Greyson
Ch. Dogwood’s Greyson v Blue Moon
CD DD BDD CGC
(23 Feb 1994 – 1 Sep 2005)
Owner: Christine Mann
Breeder: Tom Brown
WP54559508
OFA Hips BMD-3559G24M Good
GDC Hips GDC6553H17GN Good
OFA Elbows BMD-EL970M24 Normal
GDC Elbows GDC6553E17N Normal
CERF Eyes BMD-496 Normal
Greyson’s Story
(written in January 2004)
I knew his name long before I met this little Bernese Mountain Dog at 9 weeks. I had made an arrangement with a fellow breeder to trade first choice from each others litter. I was introduced to Greyson on a video as pup # 3. He was the one for me. It was not until four weeks later that I got to see him in real life. Bringing him home on the airplane from Washington D.C. was just the beginning of his ambassadorship He had to have a reservation to be in the cabin with us. One of the flight attendants was not very happy to see a puppy on HER plane insisting he stay in the carrying bag under the seat. By the time we landed in Denver a few short hours later, this puppy had been out of the bag, met the captain, and even hugged by the hard hearted flight attendant. As with all young travelers, Greyson received a set of wings for his baby book.
Greyson earned his American Kennel Club Championship by the age of eighteen months. Over the years, he has been honored with many successes in the conformation ring. His most recent honor was winning the 2003 Veteran Sweepstakes at the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America National Specialty at the ripe old age of nine and a half!
Greyson has earned his Companion Dog title from the AKC, as well. In 1999, he was high scoring Bernese at the Pikes Peak Obedience Trial.
As the third Bernese of a BMDCA Draft Judge (Christine), Greyson was introduced to the cart! Once he got used to it, he really started to enjoy it. He has successfully pulled his cart to four BMDCA titles. Two of these titles were brace titles earned in front of the cart with his daughter Nikki, another Denver Delta Pet Partner. He now enjoys a few parades each year pulling a beautiful fancy cart.
What a guy. Greyson combines beauty, brains, and soundness with a steady temperment to be a reliable companion and working dog. Here at Bluemoon Bernese, Greyson is the patriarch to second, third, and fourth generations of BMD’s.
But I must admit that our greatest enjoyment comes from simply being together. The long list of titles and awards are only a reflection of the profound bond Greyson and I share. I jumped at the chance to become involved with the Denver Pet Partners because of this deep connection between us and the bond Greyson creates with each human he meets.
Being a Pet Partners team has been one of the most rewarding joys for both of us. All of our previous teamwork projects have proven to be only the foundation for what we are doing today in Animal-Assisted Activities/Therapy. This is truly his favorite job. How can he not enjoy everyone petting him and telling him how handsome he is?
Early in Greyson’s Delta career, we were visiting a long-term care facility. He quickly became attached to a man with Cerebral Palsy. Confined to a wheelchair and having a speech disorder, he had a difficult time communicating, particularly through conversation. But the smile on his face was unmistakable in expressing the joy each week when Greyson walked into the room! In the beginning, this man had to work so hard just to brush Greyson with simple short strokes. Soon he was using each hand to make long brush strokes down Grey’s back. Sometimes they just sat together. Greyson would snuggle up and put his head on the man’s lap. No words were necessary. After each session, the patient would delight in “walking” Greyson up and down the halls so every would see their special friendship.
Greyson and I once arrived at a patient’s room where a man and a young girl were praying on the bed of a woman. Not wanting to intrude, we turned to leave; the woman looked up and immediately reached out to Greyson. This was one of the few times that Greyson thought (briefly) about jumping on the bed. Within seconds, the man and girl were holding and loving him. It was amazing how, at that moment, I was invisible. This woman had just been told she had aggressive and irreversible form of cancer.
I think that our most powerful experience was one day last winter. We were visiting in the Surgery waiting room at Swedish Medical Center. Greyson and I had already been at SMC for nearly two hours and I could see he was feeling pretty tired. After visiting with everyone in the room, we were about to leave when a man and a woman came into the room. The man was in tears. Greyson stopped in his tracks. The dog went over and stood in front of the man. The man stopped. He knelt down with Greyson as Greyson rolled over on his side. There they sat together for nearly fifteen minutes. They seemed lost in an unspoken conversation of spirit. Touching and speaking no words, this man opened his broken heart to a willing black dog. I never knew what the sorrow was. It doesn’t matter. Greyson knew that he needed to be there for this one man on this one day for as long it took to bring some peace to this man. When we left, Greyson had a new sense of energy leaving SMC with a relaxed and easy spirit.
Someday I know that you will leave me, my dear Greyson, so I will continue to cherish each day as a gift. We have been given nearly tens years together. If you share love, it will only grow stronger. Sharing Greyson as a Delta Society Pet Partner has given me more than I could have ever imagined. The purity of a dog’s compassion is beyond anything I can say here.
Thank you my friend.
You are my wonderful teacher and ambassador who bridges the gap between human and animal bringing out the best in both. The lessons you have taught me are with me forever. I love you always.
Ch Dogwood’s Greyson v Blue Moon CD DD BDD CGC
Aka: Greyson, Grampa, Captain Charmin, Mr Pajamas, Stud Biscuit, Geegers, DH, Grey Grey, and The G-man.
Editor’s Note: To know Greyson is to know a dog that embodies gentle grandness and a stoic, yet completely open and loving nature. Greyson, you have a wonderful presence, and to observe you in the show ring, whether in conformation or carting, is melodious because of the manner in which you meld with Chris and how you display obvious delight in pleasing her. But to see you at work as a therapy dog is so much more. One only has to see the sheer happiness on the face of a hospital patient in your presence to realize, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that this is where your true talent lies and, by bringing joy to those who need you most, your purpose is truly fulfilled.
