My lifesavers

By Cornelia Egloff (Switzerland)

I have loved the Wolfspitz more than anything for a long time and can never imagine having another breed of dog or even - what a terrible idea - living without a Wolfspitz! Wolfspitzes are simply the most complete and also the most beautiful dog breed that exists. They are very alert with an innate protective instinct but not aggressive, they do not hunt or poach, they are always happy, cheeky, full of charm and incredibly funny. They love children, get along with all animals, are extremely intelligent, willing to learn without losing their own personality, and they can do anything and are also versatile in dog sports. In short, a Wolfspitz is simply something unique and a loyal, incorruptible and sincere companion and friend for life. On Easter Sunday 1998, my Wolfspitz male “Falk zum Frohsinn” once again impressively demonstrated to me that, in addition to their many good qualities, Wolfspitzes also have a sixth sense of danger.

Easter Sunday, 1998 - early in the morning, I set out for a morning walk with my three Wolfspitzes. What a “surprise”, it had snowed again - in the middle of spring - and wet snow hung thick and heavy on branches and trees and had flattened entire bushes and trees to the ground.

The snow on the road was ankle deep, slushy and wet. It was pretty gruesome, but it didn't shake us too much, and we marched off anyway. After our walk took us through meadows and fields, we came along the edge of a forest.

In front of a confusing curve, my Wolfspitzes suddenly behaved very strangely, crouched, lurking, and slowly walked forward. I was already afraid that a well-known male shepherd, feared as a warhorse throughout the village, might be coming towards us, but I couldn't see anything because of the curve, and so I called my dogs back to me. Ella and Delight, my obedient bitches, came immediately, but stopped a few meters in front of me, sat down and refused to come closer. Falk stayed further ahead where he was, but didn't take his eyes off me. When I said “Come here!” again, he yelped and jumped up and down like a madman, as if he wanted to tell me “You better come here to me - quickly!”

My human mind couldn't (yet) make sense of this extraordinary behavior of my dogs. Falk, who is incredibly focused on me, must have noticed that. Suddenly he came running to me very quickly, stood up to me and scratched furiously at my jacket pocket, in which I always carry some dog treats. “Okay, you get your cookie” I mumbled and reached into my pocket. Falk was almost hysterical and even bit my hand lightly as if he wanted to say “Hurry up!” I handed him the cookie, but at the same time he backed away from me and refused the cookie. Completely perplexed by this behavior, I ran a few steps behind to hand him the cookie that he apparently wanted so badly. The moment I took a few steps ("Finally!" Falk must have thought), there was a terrible crash behind me and right where I had just been standing, a large fir tree thundered, bearing the weight of the wet snow unable to hold on any longer, fell to the ground with great force. The branches were still lightly brushing my back and if I had still been standing there and not following my clever Wolfspitz, the tree would have fallen right through me and would certainly have split my skull.

Completely shocked, I looked at the huge tree that was now lying in the middle of the road and could hardly believe what had just happened. My Wolfspitzes behaved wildly and danced around me, completely exuberant and relieved, jumping up on me; I could hardly defend myself from the stormy expressions of love. The whole thing happened literally in a second, and for a long time I could hardly understand how extraordinarily resourceful Falk saved my life. 

A Wolfspitz is also the best life insurance there can be!