. And threw tennis balls, frozen dead ducks and other objects of delight into the pond for them. for HOURS! Most the pups tired out and flopped out on the bank. But Punky would not stop. even when she was dragging herself back to the shore and flopped out she would let the ball roll from her mouth and nudge it with her nose toward us. The minute is was thrown she would pop back up and be ready to go and hit the water!

On the last throw she did not pop right back up with the ball! And when she did she was minus ball and struggling my husband had to jump into the water and save her! That dumb dog would have drowned she was so tired and yet still went into that water.

We learned that day not only would she die for the prize in theory but in actuality. And we never pushed her that hard again because we knew how far she would go, and it was too far.

At her WC her out in the water at Sauvie Island

As I said this page will be different than the other dogs on this site (other than Sadie). This page will really be a tribute and a mom's pride.

While I love them all first Punky then Sadie are not just one of my gang but are the reasons I love Labradors still.

I started my like of Labs with Roscoe as a kid a too big houndy black boy, then Yodie in 85 I will put a bit about her on her page later But it really blossomed past to more than achieving my goals and just improving the breed when a sickly little squeaker that about fit into the palm of my hand who demanded her due and NOT to discount her just because she was so small or sick as she was here to stay, came into my life Dec 10 1996.

And then in March 2005 when I let Lab love back into a still hurting heart aching for this one, that I thought I would never be able to stop that pain of loss and yet this silly little black girl that knew nothing of my former Heart dog or fear of loving another dog planted her big ol paws into my world and ultimately into my heart. More on her in a similar fashion as Punky's page when I get to Sadie. Gotta go in order of the dogs at French-Vanilla.

But this page is all about the Queen Bee who loved my son Mike more than I, worshiped the ground he walked on and though I had put her through Alpha Training the program I developed. She would do anything for him climb any mountain scale any wall die at his feet she was my dog, but he was her person. That is one thing about Sadie, Sadie is my dog and I am HER person.

Punky Turns two and is off most meds Good OFAs No PRA from 6 weeks up

She could be such a beautiful girl just look at that head.

And then as silly as all get out she had this thing about putting as much into her mouth as she could.

She also was adventurous! Her eating a lemon. She asked for it ate it made the face then wanted more :) 

Punky was a character. 

Another story that comes to mind about her nutty ways was she would try and retrieve boulders and when I say boulders I mean BIG rocks but she could not lift them or get her mouth around them no matter how much she tried she would whine and throw a fit and then she would use her front feet to roll them to you no matter how far up hill or down she had to dig at it and push it along behind her to get it to her desired point.

Also she would try and bring 2X4's and take them through a door way and finally figure out how to jockey this huge 8-12' board so she would get it sideways bending her head a way that did not look natural to hang onto it and maneuver it into the house where if allowed she would have eaten it hehehe! My silly girl!

Another one is her overwhelming desire to put a hole into a stuffed toy. Most dogs like Sadie does will get the varmint and if killing is the goal will rip it apart let stuffing fly or attempt to eat parts Sadie loves them feet and ears and WILL eat them. But Punky, Punky well she did it her way :) She would get a death grip of a bite some where on the toy an simply chew over and over in the same spot harder and harder and cry louder and louder when it could not make a hole. She did it all the time all the while throwing  a fit! She was so funny sometimes she was crying so loud in her frustration you could not hear TV.

And naked tennis balls she insisted on them and would meticulously peel every bit of fur off the ball then remove the cover every ball that was left with her was NAKED! hehehe! I hope you are able to get a sense of who she is and how special she is.

I know they are all special......

I know that they all have their things that endear them to us. But from her Lab purr deep in her throat when she wants something or just to melt my heart to her stubbornness in getting a 2X4 into the the house or never giving up on a retrieve into the water having no common sense there instead looking to us to keep her safe. The Lab breed is better for her being here and the world really is a better place because she is in it.

 Punky turns 3 and is off all meds and gets a clean bill of health. No PRA 3rd year in a row. Should we breed her? Do I want to risk my girl? Do I want her in my bloodline enough to take the risk? Can my heart take it? I have one year before I have to decide spay or breed one year. A loooong stressful year to make that choice.

Punky is 5 months short of 4, it is now or never as after 4 a first litter is too risky.

I have spent a year looking at stud dogs and deciding how much I want a Punky daughter because breeding is ALWAYS dangerous and you can lose your bitch, so that is why I tell people NEVER breed pets. But as much as I love her I know what she brings to the breed I know what we will get from her that heart cannot die within a short Lab’s lifespan it MUST contribute to my kennel and my breed. It was the hardest decision I ever made in my life concerning my kennel. But Kristi at Lakeview and I decided that Abe CanCh Loneoaks On Wings As Eagles OFAs Excellent No PRA Heart sound 

would give us with this breeding what we were looking for- a step up to the Garden (Westminster Dog Show- where he had gone twice)  

Punky flew to Ohio in a rain storm and got grounded overnight I was a mess she was wining over an entire airport and my girl did not spend the night in a vet kennel as the call told me she would since they were grounded in between us and Ohio. NO my girl went home with an airline worker and slept on their bed, had a hearty breakfast and was driven to her flight the next day. I kid you not EVERYONE falls under the Punky spell!

After she arrived she bewitched Kristi and the Lakeview gang with her personality and good manners they did not want to turn her loose after a long two week visit. But after 3 successful matings she was sent home for us to think Little Yellow puppy thoughts.

It worked! Punky is pregnant prenatal shows all is well and she has no issues at all still the same crazy girl has no idea how her life will change in just a few short weeks Punky half way through her pregnancy

I knew she would be a good mom because she actually got in her milk with her own mom's last litter and helped wet nurse the kids that was a big part of my decision to breed her. 

Now I was the basket case I had my girl in all the time for a checkup I x-rayed her when she was overdue by a few days. And saw we were having at least 8. I slept in the whelp box for days while she went into labor and acted like a complete novice in my following her around with a thermometer she got to where she saw it she wanted to hide and that is not Punky.

But I was so worried. That is why I spayed her after that litter NO more I would never risk her again. But she whelped 8 puppies no problem rather quick no issues all went well I tried to snap into breeder mode and go on auto pilot just another litter, just another bitch. But I was still not up to par could not quite do it. However she handled both my nervousness with a lick to my face and delivery like she was the old pro not me. Though she had seen litters born it is a bit different when it is you having the pups.

As I said I had went a bad week as she was late in whelping, sleeping little and mostly in the box with her so following the whelp and all weighed tagged and cleaned up. The bedding clanged and her settled down with her kids I need sleep. While I was asleep she had one more pup a small cold boy we would later lose he was sickly like she was at birth, but she did not let him live I shared his poem on my writing page here- Something For Blue. She tried to disembowel him . We had to hold her to let him feed, as well as bottle feed him like we had her, but she wanted nothing to do with him.

Punky knew he was sick, and unlike her mom she would not take care of a sick pup, (nature is cruel sometimes) and she damaged his tummy and little penis in her attack on him, when we had left him with the litter to warm after forcing her (having to do that surprised me with Punky's love of everything and one) to feed him. She had ignored him refused to feed him, but she had never tried to cull him out before and was a COMPLETE SURPRISE!

I NEVER would have left him alone with her had I known that her intention would ever be more than push him away. I had never seen a bitch try and cull a pup. But later learned if there is something gravely wrong they will see it even when we don't. We attempted to have emergency surgery performed on a 2 days old, but he died on the table when his heart stopped and our Necropsy showed he had a deformed heart valve (why he was always cold and blue) and would not have lived very long- Punky knew.

However all the other puppies were fine and healthy and I will share some pictures of Punky's July 29 th 2000 litter

First puppy she is so proud! Remember that smile

Punky's kids

Baby Boy Black "Tux" the future CH French-Vanila's Black Tie and Tail. And Baby Girl Burgandy "Grace" the future DutchCH French-Vanila"s Alot to B Thankful For at 2 weeks old

And at 3 weeks 

Then in Oct 2000 my husband asked for a divorce. It was a huge surprise I had Punky's pups I was running on for show possibilities from the July litter that were 3 months old at the time and a new litter on the ground (Oct 25) from her half sister Angie French-Vanila's I'm No Angel (more on Angie's page) and my husband decided he needs to go find himself. I was not aware he was lost but I guess so as he was sure having issues with his life and our life all of a suden after 20 years. 

To try and save my marriage I agreed to close French-Vanila as those who know and love me know. It was a heart wrenching decision and even more so when I knew not only would I lose Grace though Jack did right by our girl at Joe Batts Labradors in Holland. I also had to face the reality he was NOT even going to let me keep Punky. I swear 8 years later I still get teary when I type this. I will NEVER understand why he did what he did and let me give up EVERYTHING and break my heart as I had to leave her with Wendy in Salem Oregon after spending months going round and round of where I would send her. When he knew it was all a game. 

I pray I NEVER in my life do to another person something so vile as that.

But in Oct of 2000 I had no clue I just knew I had to save my marriage over my kennel even over my girl. I lost breed friends I thought would walk through fire for me like I would them, over my decision.

I lost my standing I worked so hard for in the Breed would by dropping out bam! Not one explanation (what do you say?) never went back to Rose City "my Lab club" told no one what was happening had paid for shows did not show up.

Had reserved puppies to add to my kennel lost deposits.

I just dropped off the face of the world. I told very few people what was going on.

My Lab list who helped me quickly place dogs who stepped up and offers of temporary homes all over the world, but I knew it was not temporary and I also knew I had to not be selfish and let the dogs settle.

Punky's last Christmas She turned 4 on the 10th. Punky has no clue our would is going to crumble she has never not known security and stability of her family and Labs all round her this is just another Christmas in which to clown around and she did it up well.

After we moved to Portland we got busy and I went back to work and time went by Wendy updated me but I just could not bring myself to go see her. I knew it would be hard on us both and I put it off until 2002. But when I went to Wendy's office Wendy was not there and Punky was locked behind the glass door (Punky goes to work with her every day she is soooo good to our girl) Well Punky saw me and went nuts and wanted to know where I had been when were we going home mom! I lost it I fell on the other side of the wall where she could not see me and slid my back down the wall and balled my eyes out. I came back around when I could get a hold of myself- I mouthed I’m sorry and I left I never went back as I could not be that selfish I had to let her bond and feel Wendy was where she belonged and not put her or me through that again.

I sometimes do wonder though is it ever gonna not hurt to write this or read this? My gut reaction as I correct and tears run down my face was to hug Sadie did that, and use this pain that is so deep inside it causes a physical ache to wish for John to boil in Hell for what he did! But I can't I can't feel that I forgave him I had to for me. But I asked God will there ever be a time I do not relive it when I write about it. I think long after she is gone I will still feel the same when I share her story like I let her down and did not keep my promise to always be there for her. makes no difference how good Wendy is to her, I still see her hopeful face and hear her ask me when we going home mom?

It took until last year to rethink maybe seeing her. Maybe I can wipe that 2002 image out of my mind. Having Sadie and healing my heart greatly added to the decision to see her. As now I would not trade Sadie for Punky I have had Sadie longer and I love Punky but she is where she was meant to be as Sadie was sent to heal me. Punky was to help Wendy get over the loss of Lucky her Lab who died of cancer.

Punky is home with Wendy, Sadie is home with us asleep on my bed as I type. And that is how is should be.

As Punky aged I wrote more I sent more gifts and got more pictures. On Punky's 10th birhday Wendy bought her a car as she was getting old and could not get into the Land Rover anymore so Wendy bought her a PT Cruiser as they are low down and called it a PC Cruiser for Punky's Car. She bought my girl a car.

Punky at 10,

When I got these pictures I for the first time knew that I had chosen right Punky is happy and loved and I never gave her a bubble bath too many dogs. But with Wendy she is now one of one. As I said she has gone every day to the office for going on 9 years now.Perfect for social Punky everyone still falling all over her. And Punky officailly became "Our girl" instead of just mine to me.

And still our clown at 12 and more white than her mom was at that age!

The next pictures until I go see her this Spring will be just a series of her birthday presents I made her for her 13th birhtday and her party little words need to be said until the last puicture 

And remember I said remember that smile higher up this page. Well from
3 1/2 to 13 she still has that smile she is older no doubt but that smile is still there. And that means my girl is HAPPY Thank You Wendy !!!!

And my lucky girl in 2010 Wendy bought her a home with land so Punky can be a farm dog and enjoy the country life for the rest of hers. Punky's story continues..... 

March 2010 Update:

Wendy has commissioned a wildlife artist to paint a portrait of Punky, hope to share it here soon

Still waiting for the wildlife artist's work but here is mine May 3 2010

 And here is the picture Wendy had done by the Wildlife artist

December 10 2010

Wow where have the years gone since you were just over 6 oz and my biggest heart in the litter?

 Baby girl another year has passed that I have not seen you, but I know that you are loved and for that am most grateful and for every year that you get to enjoy the sunshine, rain and snow chase tennis balls and find a soft warm spot to sleep in and on this birthday, a day some 14 years ago I once more reflect over a lifetime that I was privileged to be a part on creating and also in sharing though only the early years.

I like to think I hold some responsibility in the girl you became and give Wendy the credit for the girl you are.

 I miss you Pooky as always, and though it is Sadie that shares my bed you will forever have that place you stepped into the first time I held you so many years ago now that no one else will ever touch in my heart.

Have a wonderful birthday baby girl!!!!!

Punky turns 14 see page 2

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