sire: Willamette Valley Merlot | dam: Majestic Lady McKenna O'Petra

 

Echo is a Merlot/McKenna daughter. She is a bi-black/tan plush. She lives in Birch Tree, Missouri. Echo has passed her Temperament Test.

Puppy Collage

 

 

February 16, 2002

Echo has had a couple of adventures the last couple days. First, she had a run-in with an armadillo. (By the way, we wish the Texans had kept those dumb, destructive animals and not sent them our way! They sure can tear up a pasture.) Anyway, we were walking through a pasture, and Echo was off-lead as she always is out here, and she spotted the armadillo long before I did. She took off like a shot and was standing over it, wagging her tail, while the armadillo hopped around and generally looked panicked. When the armadillo decided to make a run for it, Echo loped along beside it, every once in awhile trying to grab it with her mouth. I didn't want an injured armadillo to deal with, so I told her to come. She completely ignored me and they were getting further away all the time, so I used my ultimate enticement, I said, "Echo! Let's go!" and turned and hurried away from the direction she was headed. I didn't look back, but a second later I could hear her running up behind me. Good dog! Twice on the way back by the armadillo, she started to head off that direction, but at warning sounds from me, she came along home.

Then, yesterday, I looked out the window and saw Echo down by the spring, being licked by and licking a calf. I thought, gee, that's strange, the only calf I've seen her do that with is our bottle calf, Ferdinand. As I looked, it occurred to me that the calf looked a lot like Ferdinand. When I stepped out the door to check things out further, Echo came bounding to me, wheeled quickly and ran to the calf, turned and ran back to me, and then back to the calf. It was obvious she knew that Ferdinand was not where he was supposed to be, and she was showing me. (Yes, don't laugh, but it was kind of like Lassie!) Ferdinand had gotten out of his pen, and into the pasture where he could've gone miles before he came to a fence. Instead, Echo kept him occupied till she had the opportunity to show me what had happened.

I'm pretty proud of my girl...as if you couldn't tell.

Alice

April 13, 2003

Just a note of gratitude to Shari for a wonderful dog...

We took Echo to St. Louis with us and she acted as if she'd been raised there. I was full of trepidation because, frankly, she's used to lots and lots of quiet and isolation. As usual, I worried for nothing because she was a trooper and took everything in stride. My brother had warned us that she was likely to be stolen if anyone saw her in our van alone, but Echo, in the couple long waits she did have in the van, (obviously knowing she shouldn't be seen, lol) laid down on the back seat and went sound asleep. Who knew she'd be so city-savvy?!

Our motel rooms were in the middle of the third floor (!) so we made lots of trips on the elevator. No problem. We walked her right through the lobby. She trotted through like she owned the place. We left her in her crate in the motel for about an hour and a half, and, though I stood outside our door listening for her to cry, she didn't make a peep.

After our daughter's concert, my husband went to get Echo out of the van so that our daughter (Elissa) could see her. He walked Echo through swarms of people and then she sat just outside the doors of the concert hall waiting patiently. Lots of people came up to pet her and greet her and she was perfectly at ease. When Elissa came out, of course, Echo was extremely excited and it was a very happy reunion, except that Elissa's black satin dress got a couple dusty prints on it. (Yes, we're still working on the jumping...well, actually now it's more like hopping. Because she knows she's not supposed to do it she doesn't jump, but can't seem to keep herself from giving an exuberant little hop up now and then.)

On the way home, we stopped at a state park south of St. Louis and a toddler came up to Echo and threw his arms around her neck and hung on in a long hug. Echo didn't flinch. On the trail, she was greeted by another enthusiastic toddler and we helped Echo just get petted and avoid getting the kiss on the face that the little girl seemed determined to give her. Echo didn't seem a bit worried about any of this.

She was wonderful through the whole trip, but there's no doubt she was happy to return to our little home in the hills. We are so proud of and thankful for Echo. For a country girl, she handled the city with ease. Thanks again, Shari, for a great dog.

Alice

August 29, 2003

Hi All,

Thought you might like to see what was happening at the Fowler house today. Nothing exciting....I was just babysitting for my grand-nephews. One is 12 months old and one is two. Here is a pic of 12 month old Cameron with Echo. (The white blob in Cameron's mouth is his pacifier.)

After they spread all their toys over the living room, it was time for a little rest.....

Echo is wonderful with the boys, and Cameron, especially, thinks Echo is the greatest toy ever!

Alice

September 28, 2003

Echo was a social butterfly this weekend. A nearby town had their annual "Pioneer Days" celebration. The town was packed....carnival rides going...the whole bit. Echo spent several hours there being petted and oohed and aahed over. She had on her purple scarf from Grandma Shari so she was lookin' good. :-) Her behavior was exemplary except for that wee bit of pulling on the leash she does when excited.

I know Jacki is saying right now....so where are the pics??? I left the camera in the pick-up which we left at home, so no pics this time. (I want you to know that I'm hanging my head in shame even as I write this last statement!)

Today Echo was with another big group of people....lots of children included. I'm always conscious of how isolated she is and we try to take every opportunity to get her out in crowds. The one experience we have not been able to give her is being in groups of dogs....with the exception being our Homecoming gathering in TX. She plays occasionally one-on-one with other dogs (which she loves!), and that's the best we've been able to do.

Alice

May 19, 2004

Right now, Echo has cream-colored highlights on one shoulder and her tail. We're painting our new house and Echo has to be right in the middle of things. When she's not brushing up against our fresh paint jobs, she's begging to go on a walk or laying in the cool of the basement trying desperately to beat the heat.

She still likes to chase squirrels and patrol the yard to keep bunny intruders away. The vocabulary she understands is incredible and there are many words that are forbidden when we actually need to get some work at the new house accomplished....i.e., walk, home, load-up, want to, chicken, go, etc. I can tell her to hurry up and finish her food, and she will; I can tell her to get a drink and she will; I can tell her to find either of our boys and she will. I could go on and on about how smart she is and how desperately she wants to please us.

I tried to take a picture of her the other evening but it didn't turn out. I'll try again one of these days.

Alice

March 5, 2008

Sorry I've been out of touch. The usual busyness and the fact that our email has been on the fritz is to blame. Echo had a good 6th birthday. Which reminds me, happy belated birthday to the original M&Ms! Right now, Echo is enjoying the first snowfall we've had in several years. She has come inside to eat today and then she immediately has gone to the door, wanting back out in the snow. We have had a lot of ice this last month, too, and she has relished it all. She does not seem to be showing her age. She remains very fleet of foot and extremely playful.

I can't remember if I told you that she brought us a very small, emaciated kitten a few months ago. I have no idea where she found her because we live on a very remote ranch, but find her she did and brought her to the front porch, dropped her on the step, and whined at the door. The kitten was very sick, but she has pulled through and follows Echo around like they are best buddies. The kitten (Cleo) even runs along beside Echo when we throw Echo's football for a game of fetch. It is too cute. On cold days, Cleo curls up between Echo's front paws so she is warmed by her breath. Echo loves kittens, fawns, and calves and is so gentle with them. (We won't talk about what she does to opossums and armadillos!) She's still the greatest hiking companion ever and she's more loved every day.

How's that for an update?

Alice