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Tag: whippet companion
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Meet Smudge: Our Halloween Whippet Who Takes Up Three Times the Space
Smudge Part 2
If you’ve been following Fuega’s story elsewhere, you know she’s our tiny tornado—17.5 inches of pure whirlwind energy; you will see more here soon. Smudge is her complete opposite in almost every way. He’s what I like to call our gentle giant, though “giant” is relative when you’re talking about whippets. He’s not oversized according to Lennah (and she should know), but he’s built like a bodybuilder who happens to be the same height as you but somehow takes up three times as much space.
Standing next to Fuega, Smudge looks like a small Greyhound. We’ve actually had people ask what track we rescued him from, which always makes us laugh. This boy has never seen a racetrack in his life, but he certainly has the presence of a retired champion.
Born for Halloween
The universe has a sense of humor about timing, and Smudge is living proof. Born on October 20th—just eleven days before Halloween—he came into this world with markings so perfectly themed for the season that you’d think someone planned it.
If you look at him from one side, his black markings spell out the letter “B.” Turn him around, and the other side clearly shows “OO.” Put it together and you get “BOO”—literally the perfect Halloween dog, marked from birth for his spooky season debut.
But the Halloween theme doesn’t stop there. When Smudge stretches out in that classic whippet sphinx pose, his markings look remarkably like the mask from the movie “Scream.” Though Sage’s friends see something entirely different when he’s pining at the window for me to come home—they think he looks more like a swish (I swear he has a head, he’s looking out a window), which honestly might be more accurate given his gentle nature.
The Fading Mustache and Other Charms
At almost seven years old now, Smudge is starting to show his age in the most distinguished way possible. His muzzle is beginning to grey, and he’s slowly losing what we’ve always called his “one-sided mustache”—a charming little marking that gave him an air of sophistication from puppyhood.
The changes are subtle but noticeable, like watching a favorite book fade gently over time. Each grey hair is a reminder of all the years we’ve shared, all the quiet moments of companionship, all the times he’s been exactly what I needed without even trying.
My Mental Health Anchor
Here’s where Smudge’s story becomes more than just amusing anecdotes about markings and size. He’s not just my companion—he’s my mental health anchor, my physical limitation reminder, and my steadfast good boy all rolled into one substantial whippet package.
During my migraine journey, when the world felt overwhelming and uncertain, Smudge was my constant. My migraines are gone but I have some very heavy mental health injuries from that time and Smudge is here for me to just “be” with. He doesn’t try to fix anything or demand attention when I’m struggling. He just exists, solid and reassuring, taking up his considerable space in the most comforting way possible.
He’s also become my gentle reminder about physical limitations. Not in a pushy way—Smudge doesn’t push anything—but in his quiet, observant manner that seems to say, “Maybe we should take this a little slower today.” He reads my energy better than I do sometimes, adjusting his own needs accordingly.
The Devotion That Defines Him
Since that day in February 2020 when Rex and I picked him up from our friend’s house (post-bath and looking like the handsome boy he was destined to become), Smudge has been my shadow. Not in the energetic, bouncing way that some dogs follow their people (though he has his moments), but with the steady, unwavering presence that only a true companion provides.
The only time we’ve been apart since he came home was this past March, when he made his trip back north to be neutered. It was a necessary journey—after Fuega’s surprise motherhood adventure, we decided it was time to prevent any future unplanned litters and let her grow up without the responsibility of more puppies.
Even that separation was brief, and the reunion was everything you’d expect from a dog who’d found his person and had no intention of leaving them again.
Size, Presence, and Heart
When people see Smudge, they’re often surprised by his substantial build. Whippets are supposed to be lean and elegant, and he certainly has the elegance part down. But he’s also got the kind of presence that fills a room, the way some people do without trying.
It’s not just his physical size—though he definitely has that bodybuilder quality that makes him seem bigger than his actual measurements. It’s his calm confidence, his steady gaze, his way of settling into a space like he belongs there completely.
Next to Fuega’s constant motion and strategic dramatics, Smudge is like a peaceful lake next to a rushing river. Both have their beauty, both serve their purpose, but one invites you to sit quietly and just breathe.
The Good Boy Extraordinaire
If Fuega is our con artist with her strategic limping, Smudge is our straight shooter. He doesn’t play games or put on performances. He’s just consistently, reliably, perfectly himself—my one and only good boy who helps keep my world stable when everything else feels uncertain.
Whether he’s sprawled across the floor in classic whippet fashion, keeping me company during a difficult day, or just being his solid, reassuring self in whatever corner of the house he’s claimed, Smudge represents something I didn’t know I was missing before he arrived: unwavering, uncomplicated devotion.
The timing of his arrival—delayed by weather but perfect for my needs—feels more prophetic every year. 2020 threw everyone’s world into chaos, but I had Smudge. My birthday present, delivered exactly when I needed him most.
Next time, we’ll talk about what 2020 gave and took away, how Smudge went from show prospect to perfect companion, and what it’s like watching your gentle giant grow into his golden years.
Every dog teaches us something different about love, loyalty, and living in the moment. Smudge’s lesson has been about the quiet power of simply showing up, day after day, exactly as you are. We’re grateful he chose to show up for us.
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When Fate Delivered My Perfect Birthday Present (Four Months Late)
They say timing is everything, but sometimes the universe has a sense of humor about it. Take Smudge, for instance—born on October 20th, 2019, which happened to mean he could come home exactly on my birthday. Eight weeks later, he should have been home with me for the holidays(December 20th if anyone is curious). Instead, it took until February 2020 for fate to finally deliver my birthday present, and looking back, the delay was exactly what we both needed.
The Birthday That Started Everything
2020 wasn’t exactly the ideal time to get a puppy—though nobody knew just how true that would become. I’d been wanting a dog for way too long, stuck in my migraine journey and feeling like the timing was never quite right. But when Lennah, my sister and Smudge’s breeder at Winquest, told me about this little boy born so he could come home on my exact birthday, well… sometimes the universe sends you a sign you can’t ignore.
Whippets have been bred as companions and hunters for generations, originally created by working-class folks in northern England who needed something with the speed and grace of a Greyhound but small enough to feed without going broke. These dogs were meant to be by their people’s sides, and from the moment I heard about this October 20th puppy, I knew he was meant to be by mine.
There was just one small problem with this perfect plan: shipping a puppy in winter.
When Weather Has Other Plans
December came and went. Then January. Lennah wouldn’t ship Smudge if the weather was too cold—and for good reason. Puppies are fragile, and winter shipping can be dangerous. But as the weeks stretched on, this little boy who was supposed to be my birthday puppy was getting bigger and more settled in Missouri while I was getting more anxious in Arizona.
The weather that year was particularly brutal in Kansas City, as if nature itself was testing just how much I wanted this dog. Every time we thought we’d found a shipping window, another storm would roll through. Smudge went from being an 8-week-old puppy to a 3-month-old puppy, then a 4-month-old puppy, all while I waited and wondered if this was meant to be after all.
But sometimes the best things come to those who wait—and to those who get creative.
A Phoenix Rising Solution
The breakthrough came in the form of a Phoenix dog show. There was a judge flying in from Kansas City who not only had her own airline-approved carrier but was willing to bring a passenger. After months of weather delays and shipping complications, my birthday puppy was finally going to make it home—not in a cargo hold, but in the cabin with someone who understood dogs.
When I got the call that Smudge was finally Arizona-bound, the relief was overwhelming. This little boy who’d been born for my birthday was finally going to be where he belonged, even if it was two months late.
The Friend Who Made It Official
Here’s where the story gets even better. Since Rex was still working and we only had one car, and given my own physical limitations, a friend volunteered to pick Smudge up from his flight. She didn’t just collect him and hand him over—she took him home first and gave him a proper bath, making sure he was clean and comfortable after his journey.
The next day, when Rex and I went to pick him up, I met my dog for the first time. Not a tiny puppy, but a confident 4-month-old (so confident) who already had opinions about the world and a personality bigger than his still-growing frame.
From that moment, Smudge has been my buddy. The only time we’ve been apart since was this past March, when he went back north to be neutered—a necessary trip to make sure we didn’t have any more surprise litters after Fuega’s adventure in motherhood (Fuega’s story starts after we finish Smudge’s).
When Fate Gets the Timing Right
Looking back, those winter delays that felt like obstacles were actually gifts. Instead of bringing home a tiny, fragile 8-week-old puppy right before the holidays, I got a more mature, sturdy young dog just as 2020 was about to turn all our lives upside down. Instead of dealing with house training and puppy chaos during the early pandemic months, I had a companion who was ready to help me navigate whatever came next.
Smudge arrived exactly when I needed him most, even though it wasn’t when I’d planned. Born for my birthday, delivered in the world’s time of need, and destined to become the steadfast companion who would help me keep my mental health intact through everything that followed.
Sometimes the universe knows what it’s doing, even when the timing seems all wrong.
Next time, we’ll tell you about life with our gentle giant—how a dog built like a bodybuilder became the most devoted companion we could ask for, complete with Halloween-perfect markings and a personality to match.
Thanks for following along with our family stories. Whether you’re here for the woodworking or the whippet tales, we’re grateful you’re part of the Sarkanys Rising journey with us. We are telling these stories while we are waiting to assure the website is fully online & ready after our hosting switch! Enjoy our employee stories!