Dookie (1933 – ?) or Rozavel Golden Eagle was a

Pembroke Welsh Corgi The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (; Welsh for "dwarf dog") is a cattle herding dog breed that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is one of two breeds known as a Welsh Corgi. Pembroke Welsh Corgis descended from the Spitz family of dogs. The other i ...

bought in 1933 by King George VI and was the first of many

Welsh Corgi The Welsh Corgi ( or Corgi, plural Corgis, or occasionally the etymologically consistent Corgwn; ) is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales. The name ''corgi'' is derived from the Welsh words and (which is mutated to ), mea ...

s to join the Royal Family. The dog was especially popular with Queen Elizabeth II, who from then on owned over thirty corgis in her lifetime.

Background

George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of I ...

(then Prince Albert, Duke of York) decided to purchase a corgi for his daughters Princesses

Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...

and Margaret after the girls had fallen in love with the breed when visiting the corgis owned by the children of the Marquess of Bath. In July 1933 Thelma Gray of Rozavel Kennels brought three corgi puppies to the family home at 145 Piccadilly for the family to choose from. Out of the three pups, Dookie was chosen because of his slightly longer tail, the queen having remarked, "so that we can see whether he is pleased or not." Dookie was born "Rozavel Golden Eagle" in 1933 and bred by Thelma Gray at the Rozavel Kennels in Surrey. The bright red pup was sired by Ch. Crymmych President and Ch. Golden Girl.

Royal life

After being chosen by the family, Dookie was boarded by Thelma Gray until the family had moved to

Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places Australia * Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area * Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland **Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...

, though he did spend some time at

Glamis Castle Glamis Castle is situated beside the village of Glamis (, ) in Angus, Scotland. It is the home of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and is open to the public. Glamis Castle has been the home of the Lyon family since the 14th century, thoug ...

. Gray and her kennel staff joked that the dog had become so "snooty" after being selected by the royal family and they began calling him "the Duke", which was shortened to "Dukie" and finally to "Dookie." The family loved the name and it eventually stuck. Dookie became a loved member of the family and was described as "unquestionably the character of the Princesses’ delightful canine family" and "a born sentimentalist." The princesses even fed the dog by hand. He did however, have a habit of nipping at the heels of guests. Three years later another corgi named Rozavel Lady Jane was purchased to be the companion of Dookie. However, Dookie was not interested in the other corgi and Jane was paired with Rozavel Tafferteffy. Jane produced two pups named Carol and Crackers. Crackers became a constant companion of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and even retired with her to the Castle of Mey in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

References

{{Elizabeth II Individual dogs in politics 1933 animal births Pets of the British Royal Family Dogs in the United Kingdom Individual animals in the United Kingdom

Background

Royal life

See also

References