"Penelope"

P is smart and loves to work. Once she understands what is required of her, she will work very hard to do it perfectly – whether the job was obedience, mothering a litter of pups, showing, or racing after a lure.

It was a joy to watch P race and course. She was on the lure and very competitive. She ran with intensity, with her head low.

And she was fast! In only her 3rd straight track event, P made the high point grouping (out of 21 whippets) in the third program.

Just four months after whelping her first litter of puppies, Penelope was back on the track, easily finishing her first straight racing title. Less than a year later, she completed her first oval track title. Not too shabby for a girl!

But if it isn’t a contest, P is a silly heart who wants to clown and play. If there is a commotion, P assumes it is all in fun and gets right in the middle of it. P has a special fondness for squeaky toys, especially when she is excited or it is close to meal time. She will grab a squeaky toy and begin what sounds very much like a transmission of rapid Morse Code. This can go on for quite some time and we have wondered if she is sending messages to some alien mother ship.

She is more playful than cuddly except when it is nap time. Nap time means it is time to be snuggling with a person if possible, or another whippet.

Overall, P is our extrovert. We never have to wonder what she is thinking as she is quite expressive. She put her all into everything - letting everyone know that she is the best, smartest, fastest, most beautiful dog in the world and longs to be acknowledged as such.

Yet, for all of her intensity, one of Penelope's favorite times is snuggle time. When she is being stroked and patted, she holds very still and looks deep into your eyes - and there is a depth of knowledge and understanding in her gaze that is a rare and precious trait indeed. For those humans who have owned or known a lot of dogs, P stands out as one of those incredible gems that comes along but once in a lifetime.