Published: September 29, 2007 09:56 pm      

Gretchen enjoys center of attention

BELGIUM — If you like “Star Wars” movies, Gretchen might look familiar to you.

“Her face reminds me of an Ewok,” owner Kay Pierce said.

Of course, she was just joking. Gretchen the Brussels Griffon has a cute little face — nothing like an alien’s.

“I just fell in love with the breed and the look,” Pierce said.

It’s appropriate that Gretchen, 8 months, and her family live in Belgium, as she’s a Brussels Griffon. You might recognize the breed from the movie “As Good as It Gets.”

Pierce first learned about the breed through her friend, Paula Hanson of White Heath, who started raising them not too long ago.

“The first time I saw her dogs … they were so cute,” she said.

She and her children — Kelsi Wilken, 12, and Derek Wilken, 10 — welcomed the puppy into their home a few months ago. Gretchen has a rough coat with wiry, long hair and a docked tail.

Pierce doesn’t know of any Brussels Griffons in the area, and her veterinarian has never had one in his practice, either.

Brussels Griffons are a combination of other breeds, including the pug and Affen-pinscher.

Little Gretchen packs a lot of terrier personality into her 8-pound body. In fact, she was scheduled to start obedience classes last week.

“She’s more of an alpha dog,” Pierce said. “She’s got her own personality. She’s strong-willed. You have to work with them and let them know, ‘I’m the boss, not you.’”

The children love playing with the pup, although she wears them out.

“She’s cute when she’s sleeping,” Kelsi said.

“She’s cuter,” mom was quick to add.

Anyone who lies down on the floor is fair game for the sharp puppy teeth and wet kisses.

Sometimes, Gretchen will grab Kelsi’s hair and try to pull her across the room.

The active dog likes to take car rides, go to doggy day care at grandma’s, camp out in her little tent, chase bugs and play with the other family dog, Kloe, a 6-year-old Shih Tzu. She also has a basket of toys to play with.

On walks, she likes to grab onto her leash, and she has to investigate every bag that enters the house.

Gretchen is a bit of a clown, too, as she likes to scoot backwards with her front legs straight and her back legs stretched out.

“She’s a little on the hyper side,” Pierce said, but added the breed is intelligent and friendly, and good with kids.

Obviously, a person who wants a quiet lifestyle might want to look for a different breed.

Although she’s a small dog, Gretchen isn’t a yapper.

“Instead of yapping, that tail’s wagging,” Pierce said.

Pierce is a nurse at Carle Clinic at Urbana; Kelsi goes to Westville Junior High School and Derek attends Judith Giacoma School.

Having little Gretchen in the house must be like having another grade-schooler to chase after. Or maybe she’s more like the spoiled youngest child in a family.

In either case, she’s a cute pup with a family that adores her. Even an Ewok would be envious.

Champaign park

The Champaign Park District is accepting donations for a new dog park in south-west Champaign. The park is in the design process, with an anticipated opening date of next summer.

The 7-acre park will be located near the southeast corner of Windsor and Rising roads. The park’s basic design will feature a 4-foot fence, double-gated entry area, separate areas for large and small dogs, parking lot and trash cans/dog waste stations.

Basic costs will be covered by the park district; however, funds are being raised for additional amenities such as two drinking fountains (one for dogs, one for humans), a message center, benches and a small shelter. These amenities are estimated to cost $20,000.

To make a donation or for more information, visit the district’s Web site at http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com or call Laura Auteberry at 398-2550.

Now, if only Danville could get a park …

Contact Mary Wicoff at 477-5161, send an e-mail to mwicoff@dancomnews.com or write to Commercial-News, 17 W. North, Danville, IL 61832.