Grendel

Ch Kristull Llively Go Grendel

Pedigree of Grendel

Grendel, Ch Kristull Llively Go Grendel, was my first bench champion Borzoi. He was a gorgeous mahogany brindle in color with a black mask and lovely silky fringes to his fur.

He was a great grinner and an ear kisser and the sweetest Borzoi you could ever know. He had a lovely floating side gait and was correct in all conformational details but one, he was a bit on the narrow side in front. He was 32 inches at the shoulders but only weighed 80 pounds.

He was one of my most favorite Borzois ever even though he decided not to lure course and not to get his CD.

He started his lure coursing career in a promising manner but a dog really went for him at one of his first trials, after that he generally would not course if other dogs were on the lure. He would run to the gallery and sit and watch the other dogs run. However he did earn 20 ASFA points (3rd in 10) at a trial because the neighbor's chickens flew into our dog yard Satuday AM just before we left for the field trial. Three white chickens flew in but only two flew out. Grendel was so proud of himself for snagging that chicken! He ran around the yard for at least 10 minutes with it clutched in his jaws, head high, while we tried to catch him.

Later that day he applied himself with fervor to the white plastic bags but it only lasted for that day, as after that the neighbor was more careful about letting his chickens loose.

Ch Kristull LLively Go Grendel passed away in Oct 1988 at 12 years of age. He was a unique individual and he is deeply missed. He passed his reliable, sweet, yet confident personality on to many of his descendents and made many friends for the Borzoi breed. In addition to his beauty of character he possessed many physical beauties that have caused his descendents to be valued by those who raise Borzoi for display in the show ring.

Of the many dogs I have had only two others, Grendel's son Silkenswift Maltese Falcon and my great coursing bitch Am & Can F Ch Silkenswift Pye's Dark Design LCM (who is not related to Grendel) have approached him as a total dog.

Here is his song, it has a tune. A slightly different version appeared in the Gazehound magazine Jan/Feb 1978:

Ballad of the Puppy Grendel by Bonnie Dalzell

It was the puppy Grendel, came bouncing o'er the green.

Fleetfooted puppy Grendel, the fairest ever seen.

All striped as the tiger, his flowing tail held high.

It was the puppy Grendel, bouncing 'neath the summer sky.

The joyous puppy Grendel, a looking for a chase.

Boldly puppy Grendel dared the wind to a race.

Up to the puppy Grendel a worn old hound did come.

"Wait! puppy Grendel. You are to young to run!"

Wide grinned the puppy Grendel."Oh ancient hound", laughed he

"How can you look upon me and say what's not to be?

How can you look upon me, my legs so slim and strong,

And say I am not ready to course the wind along?"

Up spake the ancient hound again, and many a course he'd done,

"Oh wait you puppy Grendel, the wind's the hardest run.

The wind will stay before you throughout the day so long.

The wind will stay before you though you run the night to dawn."

So wait you puppy Grendel, course now the wolf and deer,

And play with fellow Borzoi while the sun sits high this year.

The wind's the final quarry that all fine coursers run

For when it lies before you you'll not see another sun.

The wind's the final quarry. It flies before you still

You'll follow it through dark of night past every earthly hill.

It's granted to the Borzoi when his limbs grow stiff and old

To finally take the challange, again to run as bold

After the only quarry that truely tests his skill

So wait you, puppy Grendel, before you seek that kill."

Through this the puppy Grendel sat with a wondering eye

And then he turned quite quickly and glanced up to the sky

"Oh wait you then, you ragged wind, oh wait you by and by

For I will course you down some day, that's neither dream nor lie!

But I shall go out now and play beneath the summer sky."

 

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