I love my dogs, both current and past. They embody nobility of spirit, pure motives, and unconditional love. They have taught me the value of a good long walk every day. I can talk to them, and sing and dance with them, for they do not judge my clumsiness, they are not critical of my off-key voice, and they forgive my improvised wording. Their patience while waiting for me to understand something they are trying to tell me is profound.
My pets have always found me, usually by showing up at my home, abandoned or lost. Currently catless, I am seeing two older dogs through their senior years. Maybe it's as George Carlin says, "Life is a Series of Dogs". I do believe there is a dog for everyone.
I thought it might be fun to guess what dogs a few other bloggers who've been kind enough to stop by my fledgling blog might have. Feel free to correct my guesses ... or, tell me why your dog is the best in the world. This is my feeble effort to thank you all for your support:
AZ is a redbone hound dog Goddess
Dada is a Dal-ManEnigma is the Bassett Queen
Fran, hmm, I'm getting a vibe .. a St Bernard? .. a Spaniel? tell !
Spadoman, I'm guessing a Chowhound, knowing what an excellent chef you are!
Pursey has Flumpet, who is a real sweet potato pie
Cartledge, gotta be a Dingo, mate
Gryphen must have 1 Malamute & 2 Huskies for those 3 Dog Nights?
Newsguy, a Bloodhound to sleuth the truth?
Richard, an English Bulldog? surely not a Corgi.
Nona needs a mild mannered guard dog -- maybe an
Airedale?
Proud Progressive is a Buddhist Catwoman. Is there a
Buddhist Dog?
Anonymous-Paranoid is a confirmed cat person (I need to do a cat post for you later; it will have to be a B-I-G post to encompass all of Ginger's full-figured gorgeousness)
Kvatch, can you go from Blog Bondage to Dog Bondage? Is there a Frog Dog?
And, here's a few friends & family disguised as their dogs. You know who you are. You mean the world to me:
E.K. is the Shepherd King
J.K. is the Beagle Boy, 
Lynda is a hot chi-huahua mama!
44 comments:
Thanks DK for thinking/posting of our best friends. I can't imagine a dogless world.
Our pets have truly evolved from, "stay in the yard and guard the ranch" status to, "I only stay in 5 star pet friendly Hotels, they accomodate my dogs needs as well as my own." Who knew dogs had "needs" besides water and food. We dog lovers knew! We are the ones that include our dogs on our family vacations. We pamper them, have their teeth cleaned, pay to have them groomed, and maybe splurge on a doggie massage. We attend things like "Cockertail Hour" on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert, where the humans sip wine and dine on buffet and the dogs have their own private chef and their social time. Our dogs go to "Doggie Day Spas" while we enjoy hours of guilt free shopping.(Probably for little doggie clothes to dress our beloved pet with.)They fly with us, Yacht with us and have their own Hotels. Dogs are no longer third class citizens. They are our equal!
Truly enjoyed the flashbacks to Valley of Fire. Being an "honorary member" of the Kennedy clan for 40 years I have visited the park a zillion times myself. (Mostly while ditching school with your little sister...ooops.) I think it was our second playground, our first being Red Rock of course. I remember when I took my daughter to Red Rock for the first time...we had just left the "Fun Dome" amusement park inside Circus Circus. We drove to Calico Basin and jumped out of the car and just ran up the rocks like little Bighorns. When we settled high on the side of the rocks perched over our beloved basin, my daughter said, "Did you go to Circus Circus when you were little?" I told her it did not exist way back then. Then she said, "Did you get to ride "Speed" the roller coaster at the Sahara when you were little? "No honey, that wasn't there either." Then I pointed all around us and said, "This was my playground. We ran across the desert like Indians and lived as one with the the wild donkeys." She sat in solitude and drank in the essence of Red Rock and became one of the true appreciators of the uniqueness of the valley. She was hooked on the desert.
hope your colds go away, feel better soon. Love Lynda
Absolutely LOVE the blog
Lynda, as my dearest bestest friend, you know many things which you are not revealing -- and for that, I am truly grateful! I love how you initiated your daughter to the Red Rocks -- and how she got it! and um, well, if "we lived as one with the wild donkeys", would that make us untamed asses?!? LOL ...
wow, your dogs really DO get the royal treatment with yachts & private chefs & personal massages. Yes, they are no longer 3rd class citizens, but in their selfless love of us (not even noticing our faults), I might go further than "equal" & proclaim they are the better, finer species! The "Cockertail Hour" sounds like just the thing for my headcold. Yo quiero tequila!
Thanks for visiting & keeping the dream close to your heart. ~~ D.K.
Dada, neither can I (imagine a dogless world). Although there are moments when the slobber & muddy paws give me pause. Thankfully, those moments are quickly resolved with a hand lick & a wildly thumping tail ... ah, I speak of the dog's behavior, not my own cleaning methods.
Bloody dingo? Probably as predictable as well.
Actually I'm used to the dog running the home. The only reason it's not 'my way or the highway' is because the little dawg here can't open the fridge.
Thank you d.k.raed and though I haven't mentioned it before I did at one time have a dog.
It was a shepard collie mix and his name was Class. One day I'll find a few pictures of him and post them.
And I will watch for a B.I.G. post for Ginger. LOL...LOL...LOL...
God Bless.
D.K. Thanks for including a feline mom (me). I loved the photos and the song. Thanks so much.
The last doggie who lived with us was a bright and sweet little Chihuahua girl. She was calm and very obedient after being abondoned by a breeder when she could no longer produce revenue.
She had endured two C-sections to produce pups for this breeder and finally the veterinarian said she couldn't jeopardize Gigi's health by letting her have more pups.
The breeder dumped her off at the shelter and told a cover story to her friends about it. We believed the sob story and retrieved Gigi from the shelter and offered to keep her until the breeder could take her back home.
We got wise to the breeder's true purpose when we saw her at the pet store with another Chihuahua puppy who'd been taken from it's mom too early. The breeder didn't even ask us how Gigi was doing.
Okay, I'm taking a deep breath now and getting off my soap box.
Cartledge, your dawg hasn't learned how to open the fridge with his eyes yet? Their eyes can drill a hole right into your skull, or almost levitate the milkbones off the counter & down into their mouths, so it wouldn't surprise me if one day the fridge opens just from sheer canine mental longing. I like Dingos! A good friend had a dingo mix many yrs ago & he was an excellent dog -- or maybe it was the mix part that made him so nice? In so-cal, we saw lots of coyotogs, or dogoytes (a coyote & dog mix), that were pretty domestic, though the rabbit population probably didn't think so.
Anon-Para: "Class" is an unusual dog name. E.K. would agree with you on the shepherd part & I like collies (except the grooming part). My mom had a blond collie for yrs that used to get mistaken for a sheep. I knew I'd get you with the B-I-G post idea, for your plus-size ginger cat!
Nona, I know you are a good animal friend & thought there might be a dog in your history. I'm so glad you were there for Gigi, you rescued her from a horrible situation. Breeders, eh? So many of them (would it be too cynical to say maybe all of them?) don't have the dog's best interests at heart. Since I've always had "mixed breeds", I may be a bit partial to them (vs AKC kennel conformation prize winners), but I just don't understand why people want to purchase a manufactured dog. With all the beautiful sensitive animals being destroyed for lack of caring homes each year, why are inhumane puppy mills so profitable?
OK, I'm taking a deep breath with you & hugging my wonderful pets & being thankful they are in our lives, that we found each other.
Sorry D.K., I don't have any dogs right now. I have children and one of them has an issue with animals.
But you were close, in that you came close to guessing the breed of the dog I had, that was just MY dog, while growing up.
His name was Kino. He lived behind my house when I was a teenager and he used to accompany me on my paper route in the morning. One day he was picked up by the pound and his owner decided to leave him there. I used my paper route money to get him out and when I tried to give him back to his owner he said "You paid for him, so I guess he is YOUR dog now."
He was the best dog in the world, or so I thought at the time. He was a husky, shepherd, wolf mix, and he was both big and powerful. But he was also an extremely loving animal that slept in my room until I fell asleep, even though it was too hot for him, and then after would go to lay by the front door so that the cool air that came under the door would make him more comfortable.
When that dog died it broke my heart, and that may be why I have never owned a dog since. But sometimes I sure want to.
Ahhhh Gman....I am all filled up now...sigh...beautiful...
and Dk I loved this post...wonderful...and I love the all dogs...but yup..the dog that won me forever was indeed a Bassatt..we had two, Virgil and Abby....but Abby was my girl...for a long time...she was the most intuitive loving dog ever...used to do pet therapy with her....and she took care of our whole neighborhood....lovely...when I lived in my little blue house in the NW she would sit in the yard and get cookies and goodies from the college students as they walked by the pciket fence...with those big eyes she made friends with everyone....even the mailman...All of our dogs were rescues...but I always have beleived that she of all of them was meant to be with me....and I know that one day there is another bassatt coming home...
( so don't tell my little yellow dog.,...)
Thanks for this...it was lovely..
( BTW I think Cart is more of a Corgi Man...or maybe a Scottie?)
Gryphen: a Husky-Shep-WOLF mix? "Big and powerful" doesn't cover the half of that! And yet, so gentle he wanted to make sure you were asleep before he could go get some cool air. What a great tale of bonding, thank you! I bet his bail was the best use (by far) of your paper route money.
I'm sorry one of your children has animal issues. Many of my relatives had childhood allergies that prevented pets, but some grew out of them later, so there's hope. But whatever the reason for not having pets, pleeease don't let it be because you loved Kino so much, his loss was difficult. We have to accept they have shorter life spans than us, that is their nature, just as it is their nature to give us their all & not ask questions or ever expect more than we can give them in return.
Enigma: I have to say I've never met a Basset that I didn't like. They always seem so thoughtful & considerate. And funny, I've met one that had a definite sense of humor, a real clown, anything for a laugh type. Virgil & Abby sound so wonderful. I'm sure there will be another Basset in your future (& I bet the Yellow Dog will love him/her).
ps, you may be right about Cart's corgi or scottie ... no wonder he pooh-poohed my Dingo guess?
oh enigma, to elaborate: the Bassett with a sense of humor was named "Barney". His owners had bought him a bunch of ridiculously small brightly-colored party hats (on his huge head, they looked clownish). The hats were all stored on a low shelf in the living rm. Any time the friendly conversation turned somber (this was during watergate & vietnam), we could count on Barney hauling himself up out of his plaid doggie bed by the couch & waddling over to the low shelf, where he would wriggle his nose under one of the funny hats & Presto! flip it up onto his head. He'd then turn slowly around, looking so sad, we would all burst out laughing! He knew what he was doing, working the crowd like a pro.
Now I feel compelled to defend my doggie nature. No doubt there is an element of terrier – probably a ratter. There is the greyhound element, though is a mean reflection on my build – all ribs and…
One of my favourite daws was a big goofy newfie hound. He was mommies boy, but when he became terminally ill he insisted on me to give him comfort and thanked me for being with him for the final plunge.
Little dogs tend to adopt me, but there were a couple of delightful German shorthairs, including the sookiest huntin’ dawg I ever met.
But maybe the final answer involves a rather thin terrier of some kind, or perhaps a blue heeler with that touch of dingo.
Cartledge, hope you know I was only ragging on you. I have a soft spot for terriers. Grew up with a Boston Bull Terrier mix (the "mix" meant he didn't have the pushed-in face, so didn't have to deal with that breed's notorious breathing problems, though he did snore like a steevadore). My longest-lived dog was a little fox terrier/whippet mix with fur the same color as my hair. They both displayed incredible intelligence combined with extreme stubborness, but underneath all that, pretty sweet temperments.
I've never had a dog as large as a Newfoundland, but am glad you were there to help one at the end. aah, those final days, huh? They're very tough, hard on everyone. And they trust you to do right by them.
Now, "sookiest huntin' dawg" ... you're gonna have to explain if that's good or bad. I like the sound of it, though. One my sisters had a German Shorthair/English Pointer mix who excelled in hunting butterflies. Occupied him all days, some days.
"sookiest huntin' dawg" The female (Dolly) is a hunter and lives for her dad the hunter. If he drives out to the coffee shop she thinks she is getting left behind.
Buddy, the boy hound is gun shy and really doesn't like going outside or mixing with people.
Used to go to the house to play cards regularly, I just ignored him and slowly Buddy interested.
After a year or so he bolted out when I arrived, actually laughing. I guess it is about trust and it's hard to resist a loving dawg.
But thee was a small dog in the house liked to sit on my knee while I was keeping in canasta, and Buddy thought he would like to do that too...
Great memories those dogs.
well DK...I have to tell you that ALL Bassatts have a sense of humor...they have to, they are prone to owner that take them to parties and dress them up...In the NW, ....there are Bassatt Festivals held every year...and yes people dress up their Bassatts...Abby was many things....her best costume ever...was as Tinker Bell...( and 6-6 got to be PeterPan...and yes, there are photos of someone in Green tights- and if I ever show them in public- he will not be happy)....and seriously she made a lovely Tinker Bell...
One of our Favorite Bassatts we met was one Named Speed Bump....and of course there was the cutest couple Harold and Maude..
hey d.k. - az here - got your email and i used to own a red bone hound dog - but she was actually my son's dog..i had her for almost 20 years though and she was the neighbor favorite...
my babies were chihauhau's - which is fitting for the southwest desert i love in...smile
currently, i'm dog-less...however my two cats kind-of count ~~ as my siamese has the smarts of any dog i've ever met and my little grey mouse (she's really a cat but so small i call her mouse) well, mouse has taught me how to throw her toys and she will fetch them back to me..she even drops them in my lap...grin..
thanks for the great post...hugs
Deke,,,, No dogs at home any longer. I am the only Chow Hound!!
When I had a dog, her name was Sargie, I guess because i got her from a friend right after I got out of the Army, as a Sergeant.
Sargie was a mixed breed, but had a lot of Border collie in her. She was 14 when she got tumors and other problems and we put her to rest. I've had relationships with other dogs, my friends dogs and my daughter's, but I have only had one companion of the canine variety, my Sargie.
I have actually been rthinking of getting another dog and ask it to hang out with me, but i would never live with myself if i got a pet and didin't take the time it deserves. we'll see.
Is there really a breed called a Chow Hound? :-)
D.K.
I'm a Boxer man, through & through. And guess what? I'm a cat man, too.
Up till a few years ago we always had both. In fact our last little family consisted of one Boxer and a pair of Seal-Point Siamese. How's this for a name roll call? Smokey and Charlie & Chan.
Sad thing is that we lost them all inside a terible 12 month period. Talk about traumatised. I don't think we'll ever get over that.
We swore we'd never even try to replace any of them, since they truly were irreplaceable - each single one of them.
Every so often we see either a Boxer or a Siamese somewhere and the meomories come flooding back. Usually at such times we're both then tempted again -- but only ever for a few minutes or so.
Neither of us could EVER face heartbreak like that again - not ever.
Of course, the missus and me are still total suckers when it comes to spoiling anyone/everyone else's mutts & moggies. ;^)
Cartledge, re "sookiest": I'm still not sure what it means, but found your description of a hunting dog wanting to jump in your lap during canasta deserving of a word like "sooky". What a character he sounds like!
Enigma: A Bassett Festival! Tinkerbell & Peter Pan in green tights! Speed Bump! -- what great fun these hounds are, I'm laughing just thinking about Harold & Maude!
AZ: thanks for stopping by. yes I thought I recalled your redhound eulogy at Dada's. 20-yrs old? that beats my longest liver by 3-yrs. And I know just what you mean about siamese cats, they are very dog-like. Your "mouse" sounds very dog-like too, what with the ball retreival traits. I had siamese all through my youth. Someday we will get another cat & I'm hoping for a Siamese. I already have a name picked out!
Spado, there is definitely a Chow Hound, or at least a breed known as Chows. They're originally from somewhere in China & were breed for food (ick). I've only known one Chow, he was a big bushy fella with a BLACK tongue! Now, Sargie sounds sweet. I think without offending other dogs, that Border Collies are considered the smartest breed, capable of following complicated commands. Herding dogs generally like to herd their human flock, too, so I bet Sargie followed you everywhere & kept you in line. Nice you are considering another dog, but nicer that you are considering if you have time for one, so many people don't even think of that & then the dog, being a pack animal, really suffers. If it's meant to happen, it will.
Richard: a boxer man, huh? I think our Lab Mix is mixed with some boxer because of her extra puffy soft lips. After she drinks water, the whole floor is flooded & don't stand next to her when she shakes her head. I love the names, Smokey, Charlie & Chan! To lose all within 1-yr is just devastating. Seal-point siamese are my fave siamese, but I like the old-fashioned kind, the ones with the big baseball heads, not the long thin heads so popular now. One of my childhood seal-points was named Frisky, another was BigButtKinky (don't ask). In my 20's I ended up with another siamese (a blue-point this time) & named him "Lee" after Bruce Lee of whom I was quite enamored (both cat & man). None of them can ever be replaced, each subsequent pet has found his/her own unique place in our hearts. thanks for sharing your pets with us.
D.K. We would have a dog if it was up to me. But my wife is not a dog person. My teenage son carries a picture of a dog around with him in his wallet, he is such a fanatic about dogs. But alas, he won't get a dog until he is off the premises. I predict he would have a dog in college if he could work it somehow.
\My farm dog back in Indiana was Queenie, a mix of something, but a moderately sized large dog, no a little yappy dog. And in a former marriage we had a collie.
One more thing, D.K. My son mentioned to me that he saw an ad in the Sunday paper for a place that sells Halloween costumes for dogs. Ghosty and Witchy costumes and and Tutus and the like. Seems to me that's animal abuse. Halloween for dogs in costumes is Humiliation Day, I'd venture.
My dog was a Husky-Shepard mix named Lakota.
We had him for 14 years, but he became ill & had to be put down in June this year. Heartbreaking.
He was a sweet, loyal dog. He was mostly Husky with black topped fur & a thick white undercoat. Looked like a wolf, had beautiful markings. He was a gentle being, but very rarely he would get a vibe from some stranger walking down the street & growl.
When he was younger, my husband put oats in bowls & called the kids to come have oatmeal, he was going to pour boiling water in the bowls, turned around & found the bowls empty. He could have sworn he put the oats in-- when suddenly he caught a glimpse of dog boy with *oats on his whiskers*. Busted! Another time I told my son he could have a piece of cherry pie if he did a really good job of cleaning his room. He was working on the project with the prize in mind, and puppy Lakota- his snout just high enough at the time to smell & snatch the pie. My son was heartbroken!
As if there would never be another cherry pie in the world ever again. The crisis was averted, and the pup was trained to leave table food alone.
He was a mellow dog, but laundry baskets spooked him. We are taking a several month sabbatical, but I must admit, I look at the local dog shelter web sites often.... seeing if the right 4 legged companion appears. Kind of strapped with medical costs right now, so need to ride that wave.
Newsguy: I was wondering if a dog curmudgeon would show up! (just kidding ya). I guess your teenager will discover in college why dogs aren't allowed in dorms ... because with all the grooming & feeding & playing & midnight walks, when would the DOGS get taken care of?! hmm, maybe your old farm dog was part Queensland Heeler, hence "Queenie". And, surely halloween dog costumes aren't for every person or every dog, but I have seen dogs that enjoyed them, or at least resigned themselves to the ordeal. I wouldn't consider it abuse unless they were forced to wear a cheney or bush mask. There's only so much a dog can take!
Fran: I'm so glad you stopped by, I know how full your plate is right now. But I'm slapping my head, because now that you mention it, I DO remember you talking about Lakota & can tell you miss him tremendously. Sounds like he provided many good memories sneaking food like that (which of course is merely a survival trait for the the dog, whether it's cherry pie or the thanksgiving turkey). I wonder WHAT about Laundry Baskets spooked him? I've got a shepherd here who has a lightning phobia (ok, I understand that one, it's scary) and a BBQ phobia. Actually with him, it's anything smoking or smokey. He puts his nose up in the air at the first hint & as soon as he's sure it's smoke, he runs & hides & no amt of coaxing can convince him he's overreacting. He was an 8-yr old stray when we adopted him, so no clue how he got that way.
I know about the dog sabbatical (in principle), but have to admit we keep failing the self-imposed dogless time between dogs. In every case, either some other waif shows up & adopts us, or as with our shepherd, I happen to see a face in the shelter that I can't resist.
I love dogs but I was around some big feral dogs this weekend and they were scary as hell. Once they form their packs, they can be quite unpredictable. I prefer well trained, smallish dogs, 30 lbs or less. I like cute doggies, purse types, although F. is too big to fit in a purse.
"all beings are by nature Buddha , just as ice by nature is water. Without water there can be no ice , without beings - no buddha"
so yes of course there is a buddha dog ! Many of them , all of them in fact. The simplicity of our animal companions..is such a lesson for us always thinking thinking humans. No wonder we love them so much. They often embody peace - and unconditional love without judgement and with complete forgriveness.
DK you sure do keep track of people , remarkable really ! great thread.
oh and at one time in my life I had four terriers ..yes four !!! anyone who knows terriers ..well you know they own you , no matter what you think. Right now my two beloved cats one a feral rescue, the older one who made the trip from cali to NM with me are my world - my family. The older one is my familiar..found in the Berkeley shelter - it was love at first sight. She was so astounded that her of all the cats owned by the previous owner was put in the shelter because the owner had too many cats. We (both of us ) just cannot get over that - but are beyond happy to have found eachother. I never ever raise my voice to her..she hid for over a week - under the bed, in the shadows. I could not see her. Thought she has escaped, and actually called the shelter to ban me as a bad risk...luckily later i found her..the rest has been 8 yrs of pure love.
Pursey, F is neither too big nor too small. He is the size he is required to be. My previous fox terrier/whippet mix was just under 30-lbs which I always thought was a good size. Easier to control than this current Lab & Shepherd, for sure. But, Feral Dogs? good gawd, where you been hanging out? You deserve a 5-star resort vaca!
PProgressive, I was mulling over possible Buddhist dogs, thanks for answering, now I know ALL dogs are manifestions of Buddha! I cannot imagine 4 terriers at once, they are a handful. A cat familiar, eh? I had one, just one of those, but lost her many yrs ago to diabetes. She still appears in my dreams, always telling me how well she's doing now. She is my only pet doing this in dreams. Strange, huh? Oh yeah, I guess I do keep track of people's animals. I may not put human faces to names so well, but I always recall who has what pet. I bet your cats LOVE NM!
D.K.,
Hah! That is funny. 5-Star resort vaca! You do not have to go too far out in the country to see feral dogs. My mom has adopted one, and has two abandoned non-feral big country dogs. I am petrified of the feral one, but she does not always stir up the trouble. When they get together (well, they live together) they go hunting in the woods and come home bloody, even though they are fed quite well, home cooked food in fact.
This past weekend I was at a friend's house. These dogs, one is the momma, and she looks half husky, half wolf, and the two grown females look like labs. They just showed up for food and once they find it, they will continue to show up and they can be socialized it seems easier than a feral cat, but they never ever lose the pack mentality. Ever. Anyway, my friend has one non-feral dog and the three feral females kept attacking the poor male. He is very old. I had to get in between them once, it is scary.
At my folks house, Dad has been to emergency three times for getting in between dog fights, right there in the middle of his living room.
Anyway, where have I been hanging? With friends or family, of course. Now, what resort do you recommend?
Pursey, I guess I just haven't been exposed to feral dogs. Lots of strays, alleydogs, etc, but they were just abandoned, hungry & cold, not feral. I know the coyote packs up in the hills will sometimes send a female in heat down to the neighborhoods to draw out a few males. The few dog fights I've had to break up were very scary, but at least they were house dogs & didn't turn on ME.
There is that very important initial introduction between dogs that will be sharing a house that, if all goes well, will determine the dog's future attitude toward each other. I always take it very slowly, giving each dog a brief intro & then gradually letting them spend more & more time together. There always seems to be one good fight before the hierarchy is established. They are very conscious of their place in the pack. We always tell our #2 dog that he's a "Good Strong #2" (and there is no #3).
For dog-friendly resorts, I was going to recommend Santa Barbara CA -- the Fe$$ Parker Doubletree or the Four Season$$$$ Biltmore. We enjoyed both, but found the Doubletree had more things for us to do with our dogs along the beach which it is just across the street from. We stayed in the Azaela House Cottages there, next to the Tennis Courts, a 1-story with a nice little garden patio facing the ocean. Many restaurants in town are dog-friendly in their outdoor cafe areas. Of course, right now is not good with all the wildfires.
DK, I read your comments EVERYWHERE!!!! I'm so glad you finally decided to join in on the bloggage. I will immediately add your site to my blogroll and peruse you daily for inclusion on the Blog World Report.
Thanks, Robert! I see you around too (& I think we have a mutual fair redhaired friend). Your site is quite extensive. Your videos are so creative -- I especially like The Dwizzle and the Bush! But .... what I REALLY want to know is about your Dog, if you have one? I've got a One Dog Mind.
We have a Chow/Shepard mix that was rescued from New Orleans after Katrina. Her name is Cayenne and she is, if not the best, one of the best dogs I have ever owned. There is a pic of Cayenne on the post where she was introduced to my readers over at the old blog.
Robert, Cayenne is beautiful & is sure one lucky dog! Imagine what she went through, all that turmoil. If she's only part Chow, I wonder if she has the infamous BLACK chow tongue? My current shep mix has little black spots on his tongue, which necessitated a trip to the vet, me convinced he had some disease. No, the vet says, it just means he's got some Chow in him. BTW, given his irrational fear of smoke & the fact that we adopted him as a rescued stray in san diego in 2003, we think he may indeed be one of those dogs that went through the previous big san diego wildfires. I wonder if Cayenne displays any similar fears of things Katrina-related.
Wow good for you that you can keep all of these dogs straight...this was so much fun...and so nice picturing everyone with their dogs.. :-)
great post...
D.K.,
This one feral dog, it took mom forever to get it and capture it. She fed the litter for a long time, and they knew her voice, but they always hid. I do not remember how she finally captured the one, but it really is something that I do not recommend. I sure wish she had known more about dogs and how to introduce them, it may have saved a lot of trouble.
These country dogs last weekend were so scary. The momma had two blue eyes. One white female baby, now grown had one blue eye and one brown eye, the other one had two brown eyes. They were all trying to have sex with anyone and anything. Three females, all molesting one another. When they attacked the old male and I broke it up (had no choice, I was right there standing by him when it happened) the three females looked at me like, "Oh, SHE's the Alpha dog!" Then they would not leave me alone. It really creeped me out. By and large I am afraid of most dogs. Twice I have been confronted by Great Danes, one Harlequin and one gray. The Harlequin knew me but I was helping her owner shovel snow and I was all bundled up and when I entered the house she did not recognize me. My friend had great command over her, but it was brutal. She would slap the dog hard across the face. I was grateful for the slap that saved me, but for the most part was repulsed by it. Once I was walking and a male Great Dane loped across three lawns to get me. When he got there he stood up and put his hands on my shoulders. I turned into a noodle. I did not look him in the eye, I did not move. His owner came and got him. I really am scared of any dog I do not know. I like doggies much more than I like dogs!
Pursey, you Alpha Female, you! I should've known you'd be Leader of the Pack. I'm lucky that I've only been seriously threatened by one dog, and believe it or not, it was a little high-strung wire-hair terrier (who came at me like a buzzsaw, all teeth & biting hard) ... so I guess size does not matter ... although I would NOT want to confront menacing Great Danes or Pits without my trusty pocket-canister of mace.
I'm sure glad your friend was able to control her Harlequin, albeit with a slap that was probably almost as scary as the dog. For me, it's the CONTROL VOICE. I bark like Drill Sargeant & have been known to stop line-backers in their tracks. I recently stopped a charging Rottweiler by pointing forcefully at the ground & yelling NO! He didn't want to obey, but I was firm & he backed off.
I fear all this isn't helping you to overcome your fear of dogs, though, & therefore agree that doggies may be a better route for you (doggies & kitties).
D.K.,
I told Dad that I was the opposite of The Dog Whisperer, I am The Dog Yeller. I use a loud voice and instructions too, it is the only way to get them to listen. My folks motley crew were running wild and Dad could not get their attention and I just literally ran over to them, stomped and yelled "You get your asses home right now, single file!" I swear they got in a straight line, marched home and into the door, single file.
I would hate to try to control a dog who was in out and out kill mode like that pit bull who killed that woman in a apartment complex in CA. I think she was an athlete.
I only use my dog command technique when I have to, like when my folks dogs were running wild and my friend's dogs attacked poor Old Man Dog.
I am sticking with doggies. I want a Papillon for my doggie because he is getting old and I have read a lot about elderly working dogs needing a youngster to help take over some of their duties. It supposedly helps them to relax as they age. He will be 12 in January and I think it is time.
A Papillon WOULD fit in your purse, Pursey! I have seen good & bad effects of introducing a much younger dog, like a bouncing playful puppy, into an entrenched elderly dog's household. It does bring life back into some older dogs, especially if they are very social dogs. However, if the old dog is the nervous type, always been the only dog, or physically ailing, it can really depress them. For our current senior, we added a younger dog, but only 3-yrs younger. I can't say they love each other, but they are pack friends. The older dog had a true companion dog-friend who had died about a year prior & I think she thinks this younger guy is a poor substitute!
Cayenne certainly isn't afraid of water! And yes, her tongue is all black, all the time. Well, more of a bluish black.
Robert, I think Cayenne is more Chow than mix! I can't believe how scared I was when I saw the little black spots on our rescue-mix's tongue, convinced he had something seriously wrong with him. Hey, excellent that Cayenne is NOT afraid of water. I've got a Lab mix who doesn't mind standing water, like pools or lakes or calm streams, but panics like a drafted chickenwarhawk when the water sprinklers come on. You'd think a labrador wouldn't mind water.
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