Kira’s Companions: ‘Hauʻoli Lā Hānau’

Rogue+on+her+10th+birthday+wears+her+birthday+bandana.+Shes+taught+us+about+what+its+like+living+with+a+former+show+dog.

Photo by Kira Gomez

Rogue on her 10th birthday wears her birthday bandana. She’s taught us about what it’s like living with a former show dog.

By Kira Gomez, staff writer

On February 27, my German shorthaired pointer, Rogue, turned ten. She is originally from California and was a former AKC champion. When we got her, she was around four-years old, and after a few months of quarantine she came to our home and has been a part of the family ever since. Over the years she’s been with us, we got to learn all there is to know about her.

Rogue poses as she would during a show when she first became a part of our family.
Rogue poses as she would during a show when she first became a part of our family. (Photo by Terence Gomez)

Something with her being a former show dog is that she almost never sits. She follows everyone everywhere and is extremely spoiled. Sometimes my family and I wonder if she actually thinks she’s human. She is also quite persistent when she wants attention. She’ll lean on you, whine while giving you puppy dog eyes, as well as jump all over just to get you to see her.

But when she’s not wanting attention, she is seen lying in a ball all over the house, her favorite spots being next to me on the couch, and in my little brother’s bed. She’s also busy being an older sister to Messi, our nine-year old golden retriever. He follows her everywhere and annoys her to no end, but we all know she cares for him.

She is a very tough dog. Last year she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo surgery, but she is still as lively as ever. And while Messi doesn’t harm the birds and chickens around our yard, let’s just say it’s not the same case for Rogue. She is actually known for also being a very good rat catcher, which is crazy to think about, but I guess it just runs in her blood as a German shorthaired pointer.

Now that she is ten, it’s finally setting in that she has been a part of our family a while, and celebrating her birthday this past weekend was a memorable moment for us.

I got her a big cookie to share with her brother Messi, and she got to show off her birthday pup bandana. She’s a great dog, and I’m so grateful she is a part of our small family.

Happy Birthday, Rogue.