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Nicky was a runner. He loved to run. For years he ran several times a week, usually 3-4 miles (never longer) with Steve Patt. Like many dogs, he eagerly looked forward to his runs. But even more than a runner, Nicky was a racer. From 1988 until he retired in 1996, Nicky went to every race he could. On race day, he was beside himself, twirling himself into a mad frenzy, especially at the starting line when he knew the race was about to begin. You can see the classic Nick in the photo below. There we are at the extreme far end of the starting line. Anyplace else, and it would be woe to any dog who got in Nicky's way for the first hundred yards. If he were on the ground, he'd be twirling himself into exhaustion, so I'm holding him, but barely able to restrain him, as you can see. He was ready to go!
When
the race started, he would bolt from the starting line, trying to stay ahead of the
other dogs, which, with his slower running partner, couldn't be the case for very
long. But even if he couldn't beat all the dogs, he could beat all the dogs his size.
In Oakland, at the SPCA Dog Run, he was the four-time straight winner in the small
dog, male human category. Below, he receives one of those awards; at the right, you
can see he'd really be back mixing it up with the other dogs instead of posing for
the camera.
Many of Nicky's races were written up in reports to the Dead Runner's Society. The story of Nicky's last race, in Palo Alto on April 28, 1996, is especially poignant.
Nicky was an all-around fun guy. Below, he plays tug-a-frisbee with Maggie (one of the many foster Welshies Nicky helped entertain), jumps for a balloon in our family room, and enjoys his wading pool on a hot day.
One
of Nicky favorite activities was the earthdog trials. Nicky was one of the first
Welsh Terriers in the country to achieve his Junior Earthdog Certificate. He loved
to go through the tunnel after those rats, even though the tunnel is 9" square
and Nicky was 16" high. And, as you can see from the picture at right, once
he got in, it was hard to get him out, and once you did, he wanted back in! (Nicky's
friend Diane Amendola in the back of the picture was the judge).
Nicky loved to watch TV.Here, he's watching a dog show, but his favorite was ball
games - soccer, golf, etc. He would continually try to jump up to the TV and grab
the ball in his mouth. He never learned that this would never happen.
Here's
the last picture of Nicky, taken on the Welshie Wildflower Walk at Sunol Regional
Park, on March 28, one month before the end. Nicky had a great time enjoying the
outdoors and seeing his old Welshie (and human) friends, even though his Dad had
to carry him a lot of the way.
Nicky always had his ears up. Often, just one ear; but, in later years, sometimes
two as in this picture. Debi doesn't like this picture. Steve does.
We miss you, Nicky.
