Debucher Oh La La for Tioga     January 1998 - January 2011

Our first Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, bred by Viv Phillips out of Dehra Embrasser at Darsoms by Bien Fait Du Greffier Du Roi. We thought we had a dog proof garden, but Gertie soon put us straight on that. After a few patch up jobs, we had to have the whole garden re-fenced! Gertie was a very independent lady, who I think would have been just as happy living in a kennel as living in the comfort of our home. Well, she might have missed her sofa bed, but if she could have taken that with her....... She was very much a creature of routine - I’m told that this is a hound thing - to the extent that she would not eat her dinner if you gave it to her too early or late.  Gertie was definitely Queen Bee in our pack. She only had to give the other dogs one of her looks and they immediately side stepped her. She had many expressions that she used to let you know what she wanted or expected of you. It was almost as if she could talk!  Her sense of smell was phenomenal. She could be sound asleep in the house, and would suddenly get up, all excited, because a friend or foe had passed the front gate, or a squirrel had ventured into the back garden. No noise, just perceived solely by scent.  Gertie had one litter, the sire being Dehra Esperance De Debucher.

It was with great sadness that we had to say goodbye to her the day before her 13th birthday. She was a lovely Mother and Grandmother as well as being a wonderful friend to our Clumber puppy Phoebe.