Celebrating Terhune's Barkday

The world hasn't ended today but we are celebrating Albert Payson Terhune's 140th Barkday today.  Terhune was a big man, standing 6’ 2” tall and was born in Newark, New Jersey.   He was a famous author, dog breeder and journalist.  There were three loves in his life:  his wife, his dogs and his home.  That made him a rich man in our books.  Many of you know his name from reading his collie books.  Hearts and minds soared reading the likes of Lad : A Dog, Bruce, His Dog, Further Adventures of Lad, The Heart of a Dog, Treve, Wolf, Gray Dawn, Lad of Sunnybank and The Way of a Dog to name a few books.    



Writing Away Sunnybank with Lad, Bruce & Wolf

Terhune also wrote the newspaper column “Calling All Dogs” and wrote other articles too.  “Calling All Dogs” appeared in many cities across the US, to include Pittsburgh, Charleston, Fresno, Salt Lake City and Trenton.  During the mid 1930s, Terhune had a fifteen minute radio show.   

Mr. Terhune was an excellent breeder and served as a dog show judge at times.  His Sunnybank Kennel was famous.  Squire (Champion Sunnybank Sigurdson) had a stud fee of $35, which would be over $470 dollars in 2012.  Now that stud fee could buy a lot of biscuits.

Most of all, there were his chums, the collies.  Their names are familiar to collie lovers.  Among them are Lad, Lady, Wolf, Bruce, Bobby, Jean, Gray Dawn, Jock, Treve, Squire, Explorer, Fair Ellen, Thane, and King Coal to name a few.  We found the story of Fair Ellen the most intriguing because she was born blind but lived a full, happy life. 

Happy Barkday Mr. Terhune

We don't believe the world will end today, but we do believe Albert Payson Terhune, his wife Anice and those amazing Sunnybank Collies are smiling at some of us and laughing at others from across the rainbow bridge today.  

"Happy Barkday Mister Terhune.  We toast you, your life, your collies and the timeless influence of your books."  

 

"Hey Dad, pass an extra dog treat"   

Essex, Sherman & Dog Dad