Dookie

Dookie (1933 – ?) or Rozavel Golden Eagle was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi bought in 1933 by King George VI and was the first of many Welsh Corgis 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 (then Prince Albert, Duke of York) decided to purchase a corgi for his daughters Princesses Elizabeth 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, though he did spend some time at Glamis Castle. 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.