TAFFY

A “Boy” and His Dog

Rat Terriers are commonly mistaken for Jack Russell’s. They were introduced to the U.S. in the 1890’s. The name “Rat Terrier” came about when the White House was infested with rats, the President unleashed his dogs and the rats were gone.

Taffy came to our home in September of 2005. She was a rescue dog that as a puppy “hunted” electrical cords. She was nine months old and ready to play with our two children. Rachel loved that she could dress Taffy in the many outfits that we had acquired. Adam, on the other hand was not so sure about Taffy. Taffy was spirited and wanted to make her way to the top of the social ladder. You can tell that Jeff and Taffy are kindred spirits.

If it is 7:00 o’clock in the evening it is walking time around here. It is as though she can tell time. She will stare at Jeff until he says those magic words, “Do you want to go on a walk?” Jeff, Dale, Patrick, and their dogs, Taffy, Magic, and George have they daily bonding time. Rat Terriers love nothing more than to run freely in an open field. She loves to run circles around the other dogs as if she is herding her pack.

Taffy has two speeds-fast and couch potato. You dare not sit on a blanket in our house before checking to see if she is hibernating under it. She also loves to snuggle up to you for warmth (you’d like to think it is because she adores you) or she wants a massage.

Dog agility was the best thing Jeff could have done for the both of them. Jeff has made lots of new friends while building his endurance. Taffy is being challenged to learn new things. Rat Terriers are known to be quick (just try to grab a piece of food before she gets it), alert (she can hear the food hit the floor from the other room), and agile (she can leap over a chair to beat you to the dropped food).

Taffy hails from the hills of North Carolina. She is a pure bred; I like to think of her as the hillbilly version. Taffy has one ear that hangs at half staff, unless she is on the alert. She has a funny under bite and is missing a few teeth. She has scrawny legs but has a face that has big brown eyes that can draw you in. We don’t need to hang all of her ribbons she has won in agility to show she is a winner because without a word spoken she has already won our hearts.

Jeff Clark