Rupert

About Rupert

On December 15, 2011, we met 22-month-old Rupert. Ru was a majestic being at 38 inches tall and 192 pounds. Our first night together was spent in a motel in Kentucky. Ru woke me around midnight. On our way outside, we met a man taking his Standard Poodle to the potty area. The gentleman commented, “That’s the biggest dog I’ve ever seen”. My response was, “Me too”. Ru placed himself between me and the stranger. We had met just six hours before, and Rupert was already protective of me.

We were stopped at the border the next day on our drive home. The agent wanted to assess Rupert, and when he stepped out of the van, the agent backed up and asked me, “Is he friendly?” My response was, “I sure hope so. I’ve only had him for 18 hours.” As I loaded Ru back into the van, the agent commented, “That’s the biggest dog I’ve ever seen”. My response was, “Me too”.

I soon realized that Rupert would draw crowds wherever we went. There wasn’t a single outing where someone didn’t take a photo of Rupert or with Rupert. Everyone said the same thing, “That’s the biggest dog I’ve ever seen” and my response was always the same, “Me too”, and it remains true to this day.

It wasn’t just Rupert’s stature that drew attention; it was his personality. He wasn’t fond of crowds, so he would seek out the closest person (stranger or not) and press his head against their chest. We referred to this manoeuvre as a “head hug”. I would explain to the person that Rupert wanted a hug, and they would cradle his head like a football and gently stroke his ears. Ru would move from person to person, soaking up all the love he could. I saw people tear up as they held him. He was irresistible, and even strangers quickly succumbed to his charms.

Rupert was only with us briefly, but he left a lasting impression and a massive hole in my heart. I often describe living with Rupert was like living with a unicorn. He was a magical being.